Tech giant Meta plans to launch at least four new VR headsets by 2024, according to a report in The information. Two headsets focus on work and productivity (Project Cambria and Funston), while the other two are new versions of the Quest headset (Project Stinson and Cardiff) for gaming.
We have already known of Project Cambria, a VR/AR device that’s “more geared toward work use cases.” The Cambria will reportedly feature a high-resolution screen to make reading text easier on the eyes. The idea is that you can email or work on code without removing the headset, ultimately replacing the need for a monitor at your desk.
The report points out that Cambria has outward-facing cameras that enable full-color passthrough, allowing users to see their surroundings in real time, and the headset’s operating system can implement different virtual overlays depending on the app. That would be a big step up from the current pass-through mode on the Quest, which gives you a grainy view of your surroundings.
Built-in sensors can, for example, follow the user’s eye movements and track facial expressions. Cambria will be heavier than the Quest 2 as it has a larger battery on the back and is designed to be more comfortable to wear for long periods like a full workday. Meta employees refer to this headset as a “laptop for your face,” according to The Information.
The report indicates that Project Funston will be an updated version of Cambria, due out in 2024. Project Cambria was due to release last year but was pushed back to later this year due to supply chain issues.
On the VR gaming front, there isn’t much information out there about the new Quest headsets, other than the fact that Meta plans to release them in 2023 and 2024. The first will be a high-end VR headset, followed by a new budget model this year.
We loved that search 2 When we checked it out, the idea of a more comfortable headset with better graphics sounds very appealing to us. It will be interesting to see if any of the Cambria’s augmented reality features make their way to these new headsets. Meta clearly has a vision of the future workplace that involves us deeply Meetings within the metaversewhether someone wants it or not.
Project Cambria is due out this September and will cost at least $800, which means it could cost nearly three times the price of Quest 2.
