Quest 3 charging dock review: A must, but only for enthusiasts
The official charging dock for Meta Quest 3 has many advantages. Whether it is worth the price depends on how much you use your Quest 3.
The charging dock keeps the headset and controller charged and ready to go at all times, and also gives the VR system a stylish and tidy look. However, Meta is charging a hefty $130 for the convenience upgrade.
I've been using the dock for three months now. Read my review to find out if and when it's worth buying.
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Charging dock for Meta Quest 3: review in a nutshell
Virtual reality is cumbersome enough to use, and with Meta's charging dock, you no longer have to spend time keeping your hardware and software ready for use. If you still use Quest 3 several times a week and have the money, you can buy it without hesitation. If not, there's no reason to shell out $150 for a convenience upgrade.
The charging dock is right for you if …
- you use Quest regularly,
- you want to spend less time updating software, and
- you expect a visually appealing and well-made product.
The charging dock isn't right for you if …
- manual charging doesn't interfere with your use,
- you use third-party accessories that are incompatible with the charging dock, and
- you are short on cash.
Official charging dock: effortless charging, great looks
The charging dock charges both the headset and the Touch Plus controllers and ensures safe charging with built-in protection against overheating. In addition to the charging dock, the box includes a 2-meter UBS-C charging cable and two rechargeable controller batteries. A charger is not included. Meta recommends using the Quest 3 charger.
The headset is charged using the three pins on the bottom of the housing, while the controllers are charged inductively through the plastic cover once the batteries are inserted. The headset and controller can be placed on and removed from the charging dock with ease.
When you place the devices on the charging dock, you will hear a beep and the LEDs under the headset and the two controllers will glow yellow. When the headset and controller are fully charged, they will glow green.
The white base has a nice weight of 427 grams and feels sturdy and high-quality. The placed Quest 3 and controller make a visually appealing impression on it.
Fewer VR hurdles for everyday use
I have been using Quest headsets for years, and the charging dock was a game changer for me in terms of ease of use.
After use, the headset and controller always return to the same place and are ready to use again when I need them. I don't have to worry about whether the headset has enough charge, and I don't look anxiously at the charge level of the controller batteries anymore when I put the headset on.
Another great benefit is that the Quest is always charged overnight and system software and apps are updated while I'm asleep, removing another barrier to daily use. I can tell you from experience that it's little things like this that make the difference between picking up the headset in the evening and doing something else.
The Quest's charger only supports 18 watts, and if you have a better charger, you can actually save some headset charging time. I use the Anker Nano II 45W to charge my laptop and smartphone and have tested how long it takes the charging dock to charge the headset and controllers with the standard power supply and the Anker power supply:
| Quest 3 18 W charger |
Anker Nano II 45W charger |
|
| Quest 3 Headset | 130 minutes | 108 minutes |
| Touch Plus Controller | 73 minutes | 73 minutes |
The Anker charger made no difference to the controllers, while the headset charged 22 minutes faster. So it's not worth buying an extra 45W charger, but if you already have one at home, it might slightly improve the headset's charge time.
The biggest drawback is the price
I have only minor complaints. For example, I would have liked the charging dock to make a sound when the controllers or headset are fully charged, and an easy way to turn off the green LEDs when needed, as they are quite bright and can be annoying.
My biggest criticism is the outrageous price of the accessory. Meta would do well to sell it at a lower price as many users would use their device more often.
There are now cheaper third-party charging docks, such as the Kiwi RGB Vertical Charging Stand for $80, but it only charges the headset, not the controllers, and looks less elegant in my opinion.
Speaking of third-party accessories: Meta's charging dock is designed to work with the official accessories; using third-party accessories may compromise the benefits of the charging dock. So make sure to check first if they work properly with the charging dock.
Conclusion: Money well spent for enthusiasts
I'm very happy with the dock and can't imagine ever having to charge the headset and controller manually again. Having them all in one place, ready to go, is a big plus for me and makes me use my Quest 3 more often. The combination looks great too.
I hope the next, cheaper Meta Quest comes with a more affordable charging dock. That would remove some of the biggest barriers to VR use.
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