Subj : Meta can't stop leaking its next VR headset, as it accidentally s To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Thu Jun 06 2024 12:30:05 Meta can't stop leaking its next VR headset, as it accidentally shows off the Quest 3S Date: Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:23:12 +0000 Description: Meta has once again leaked the the meta Quest 3S VR headset, this time in a video by its CTO on Threads. FULL STORY ====================================================================== Meta has to know what its doing, because for the second time in as many weeks it has leaked the Meta Quest 3S this time its next VR headset made a cameo in the background of a video filmed by its CTO. In a video highlighting the new mixed-reality upgrades arriving as part of Horizon OS update v66 which Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth posted on Threads , we see a view of someones home office with some kind of Meta Quest headset on a desk in the background. The thing is, this Quest device doesnt appear to be anything we recognise. It looks too bulky to be a Meta Quest 3 , while it has cameras in the wrong places and it isn't round enough to be a Quest 2 . The white plastic cladding also confirms its not an original Quest or Quest Pro . Instead, it looks nearly identical to the leaked Quest 3S design. Luna the leaker sharing the bulk of the Quest 3S info took to Twitter to point out this accidental teaser, which Bosworth then replied to, saying love that higher quality video over on Threads love that higher quality video over on Threads... June 4, 2024 See more This is far from a confirmation, but combined with the Quest 3S appearing accidentally on some Meta Quest Store pages it seems very likely that the so-called cheaper Quest 3 model is coming soon; most likely at Meta Connect 2024 which Meta revealed is taking place on September 25 and 26 . That said, with all these leaks Meta may make an earlier official teaser ahead of its wider reveal later this year to try and regain some control over the situation. Its time to eat my hat I was convinced the Meta Quest 3S wouldnt return to the Oculus Quest 2s bulky design when I first saw the leaks. I fully expected Meta to prioritize comfort as this was a major critique in Vision Pro reviews Metas most high profile rival. Instead I was prepared to see it shave off the price by using lower quality displays, less RAM, cheaper materials, or perhaps using a less impressive mixed-reality camera system. Heck, with all the hand-tracking updates we've seen, I wouldnt have been surpised if the controllers had been let go even if that wouldnt be a great idea overall. But with this latest leak I have to accept that I was wrong. The Quest 3S does look to be a Quest 3 in the Quest 2s bulky body. The only remaining question is how much will it cost? Welcome back Quest 2 design, we hardly missed you (Image credit: Shutterstock / Boumen Japet) This is where Im a little worried. If the Quest 3S isnt the technical downgrade I was anticipating, can a price drop to the Quest 2s launch price of $299 / 299 / AU$479 be justified? I mean, Meta can do whatever it wants, but pricing the 3S will be a challenge. If it goes too low which $299 / 299 / AU$479 feels like it might be can we justify spending $499 / 479 / AU$799 on the full-on Meta Quest 3? If Meta instead aims higher, maybe $399 / 399 / AU$599, then this wont feel like the budget Quest 2 replacement leaks have teased the device to be and begs the question if its not just worth spending that bit extra to get the full-on Quest 3. At least even if Meta does go for the cheaper end of the scale it wont anywhere close to as big a burn to Meta Quest 3 customers as when it teased the Quest 3 as its most powerful headset yet less than six months after it launched the Quest Pro with it then selling the Quest 3 for only a third of the Pros original price. You might also like... Meta has wild plans for camera-equipped headphones Metas massive OS announcement is more exciting than a Meta Quest 4 reveal My favorite Meta Quest 3 games and apps for May 2024 ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/virtual-reality-augmented-reality/meta-can t-stop-leaking-its-next-vr-headset-as-it-accidentally-shows-off-the-quest-3s --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .