Key foods
- Meta is testing a prototype VR headset with a wider field of view than the current Quest models.
- This design includes angled lenses to improve the FOV, but is still in its early stages.
- Don't expect a wide FOV headset from Meta anytime soon, as they are currently focused on releasing the Quest 3S.
Meta It appears to be working on a prototype VR headset that has a wider field of view than its existing Meta Quest headsets. A recently released image shows the company's CTO taking a look at some of the experiments being tested in the Meta Reality Labs.
Meta is constantly testing new designs for its various peripherals, with some images of these being either officially shared or leaked online from time to time. The Meta Quest 3S headset was semi-teased in an earlier image of the CTO, where the unannounced VR headset sat on a shelf behind him. Now, a new leak seems to indicate that the company is testing wider FOVs for the headsets.
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In an image shared by Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth on Instagram, sharp-eyed viewers noticed that one of the headsets he was reviewing looked completely different. This image shows a prototype virtual reality headset that appears to curve around the face instead of simply fitting in front of the face. The lenses are angled, which plays an important role in improving the field of view in future headsets. This design is clearly only intended as a prototype, as it's wired and has rough attachments, but it's interesting to see if Meta might consider the possibility of a wider FOV in the future.
While this is indeed an experiment by Meta, that doesn't necessarily mean it will make it to consumers. Meta is constantly innovating and testing to determine what features will be good and work well for their future products. The recently canceled La Jolla Meta project, which was apparently supposed to compete with Apple's Vision Pro, was likely to be called Meta Quest Pro 2. However, Bosworth noted that the company has prototypes in development “always” and that's not all. It is actually produced. The company has several stages of testing before ideas reach the prototype stage. Even when products reach the final stage, they may be canceled by the company before they are announced to consumers.
For now, VR enthusiasts shouldn't hold their breath for a wide FOV headset release from Meta. For now, Meta is focused on its recent release of Quest 3S, with no official word on Meta Quest 4 or what's next. Even if this prototype goes all the way and is officially launched, it will probably be out in a few years.
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