New details about the Meta Quest 3 display
Firmware findings suggest that Meta Quest 3 will support a higher frame rate than Meta Quest Pro.
Last summer, Quest data miner Samulia discovered the first clues about the display used in Meta Quest 3 in the beta firmware of Update 43.
The lines of code suggest that the internal prototype, codenamed Eureka865, uses a single LC display with a resolution of 4,128 by 2,208 pixels, which corresponds to 2,064 by 2,208 pixels per eye. In terms of pixel count, that would be a 30 percent increase over Meta Quest 2. The refresh rate was specified at 90 hertz.
Now, Samulia reports that a 120 hertz version of the display configuration has surfaced in the latest beta firmware version 49, suggesting that Meta Quest 3 could support a higher maximum refresh rate.
120 hertz support should become standard
Meta Quest 2 has already supported 120 hertz by default for a few months, but only for VR apps that are optimized for it. The home environment and the system menus still run at 90 hertz. If Meta Quest 3 does indeed get a faster SoC, these areas, as well as other VR games, could benefit from a higher frame rate.
According to VR analyst Brad Lynch, JDI and probably BOE will manufacture the Meta Quest 3's LCD panels. Local dimming for higher contrast like in Meta Quest Pro is not expected, Lynch said.
Update on Quest 3 displays prediction:
It uses LCD display(s) with a resolution of 2064x2208 per eye running up to 120hz at launch pic.twitter.com/ZuLHd8URIC
- Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) January 10, 2023
The $1,800 premium headset supports a maximum refresh rate of 90 hertz. That's a downgrade from Meta Quest 2 that isn't likely to carry over to its successor. John Carmack said during his last Connect talk that all Meta headsets following Meta Quest Pro will support up to 120 hertz refresh rate. Accordingly, the firmware find is no surprise.
Meta is probably already testing the next-generation chip
Another change Samulia discovered in the firmware is a change in the codename from "Eureka865" to "Eureka." The number 865 was a reference to the Meta Quest 2's SoC, which is the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1, which in turn is a derivative of the Snapdragon 865 smartphone SOC. Lynch thinks that this change suggests a switch to the next SoC generation, the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2. A chip that is supposed to be considerably faster.
According to Lynch's sources, Meta Quest 3 will definitely be based on the (still unannounced) next-gen SoC. The first test chips are said to have already been sent to Meta and other companies.
In his update, the well-informed analyst makes further predictions about the device: that it will feature pancake lenses and that it will ship with VR controllers similar to Meta Quest 2, i.e. tracking rings instead of inside-out tracking (see Quest Touch Pro Controller).
Meta Quest 3 is expected to launch in the fall of 2023. You can find all facts and rumors in our info article about Quest 3.
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