Project Cambria: Meta Quest Pro launch date, pricing, specifications and CAD renders surface
Brad Lynch has offered his' final analysis' about Project Cambria, the codename of Meta's next-generation VR headset. Currently thought of as the Meta Quest Pro, the VR headset will be considerably more expensive than the Quest 2, despite the latter's impending price increase. While Mark Gurman claimed that the Meta Quest Pro would arrive for approximately US$1,000, Lynch has other ideas.
Citing various unnamed sources, Lynch claims that the Meta Quest Pro could launch for US$1,500 with a head unit, controllers, controller charging pad and cables. Alternatively, Meta will sell the Quest Pro controllers as a separate bundle with a charging pad for US$300. It is unclear whether Meta will sell the head unit separately, but Lynch asserts that the Quest Pro controllers could be compatible with the Quest 2. Apparently, support is not guaranteed though, with Lynch explaining:
The engineers have seemed to solve the hard issues. But some others remain. One of the largest caveats of this final decision within Meta is how they will have a different controller firmware update path, via Over-the-Air on Quest 2 (separate) as compared to Quest Pro (bundled in an OS package). I would guess that Quest 2 users would need a special app to update Starlet controllers. Or Meta will rework their entire controller update system.
Additionally, Lynch has provided specifications for both the Quest Pro and its controllers. In short, both will feature Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets and non-removable batteries. Unsurprisingly, both contain vastly superior hardware compared to the Quest 2 generation, including QLED panels that the Quest Pro will render at 1,800 x 1,920 pixels per eye. Incidentally, the Quest Pro will actually have two displays capable of running at 2,160 x 2,160 pixels each.
Meta Quest Pro
- Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 5G SoC
- 12 GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 256 GB storage
- Dual Tianjin-3 QLED panels
- 2,160 x 2,160 per eye (1,800 x 1,920 rendered per eye)
- Quantum Dot layer for improved colour gamut
- MiniLED backlighting for local dimming
- Counter-rotated at 21 degrees to improve FoV
- Custom pancake lenses
- 10 Sensors and IR Depth Projector for Mixed Reality
- (2) "Canyon" – 640 x 480 (IOT, IR Constellation tracking, hand tracking)
- (2) "Glacier" – 1,280 x 1,024 (Depth, Passthrough, IR Constellation tracking, hand tracking)
- (1) “Teton” – 2,328 x 1,748 (16 MP RGB Passthrough overlay)
- (5) “Esker” – 400 x 400 (face tracking, eye tracking)
- WiFi 6E Capable
- Improved Spatial Audio
- 5,000 mAh Li-Ion Battery (dock charging available)
Quest Pro controllers (codenamed Starlet)
- Qualcomm 662 SoC
- 3 IR Cameras for Standalone 6 DoF tracking
- Non-Removable 3,200 mAh battery
- HD Haptics (multiple actuators per handle)
- Pressure Sensor
Separately, Lynch has also shared CAD renders of the Quest Pro and its controllers, embedded below. Reportedly, the Quest Pro will have counter-rotated displays to improve vertical FoV, with both panels rotated 21 degrees towards each other. Also, the Quest Pro has ten sensors and an IR depth projector for mixed reality. Meanwhile, the Quest Pro controllers will come with better haptics and a pressure sensor.
Reputedly, Meta will unveil the Quest Pro and its controllers at this year's Meta Connect. Typically, Meta hosts these events in October, with Facebook Connect 2021 commencing on October 28. Lynch adds that pre-orders will open during Mark Zuckerberg's keynote, with a full release following on October 25. Presumably, Meta Connect 2022 will begin during the third week of October, then.
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