The Meta Quest 3 brings mixed reality in a mainstream VR headset.
AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez
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Meta’s next mainstream VR headset is finally here, and we’ve rounded up the best early Meta Quest 3 pre-order deals. The Meta Quest 3 aims to bring mixed reality into a mainstream virtual reality headset that doesn’t cost a small fortune. It’s also considerably more powerful than the original, which it uses to power sharper displays and the improved camera system needed to blend your digital worlds with the one you physically inhabit.
You can pre-order the Meta Quest 3 right now at several retailers, with some offering decent bonuses for doing so. Read on for the best Meta Quest 3 deals we’ve found.
Meta Quest 3 pre-order deals
No matter where you buy the Meta Quest 3, each purchase comes with a copy of the game Asgard’s Wrath 2, an action RPG that has you wielding the power of the Gods. That will be available to download in December and would normally cost you $59.99 separately. Newegg is the only retailer offering an exclusive incentive: you can get a $15 Meta gift card with your purchase, good toward any games or apps you want from the Meta Store.
Pre-order Meta Quest 3: Amazon | Best Buy | Walmart | Newegg
You can purchase accessories alongside your Meta Quest 3, which we’ve only spotted at Best Buy so far. Those include a charging station ($130), two new versions of the more comfortable Elite Strap ($70 without an extended battery, $130 with battery), Active Straps for the controller ($40), a Silicone Facial Interface ($40), a carrying case ($70), and the Quest Link Cable ($80).
Meta Quest 3: What’s new?
As predicted by countless leaks and rumors, the Meta Quest 3 builds on the standalone, wire-free accessibility of the second-generation headset with advanced features pulled from the enthusiast-level Meta Quest Pro. Meta iterated on the design with subtle comfort improvements, including lens depth customization to better accommodate those wearing glasses and a more comfortable head strap with easier adjustability.
Powering the Meta Quest 3 is an upgraded Snapdragon XR Gen 2 chip, offering enough power (doubling the Quest 2’s capabilities) to push more pixels to the higher-resolution display. Meta calls it a 4K+ Infinite Display, which boasts 2064×2208 for each display, one per eye. Even with the added burden of pushing more pixels directly into your eyeballs, the new processor offers enough overhead to power high-fidelity graphics.
There are also new experiences to enjoy, thanks to the mixed reality nature of this headset. The Meta Quest 3 adds two outward-facing RGB color cameras to show your immediate environment with much better clarity than the Quest 2 can (which only has monochromatic passthrough cameras for utilities like setting and detecting play boundaries). Early use cases include watching, playing, and browsing on a virtual, repositionable, and resizable screen that you can view directly within your real-world environment. There are also games specially designed to play in mixed-reality environments.
In addition, Meta says the Quest 3’s speakers are 40% louder and support 3D audio effects, and the controllers are redesigned for better ergonomics and include haptic feedback for even more immersive gameplay.
Meta Quest 3 release date and price
The Meta Quest 3 will arrive at retailers on October 10, starting at $499.99 for the base 128GB model. You can also purchase a 512GB model for $650, which comes with six months of Meta Quest+ for free (usually $60 per year).