Meta has taken the wraps off its next VR headset. The Quest Pro, which was previously known as Project Cambria, promises higher fidelity, mixed reality, and face and eye tracking for $1,500, a significant premium over its past consumer-focused headsets. The device will be available in the U.S. and 21 other countries later this month, company executives announced at the Meta Connect developer conference Tuesday.
The headset is equipped with RGB cameras for mixed-reality experiences that combine VR elements with a color video pass-through view of the real world. The Quest Pro also uses more advanced optics, including pancake lenses, which offer higher visual fidelity than the company’s Quest 2 device.
Face- and eye-tracking sensors make it possible to more realistically animate the facial expressions of people wearing the headset, and a new set of controllers with built-in sensors and more advanced tactile feedback should make for a better gameplay experience. The Quest Pro also features a more open design meant to allow people to multitask and glance at their desk. Optional add-ons to block out external light will be sold both by Meta as well as third-party vendors, according to company spokespeople.
The Quest Pro is being positioned by Meta as a first in a line of new high-end devices that will be released alongside the consumer Quest VR headsets. Over time, some of the features that debuted in the Quest Pro may find their way to the consumer line, while others will likely be exclusive to more expensive devices for some time.
Mark Zuckerberg told Protocol earlier this year that the Quest Pro was built for work use cases, and the company announced partnerships with Adobe, Autodesk, and Microsoft to bring support for work-related tools to the headset.
However, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth told Protocol last week that the Quest Pro is more geared toward prosumers than the enterprise; Meta is only selling the device through retail channels for the time being, but the company announced plans to launch new business subscription plans next year to target.
Meta executives also used Tuesday’s event to highlight some of the success the company has seen in VR thus far. This included the fact that one in three apps distributed via Quest’s official app store now generates at least seven-figure revenues, while 33 apps and games have grossed over $10 million in revenue.
In a sign that Meta wants to keep investing in content itself as well, the company announced Tuesday that it had acquired three additional VR development studios. The company is currently in a legal battle with the FTC, which wants to prevent Meta’s proposed acquisition of VR fitness startup Within Unlimited.
Climate TRACE's data show emissions at the facility-level.Image: Climate TRACE