Meta VR glasses vs Meta Quest 3: How they compare

At Meta Connect on Wednesday, Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the Meta VR glasses, a new product that combines the design of regular smart glasses with the virtual reality features of a Quest headset. While direct testing of the glasses is not yet possible, a comparison on paper reveals some notable differences between the Meta VR glasses and the Quest 3.

The most obvious difference between these two devices is their price. The VR Glasses will launch in 2027 at a price of $1,299, while the Quest 3 currently sells for $599. This means the VR Glasses are nearly twice as expensive as the Quest 3, so users should expect a significant investment. Despite the price difference, the Quest 3 has some advantages in terms of specs.

The VR Glasses have a micro-OLED display with a resolution of 2412×2288 per eye, while the Quest 3 features an LCD display with a resolution of 2064×2208 per eye. The Quest 3 also has a larger field of view, measuring 110 degrees by 96 degrees, compared to the VR Glasses' 70 degrees by 66 degrees. The Quest 3 is powered by a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, while the VR Glasses use a newer Snapdragon Reality Elite processor.

The Quest 3 comes with 8GB of RAM and offers 512GB of starting storage, whereas the VR Glasses have 12GB of RAM and 128GB of starting storage. The Quest 3 also includes touch controllers, while the VR Glasses do not, but the latter has a microSD card slot for expandable storage. In terms of design, the VR Glasses are a pair of glasses, while the Quest 3 is a full headset.

The VR Glasses provide a greater degree of spatial awareness due to their smaller size, but they might compromise immersion. Conversely, the Quest 3 offers a more immersive experience, but it is heavier and bulkier due to its internal computing hardware. The Quest 3 weighs 515 grams, while the VR Glasses weigh 100 grams. The Quest 3 also has a longer list of software features, such as eye and face tracking, hand tracking, compatibility with IMAX-certified 3D movies, and the ability to be used as a work device.

However, the VR Glasses are newer and more expensive, which might make them more capable than the Quest 3, despite some drawbacks in terms of design and practicality.