The Meta Quest Pro may not be the greatest VR headset we’ve ever tested—that honor goes to the more cheap Meta Quest 3, with the Apple Vision Pro coming in a close second. However, if you are an avid mixed reality user, this is an excellent pick.
Professionals, scientists, and creatives may all benefit from this real-time online collaboration platform. If you fit into that category, you’ll enjoy it. Its mixed reality elements helped kickstart a trend away from full VR, as seen in the Quest 3.
After spending some time with the Quest Pro, I saw its potential firsthand. Even in a short period of time, it’s evident why working in a virtual office and communicating with virtual replicas of your coworkers can be desirable. Some people may prefer virtual meetings over being a talking head in a box on video calling tools such as Skype or Google Meet.
However, the majority of individuals have yet to make the transition to working in the metaverse. That implies that if you want to work in VR, you will have to be an early adopter and may not find it to be as effective as it could be. That’s a tall order given the headset costs $1,499 (note: the Meta Quest Pro is now $898), compared to the Quest 3’s $499 price point. To be honest, most individuals may find this too much to expect. Read on to see why.
Meta Quest Pro review :
Specs :
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Meta Quest Pro |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ |
| Display resolution | 1832 x 1920 per eye |
| Storage | 256GB |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Battery life | 2-3 hours (rated) |
| Size | 10.3 x 7.1 x 5.0 |
| Weight | 1.59 pounds |
Price and availability :
- Currently $999 in North America
- Has numerous optional accessories
When first reviewed, the Meta Quest Pro priced $1,499/£1,499/$2,499 AU from Meta’s web shop. However, the Quest Pro is currently priced at $999 and has been for some time. It looks to be a permanent price drop, however Meta has yet to make a formal statement (we will update this review if it returns to $1,499).
If you don’t want to buy the Quest Pro from Meta, you can get it via Amazon or Best Buy. The Quest Pro bundle includes the headset, two Meta Quest Touch Pro controllers, pen tips for the controllers, partial light blockers, and a charging dock. That is all included, regardless of the store.
There are also other accessories for the Quest Pro available. This includes the Meta Quest Pro Compact Charging Dock ($79), Meta Quest Pro VR Earphones ($49), Incase’s Meta Quest Pro Carry Case ($119), and the Meta Quest Pro Full Light Blocker ($49).
Design :
- All-black finish
- Lightweight
The Quest Pro, like the Quest 2, is an elegantly designed VR headset. Meta describes it as having “pancake lenses” in the front and a curved-cell battery in the back. Their various curves allow them to adapt to your head, making the gadget more comfortable to use for extended durations.
The Quest Pro measures 10.3 x 7.1 x 5.0 inches and weighs about 1.59 pounds. The headset is so lightweight that you nearly forget you’re using it. As I mentioned in my preview, I consider this a little success, given how large and unwieldy prior VR systems were. Of course, the lack of cables adds a great deal of comfort.
The headset contains a small number of controllers and buttons. The left side of the headset houses a headphone jack, a USB-C connector, and a power button. It also features two dials, one on the front lens and the other on the power pack.
The front dial adjusts the distance between your eyes and the screen from 2.16 to 2.95 inches, while the back dial tightens and loosens the device around your head. The dials are slightly firm, but they aren’t difficult to turn, especially after they’ve moved. I think that regular use will loosen them up over time.
Controllers :
- Full 360-degree range of motion
- Interacting with virtual objects feels more genuine
The Metal Quest Pro controllers are not only comfortable to handle, but they are also easier to operate than the company’s prior VR controllers. Instead of depending on the headset for tracking, the controllers use self-tracking technology. Because of this, they have a complete 360-degree range of motion. The controllers are always monitored, even if you place your hands behind you. This works nicely while you’re using them and makes other people’s hand movements look more natural.
TruTouch Haptics is another useful feature that provides greater feedback. If you pinch or squeeze a virtual item, you will experience resistance on the buttons you push. It feels natural to squeeze a rubber ball, for example. It is clearly not the same as executing the identical activity in real life.
The controllers’ attachable pen tips let you to write on virtual surfaces. Although the controllers are significantly larger than a typical pen or pencil, writing feels rather natural. When writing on items such as a whiteboard or a wall, you will experience resistance, with each causing varying amounts of vibration to imitate the real-life act. Having said that, it took me a bit to adjust to writing in VR. But it was primarily because I wanted to find out the best angle to place my hand so that it could detect my motions. Working in VR in general is unusual, but writing turned out to be more effective than I expected.
I’m not a fan of VR controls since they appear awkward and inelegant. Having saying that, I found the Quest Pro controllers quite easy to use, especially once you get used to them. I nearly forgot I was using them since they were so simple to use, which is the finest praise I can give to any type of controller.
Setting up :
- Setup process takes minutes
- No need to calibrate headset
Calibrating older VR headsets used to be a pain, but that isn’t the case with the Quest Pro. Setting it up is a relatively straightforward process that takes only minutes.
After turning the headset on, you’ll receive a series of simple-to-follow tutorials that demonstrate how to properly adjust the headset. Before you know it, you’re ready to hop into some VR worlds.
The Quest Pro’s open-sided design allows you to see your surroundings while wearing the headset, so you can use it practically anyplace without fear of accidently colliding into something. This differs from the Quest 2, which required you to be in a 6.5 by 6.5-foot area so that you could wander about in VR. The Quest Pro just advises you to make sure you have adequate space to move your arms. This particular step in the setup procedure takes seconds.
You will also need to connect to the internet via Wi-Fi 6E. A virtual window displaying available networks appears, and you may put in your network’s password using a virtual keyboard. This portion is also easy.
Performance :
- Powered by the Snapdragon XR2+ platform
- Fast and responsive
The Meta Quest Pro is based on the Snapdragon XR2+ platform, which Meta says makes it 50% quicker than the Quest 2. It also features 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
During my testing, I tried several different games and applications and found them to be fairly responsive. I say “fairly” because utilizing VR apps still feels strange. If your hands are shaky, it may be difficult to click menu buttons or control VR items. I played a game called The Last Clockwinder, and it was occasionally difficult to grip things or pull levers. But I wouldn’t blame performance for this because, as previously said, playing in VR requires some adjusting.
Audio :
- Loud and crisp audio
- Bass is almost nonexistent
The Meta Quest Pro includes built-in speakers that provide clear, powerful sounds. It also supports positional audio, which enhances immersion by having noises appear to come from various directions and distances. For example, if you’re in a virtual conference and someone walks behind you, it will sound like they’re following you. Virtual participants nearest to you will sound louder than those farthest away. It’s impressive stuff.
But as much as I appreciate the Quest Pro’s spatial audio, I wish it didn’t sound so thin. Yes, the audio is clear, but there’s next to no bass. Thankfully, there’s a headphone jack you can use to plug in your own cans if the thin sound quality gets grating.
Battery life :
- Lasts between 2-3 hours
- Takes 2 hours to charge
Meta says the Quest Pro can last between two to three hours, depending on what you’re doing. In my own testing, I found this to be accurate since I had to charge the device after roughly two hours of playing games and trying various apps
You may check the headset’s battery life at any moment in the Meta Quest App settings or in VR using the Home Menu. If you want the headset to last longer, use the provided 6.5-foot power line to keep it charged. This practically turns this into a corded device, however the choice is available and welcomed.
The Quest Pro takes around two hours to completely charge, so plan to spend as much time charging as you do using it.
Open periphery :
- Outer cameras lets you see your real-world surroundings
- Image quality is somewhat grainy
One of my main concerns about wearing a VR headset is that it makes you feel separated from your surroundings. Granted, I get why full immersion is vital, particularly while playing certain games, but I always want to have a feeling of my surroundings. This is why I rarely wear headphones while watching television or gaming. Thankfully, the Quest Pro’s open-sided design allows me to view my surroundings even while wearing the headset.
The cameras incorporated inside the Meta Quest Pro enable it to provide an improved version of the Quest 2’s Passthrough function. Instead of blurry black-and-white footage of your surroundings, you can utilize the headset’s exterior cameras to watch a comparatively high-resolution color version anytime you wish. That’s not to claim the image quality is perfect (it’s still slightly grainy), but it’s better than the Quest 2’s Passthrough mode.
This is one of the Quest Pro’s most compelling features, particularly in terms of productivity. For example, I can see my laptop or PC keyboard in the actual world while interacting with virtual objects. You can be in a VR environment while still present in the real world, which is quite cool.
Verdict :
There is no disputing that Meta Quest Pro is a remarkable piece of technology. It performs a fantastic job of imitating participants’ facial expressions and hand motions, making chatting to someone’s avatar more comfortable. Its spatial audio also helps you feel more engaged in an area, whether it’s a virtual office or a dream world. The built-in color passthrough cameras keep you aware of your surroundings. All of this is quite remarkable.
But, despite its benefits, I’m not convinced if those who cooperate online will find the Quest Pro indispensable. Yes, the technology is impressive, but if you need to meet with your team, tried-and-true programs like Google Meet or Zoom are more efficient. Furthermore, with the Meta Quest 3 providing much of this functionality at a lesser cost, it’s difficult to suggest this to anybody outside of the niche who will benefit from its specialized feature set.
