As we approach the Meta Quest 3 release date, the VR community is abuzz with news of a more affordable variant known as the Meta Quest 3 Lite.
The emergence of the Quest 3 Lite has added an extra layer of confusion for users who were already grappling with the decision of whether to buy the Meta Quest 2 or the Quest 3. So before you dive into a decision, let's quickly look at the Lite version.
While the details may be somewhat hazy, we'll do our best to paint a preliminary picture of what the Meta Quest 3 Lite might offer in terms of specs, features, and more.
Meta Quest 3 Lite speculations
The Meta Quest 3 Lite is a more affordable and stripped-down version of the original Meta Quest 3 with mixed reality features omitted.
Based on a leaked Meta roadmap disclosed to The Verge, Mark Rabkin, who is the VP of VR at Meta, has outlined the objective for Meta Quest 3 Lite. The aim is to "pack the biggest punch we [Meta] can at the most attractive price point in the VR consumer market.”
Codenamed Ventura, Meta Quest 3 Lite is expected to be a pure VR headset, similar to the Quest 2. However, it is anticipated to feature a more powerful SoC than the 3-year-old Quest 2, quite possibly the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 in the standard Meta Quest 3.
A "pure VR headset" implies no depth sensor or full-colour pass-through, making it more budget-friendly. To cut costs further, Meta might also use Fresnel lenses and a slightly lower resolution compared to the standard Meta Quest 3.
Meta Quest 3 Lite release date and price
According to Mark Rabin, VP of VR at Meta, the company is planning to launch the Meta Quest 3 Lite in 2024. Given the release date patterns of previous Meta headsets, we can expect the Meta Quest 3 Lite to be released around October 2024.
The starting price of the Meta Quest 3 Lite is rumoured to be $200. Although it's still unclear whether the base model will be available with 64GB or 128GB of storage, the $200 starting price is certainly an enticing and attractive offer.
In comparison, Meta's current entry-level VR headset, the Quest 2, is priced at $299. It appears that Meta's plan is to replace the ageing Quest 2 with the Quest 3 Lite, offering an even more affordable entry point into the world of VR.
And that covers everything we know about the Meta Quest 3 Lite. We will update the article as new information emerges. If you have decided to go for the standard Quest 3, make sure you pre-order your Meta Quest 3 now.