Meta’s VR hardware roadmap is clearly leaked, detailing the next four headsets, including pricing and specifications for the next VR headset, Project Cambria.
Known only by its codename, this enhanced device will take on Meta’s current best headset, the Oculus Quest 2 (now renamed Meta Quest 2), when it launches later this year. It is expected to replace it.
When announced in October 2021, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, said Cambria will be a “high-end” technology that creates a better VR and MR (Mixed Reality) experience than Meta has ever achieved. explained. This means that improved specifications and software could go our way.
Recently, Zuckerberg described it as an alternative to your laptop and work setup. Now, a report from The Information reaffirms the idea that Cambria will be a “face laptop”.
The leaked internal roadmap suggests that Project Cambria costs $ 799 (about £ 640 / AU $ 1,125), is about as powerful as a Chromebook, and runs on Meta’s own Android-based operating system. doing.
Based on the best Chromebooks available today and the Meta Quest 2 specs, Project Cambria seems to have at least 8GB of RAM, and probably about 256GB of storage. It will also boost that processor. However, Qualcomm has not yet started a follow-up to Snapdragon XR2, which enhances Meta’s Quest 2, so Meta may need to design its own chip.
I’ve also heard before that Cambria will incorporate a dual mini LED display that is likely to provide a refresh rate of 120Hz (to improve Quest 2’s “experimental” 120Hz capabilities).
Welcome redesign
What’s more, the only released image of Project Cambria (see above) shows that the controller has been slightly redesigned. Unlike the ones used in Quest 2, these new controllers do not have a tracking ring. This suggests that Cambria uses another method to track hand movements.
For other VR headsets, according to the same report from The Information, Meta will launch Quest 3 (codenamed Stinson) in 2023, followed by Project Funston and Project Cardiff in 2024.
Funston is reportedly improving Project Cambria and Cardiff is expected to be a low-end device.
MetaQuest 4 in 2024 feels very unlikely, as Quest 3 was only released a year ago. So, Cardiff expects to replace it with some kind of AR glasses (probably a follow-up to RayBan Stories Smart Glasses) or a VR headset designed for kids (a device Meta has long expected to make). I am.
We need to wait a little longer for Meta to elaborate on Project Stinson or Cardiff. There is not much official information on Project Cambria or MetaQuest 3 yet. But if four headsets drop by the end of 2024, Meta may want to start some announcements right away.