What to expect from Meta Connect 2024: Affordable Quest 3, AR glasses, and more

Meta’s annual Join convention is sort of right here, and should you’re interested by new {hardware}, you are in luck.

Whereas a big portion of the convention will probably concentrate on the corporate’s AI efforts, at the least two gadgets ought to debut: a brand new Quest headset and new good glasses.

Additionally: Why Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses are my favorite tech purchase this year

First up, should you’ve been on the fence about attempting out the Meta Quest 3 and the current $25-a-month deal wasn’t enough, excellent news is coming: a extra reasonably priced, slimmed-down model of the Quest 3 is on the way in which.

The Quest 3S will reportedly run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, the identical one which runs the Quest 3. It is going to have a pair of fast-switch LCD screens with 1832 x 1920 decision and a 120Hz refresh charge. The outside is getting a slight retool, with a triangle-shaped sequence of “spider-eye” lenses. 

The 3S will value $299.99 for the 128GB base mannequin, with completely different bundles obtainable. A since-deleted Amazon web page confirmed a starter bundle, a streamer bundle, a consolation bundle, and a rechargable bundle. Meta’s largest benefit over Apple’s Vision Pro so far is the price difference, and this new system solely widens that hole. The bottom 3S is at the least $200 off the worth of the Quest 3.

Leaked pictures present it may be slightly bulkier than the Quest 3, and the lenses on the 3S may be nearer to what was on the Quest 2, but it surely seems to be a stable center floor between the three and the two, and a really attractive possibility should you’re seeking to make the AR/VR leap. 

Meta’s different massive {hardware} announcement will reportedly be a preview of its in-development augmented actuality (AR) good glasses. Glasses aren’t new territory for Meta, because it has partnered with Ray-Ban to produce smart glasses — however these aren’t AR. 

Additionally: Meta Quest 3 review: The VR headset most people should buy in 2024

The plan for this 12 months’s Join convention appears to be for Meta to indicate off new Meta AI software program that may energy the present Ray-Bans, introduce a couple of new colour choices and types for the Ray-Bans, and exhibit a prototype of its eventual AR glasses, internally often known as “Orion.”

Meta Connect 2024 will happen September 25-26.