In our Meta Quest 3 review, we found that the virtual reality headset has a sensible starting price of $499.99 / ₹50651.47 / AU$799.99, which is significantly less than the $3,499 (or above) you’ll pay for the Apple Vision Pro. However, it appears that an even more cheap Meta headset is on the way.
After teasing the Meta Quest 3 Lite earlier this month, VR Panda (via Android Authority) has shared a photo of the speculated smartphone on social media. As one can anticipate, it looks very similar to Meta Quest 3.
However, there are significant peculiarities. The passthrough cameras on the outside of the wearable have supposedly been discarded, which presumably implies that augmented reality effects and any type of hand tracking control are off the agenda.
The Android Authority team believes that using a less expensive processor could result in more savings. Savings will undoubtedly have to be made elsewhere if Meta is to dramatically reduce the price of the Quest 3.
As with every leak, we should exercise caution before taking anything at its value. Last year, we heard that a less expensive Meta Quest VR device was on the horizon, but there haven’t been many leaks or speculations about it – and corporate plans can always alter when it comes to gadget launches.
Even if Meta is seeking to cut production expenses, the lack of passthrough cameras is surprising. The business has previously stated that passthrough is likely to be a “standard feature” on future headsets, so take that what you will.
If you want to put a device to your head that combines virtual and augmented reality, the difference between Apple and Meta is evident, with the former’s solution costing seven times more.
Meta emphasizes affordability as a key selling factor, and it appears that this disparity may widen even further with the next product. However, there is currently no indication of when a Meta Quest 3 Lite headset will be released.
