Technology

If you haven’t yet installed Meta Quest 3 update v62, you might want to wait a while longer. That’s because some users who downloaded the update, which was issued last month, have received an unpleasant warning popup stating that there is dust or debris in their USB port, which is not the case.

Even if you try to dismiss the erroneous warning, it will resurface, leaving the headset feeling “essentially worthless” according to several angry Meta Quest 3 purchasers.

It’s unclear what’s causing the issue; I haven’t noticed the popup at all, although I’ve been using my Quest 3 every single day for my VR fitness project Anecdotal evidence from social media suggests that even if two users use the headset in comparable ways, one may see the popup while the other does not. However, Meta has recently provided some possibly positive news.

On the main Meta Community Forum page, where people have been expressing their experiences, an official Meta Quest Support administrator posted an update titled “Issue Replicated.” “Fix in Progress.”

While this is fantastic news for the numerous Quest 3 customers who are frustrated by the false USB-C port warning, the moderator emphasized that the team does not currently have a schedule for when a remedy would be ready – only that they have been able to duplicate the issue and have begun testing potential remedies.

This ambiguity has caused understandable annoyance among those affected, particularly those who have been experiencing issues with the warning message for more than six weeks since version 62 was released. In the forum thread mentioned above, we’ve seen individuals promise to never buy Meta VR hardware again, recommend that people submit chargebacks on the credit card they used to purchase the headset, and overall express their dissatisfaction with the situation.

What can be done to avoid the Quest 3 bug?

As previously said, because there is no evident cause for this problem, it is difficult for us to prescribe what you can do to prevent it. The key piece of advice we can give is to avoid updating to version 62 if you haven’t already.

If you’ve already updated to v62, based on the community discussion, we recommend only using the official Meta Quest 3 charging cord with your headset, as some users have reported problems with third-party cables. We also advocate utilizing a headset for independent experiences rather than a tethered one to prevent triggering the popup.

If the popup appears for you, however, there does not appear to be much you can do other than try to get through it. We’ve noticed some people say it only shows when their headset is 80-100% charged – so you might be successful if you don’t fully recharge your Quest 3 between sessions – and some people say resetting their device cleared it up (though others stated it had no effect).

Unfortunately, these are the best remedies we can come up with until Meta issues a true update, so hopefully one isn’t too far away – though considering Meta’s imprecise timeframe, who knows how long we’ll be waiting.

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.