What you need to know
- Meta will sell a $40 “open face interface” for the Meta Quest 3 that offers an open periphery.
- While there is still padding for the wearer’s face, a gap helps eliminate fogging of the lenses and provides a view of the surroundings.
- The open face interface attempts to fill the void left by Meta Quest Pro, which is destined to be discontinued.
All eyes were on the Orion and Quest 3S at Meta Connect 2024, but a new way to wear the Meta Quest 3 has the potential to be one of the biggest news of the conference. Meta has announced that it is selling an official “open facial interface” for the Quest 3, which will give it an open peripheral experience similar to that of the Meta Quest Pro. When Quest Pro is soon discontinued, the Quest 3 and the open facial interface will be the official way to comfortably enjoy a Meta headset with open sides.
The open face interface costs $40 and can be pre-ordered from Meta’s website. If you order now, the estimated ship date is currently set for mid-October. Unfortunately, the open face interface is only compatible with the Quest 3, not the new Quest 3S. The cheaper Quest 3S has a “breathable facial interface” available, but the open design of the Quest 3’s new facial interface could have given users the illusion of a wider field of view.
Now, there are three official ways to wear the Meta Quest 3. There is the default facial interface that comes in the box with the Quest 3, designed for everyday use. Then, you have the silicone facial interface sold separately for $40, made for high-activity workouts and games. The newest addition to the lineup is the open face interface, which Meta says is best for space experiences. For what it’s worth, the open face interface is also the lightest of the three, weighing just 60 grams.
Android Central’s Nick Sutrich tested the new open face interface on Meta Connect and reported that it completely eliminated lens fogging issues. It also had the feel of an open periphery, but it didn’t quite match the Quest Pro experience. The Quest Pro’s open sides leave nothing in contact with your face, but there is facial padding on the facial interface open for Meta Quest 3.
Interestingly, the breathable facial interface of the Meta Quest 3S also eliminated lens fogging. It does not provide the same level of open periphery as the open facial interface, as it is completely closed. However, because the breathable fabric allows some light to pass through, it gives the wearer a sense of soft periphery.
These new ways to wear the Meta Quest 3 and the more affordable Quest 3S will be crucial in the coming year. The Quest 3 128GB and Quest Pro will be discontinued, so the Quest 3 512GB plus the open face interface will be the official way to get open periphery during space experiences moving forward.
The open face interface will enable better mixed reality experiences
Meta’s approach to open facial interface design seeks to blend the best of open periphery and closed fabric seals. Third-party solutions already exist to help Meta Quest 3 owners use the headset without a facial interface, but Meta’s intention is to give users the comfort and stability of a facial interface while also providing open side views. Again, it’s not quite like Meta Quest Pro, even though the idea is similar.
It’s impossible to compare the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro headsets, yet it’s clear that the latter and visionOS are influencing the former. Meta has been trying and pushing spatial experiences more on the Quest 3 since the Vision Pro was released. As Apple Vision Pro owners have learned, spatial experiences using mixed reality or simply video passthrough are better with the edge open. Where displays end, your peripheral vision begins.
So, for those who like to use Meta Quest 3 for spatial computing or mixed reality experiences, the $40 open face interface could be a game-changer. There will certainly be people still interested in using their Quest 3 without a facial interface, but Meta offers a best-of-both-worlds solution. You can eliminate lens fogging and view your surroundings with the open facial interface and maintain comfort at the same time.
Even with the open face interface, Meta will still leave a hole in its VR lineup when the Quest Pro is discontinued. It wasn’t a success by any means, but its open atmosphere made the experience one of a kind. For now, the $40 Open Face Interface and $500 Meta Quest 3 will have to do.
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