The Oculus Quest 2 is a great VR headset that offers impressive standalone performance and a range of apps and games to download and play, but that doesn’t mean Facebook-owned Oculus isn’t on the next big thing is working.
The company has already confirmed this, although it is not the Quest 3, as many had suspected – evidence points to a more powerful version of the Quest 2, unofficially called the Oculus Quest 2 Pro. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming headset right now, including the release date and price rumors and what to expect.
When will the Oculus Quest 2 Pro be released?
Given the Oculus Quest 2 launched just over a year ago, it’s likely that we won’t see the Pro model any time soon – especially given the Standard’s popularity – and seem vague comments from Facebook to confirm this.
Andrew Bosworth, VP of Augmented and Virtual Reality at Facebook, said “Quest Pro, huh? Interesting” and winked when he responded to a question about a more powerful model of the Quest 2 in an Instagram AMA, teasing the idea that Facebook works on something behind closed doors.
Bosworth then followed in a later round of Q&A, this time on Twitter, saying the hypothetical headset would not arrive in 2021, suggesting the Oculus Quest 2 Pro may only see the light of day 2022 or later.
However, Facebook will host its VR- and AR-focused Facebook Connect on October 28, 2021. If the schedule has shifted and Facebook wants to get the Pro model out in time for Christmas, this would be the perfect place to start.
How much will the Oculus Quest 2 Pro cost?
This is a little more difficult to predict at the moment. The Oculus Quest 2 costs £ 299 / $ 299, which is an impressive price for any VR headset, let alone one that doesn’t need a gaming PC to function.
The Pro version would of course cost more, but there’s no word on how much it could cost. We’d expect something near the £ 499 / $ 499 mark, which makes it more expensive than the standard model but still not quite as high end as the PC-powered HTC Vive Cosmos at £ 699 / $ 699, but we get this one Update section as soon as we know more.
What to Expect from the Oculus Quest 2 Pro
The Oculus Quest 2 is by no means lacking in the power department, as it features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 platform paired with 6 GB of RAM and either 64 or 256 GB of storage, but the upcoming model’s ‘Pro’ nickname suggests suggests that the Pro model in the processing department is even more powerful.
That’s easier said than done when trying to use all of the technology that powers the experience within the headset, but it is certainly possible. It probably still won’t be able to withstand PC-based VR experiences, but it will help bridge the gap.
The upgraded processor could be used to increase the resolution of the LCD displays, and there could be a jump from the experimental 120Hz mode to the super smooth 144Hz used in gaming displays, resulting in a more realistic virtual -Reality experience with higher resolution results in needing a dedicated gaming PC.
Don’t expect a complete overhaul of the headset, however; Andrew Bosworth of Oculus is very clear that “there is no Quest 3, there is only Quest 2”.
Then he explained what he said, referring to his previous comments on an Instagram AMA, and continued, “I referred to an AMA on Quest Pro earlier this year because we have a lot of things in development that we’re adding to the headset Want to introduce functions along with the types that people theorize that we want to introduce, and that’s still a little way off. “
Face and eye tracking
Reddit user Reggy04 spotted evidence of Quest Pro as well as face and eye tracking in the Oculus Quest v32 firmware update in September 2021, suggesting that eye tracking could be a new addition to the high-end standalone VR headset.
It’s no surprise, however; As early as March 2021, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg described face and eye tracking as some of his most wanted features in future headsets. “One of the things I’m really looking forward to in future releases is the introduction of eye-tracking and face-tracking,” Zuckerberg told The Information.
The introduction of eye and face tracking alongside hand tracking could be a big plus for social VR apps and make virtual worlds a little more realistic, but it could also help the headset perform better by only covering the area completely is played back in which you are currently viewing. It’s not sure if it will be a feature of Quest 2 Pro, but it looks more and more likely.
New lens system
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, famous for his Apple product announcements, suggested to investors in a June 2021 statement that both Facebook and Sony have ordered large quantities of new VR lenses for 2022. it could benefit the FOV.
Improved controller
There will likely be minor tweaks to Quest 2’s controllers as well. While the current controllers are well designed and offer decent vibration feedback, improved haptics, such as those available on the PS5’s DualSense controllers, would greatly improve the overall experience.
What would you like to see on the Oculus Quest 2 Pro? Let us know on Twitter.
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