At the ongoing CES 2025, Sony has launched the prototype of an extended reality headset dubbed XYN specifically for creating 3D spatial content. The Japanese consumer Electronics giant briefly previewed their motive to develop the headset at last year’s CES and now the wearable has got better with 4K OLED microdisplays and video passthrough tech.

XYN is a comprehensive software and hardware solution to support VR content creators to capture the precise details of the real-world environment and seamlessly integrate with an array of third-party tools for a flexible workflow. This makes complete sense as demand for mixed reality and virtual reality content is spiking. Making it easier for developers to create such content will push the whole wearable headset universe forward.

Designer: Sony

Creators can use the XYN in conjunction with Sony’s spatial content creation software to craft extended reality content including 3D objects, animations, and immersive games for Metaverse applications. When not in use the wearer can flip the headset up since they’ll be using it for long durations while creating content. The only thing missing this year compared to last year’s version is the pointer and ring on top. At the event, the headset was spotted in two colorways – black and gray. The price and release date of the headset are still uncertain, and we hope to hear more from Sony in the coming months.

Alongside the XYN headset, Sony has also revealed the Xyn Motion Studio which is a Windows app with support for up to 12 Mocopi sensors for an improved motion capture flow. This is often used by video content creators to control virtual avatars courtesy of the wireless motion tracking system. The advanced software enables the developers to cut or merge motions, as well as toggle the time and position. A prototype of the spatial capture solution is now capable of converting any real objects or mirrorless camera photos into photorealistic 3D computer-generated assets. The software is slated to release in March 2025.

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Don’t dismiss the Vision Pro just yet. Sure, rumors have been swirling that the company has pretty much halted all production of their flagship spatial computing device, but Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has some interesting updates. His scoop? Apple and Sony, are reportedly in talks to integrate PlayStation VR2’s Sense controllers with Apple’s Vision Pro headset. This partnership, if realized, could reshape how we think about virtual and mixed reality experiences, seamlessly blending gaming prowess with Apple’s signature design ethos.

The Vision Pro, Apple’s first foray into spatial computing, debuted as a device with lofty ambitions. Relying on gaze-and-pinch interactions paired with hand-tracking, its interface felt futuristic yet restrained when stacked against the tactile immersion offered by physical controllers. While its approach works wonders for casual gaming and productivity tasks, the absence of tactile input left a gaping hole in its potential for more dynamic, fast-paced VR gaming. Enter Sony, whose PS VR2 Sense controllers are heralded for their precise tracking, haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers. It’s easy to see why Apple would tap into Sony’s expertise to elevate Vision Pro’s gaming and interactive experiences.

Gurman, a well-known source of tech scoops, shared that Apple initiated discussions with Sony earlier this year, targeting the seamless integration of the Sense controllers into the Vision Pro ecosystem. The collaboration promises to extend beyond just gaming, allowing users to navigate visionOS interfaces using Sony’s controllers. For Vision Pro, this move is not just a band-aid solution but a strategic decision aimed at capturing a more serious gaming demographic. The absence of robust gaming support has been a sticking point for Vision Pro since its announcement. Adding PS VR2 Sense controllers could be the olive branch Apple extends to hardcore gamers who’ve so far been unimpressed by its current offerings.

What’s particularly intriguing is the potential ripple effect this partnership could have on the gaming industry. Sony has been fiercely protective of its PS VR2 ecosystem, even to the extent of not selling its Sense controllers separately. Yet, this exclusivity might soften if Sony and Apple push ahead with making these controllers available through Apple’s sales channels. Imagine walking into an Apple Store, purchasing a PS VR2 Sense controller, and unlocking new gaming experiences on a Vision Pro. It’s a scenario that positions both companies as collaborators rather than competitors—an unusual but potentially brilliant strategy.

But could this partnership lead to something even bigger? Some speculate it might pave the way for a broader gaming alliance between Apple and Sony. Such a move would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the gaming industry, especially with Microsoft’s Xbox looming large as the primary rival. While Apple could technically develop its own controllers tailored to the Vision Pro, partnering with Sony allows them to sidestep years of R&D and leverage Sony’s established credibility among gamers.

Beyond gaming, this partnership could also enhance Vision Pro’s value proposition for non-gaming applications. The tactile advantages of Sony’s controllers could transform how professionals interact with 3D models, designers manipulate virtual canvases, or filmmakers storyboard immersive scenes. By broadening its use cases, Apple has a shot at making Vision Pro more than a niche device for early adopters or AR enthusiasts.

Yet, as with any ambitious endeavor, there are potential roadblocks. Gurman notes that the announcement, initially planned for weeks ago, was delayed—possibly signaling internal hiccups or last-minute refinements. Whether it’s technical integration challenges, supply chain constraints, or plain old corporate hesitance, there’s always a chance this partnership could stall or be scrapped altogether.

However, the timing of this rumor feels strategic. Vision Pro’s early reviews have highlighted its groundbreaking potential while pointing out areas where it falls short. Apple knows that it must demonstrate more than technological novelty to justify the $3,500 price tag. Teaming up with Sony to bring richer gaming and interactive experiences could be the shot in the arm Vision Pro needs as it prepares for its full release next year.

For now, Apple and Sony remain tight-lipped, but the possibility of this partnership is tantalizing. It paints a picture of a future where Apple’s minimalistic design philosophy meets Sony’s immersive gaming technology, creating an ecosystem that’s not only expansive but compelling. If nothing else, it underscores Apple’s willingness to think beyond its walled garden—a refreshing shift for a company known for keeping things close to its chest.

So, will this be the start of a beautiful friendship between Apple and Sony, or just another chapter in the rumor mill? Only time will tell. But for now, the idea of navigating visionOS with a PS VR2 Sense controller is enough to keep tech enthusiasts and gamers alike dreaming of the possibilities. And if this collaboration does take off, maybe it’s time to rethink that Xbox subscription—just saying.

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Although the buzz around the Apple Vision Pro has died down, there’s little doubt that spatial computing, mixed reality, and the metaverse will be our unavoidable future. We still have ways to go, of course, but the industry is already trying to get us used to seeing digitally in 3D, whether we’re wearing glasses or just looking at specially-designed monitors. Those 3D objects, however, don’t just pop out of thin air and have to be created one way or another. Not a problem for fabricated 3D models, but it’s a big problem when you want to make real-world physical objects into believable digital 3D objects. As part of its own push for spatial computing, Acer is launching a consumer-friendly stereoscopic 3D camera that lets anyone capture the real world in a way that can be easily viewed in 3D glasses and on glasses-free 3D monitors.

Designer: Acer

Video conferencing and live streams have become quite common these days, the latter even turning into a lucrative business opportunity. But while these mediums are able to bridge distances, there are some things that are still difficult to convey in flat, 2D monitors, things such as miniature models of architectural designs or merchandise you’re trying to sell online. While some online stores now offer 3D views of products or spaces, it’s something that’s way out of reach of regular people because of the lack of accessible and affordable tools.

The Acer SpatialLabs Eyes puts one such tool in the hands of the masses. The rather unassuming compact box packs the hardware necessary for a computer to see in stereoscopic 3D, especially thanks to an 8MP sensor per eye and plenty of controls for both beginners and experts to tweak the video quality. The hardware is encased in a weather-proof shell that has a built-in selfie mirror for easier framing, as well as a touch-sensitive LCD screen on its back.

Although the SpatialLabs Eyes is quite capable of capturing still 3D images, it really shines in its capability to record and stream stereoscopic 3D video in real-time. This makes it a powerful tool for making presentations in video calls, showing off products during live selling streams, or simply committing special, once-in-a-lifetime moments to memory in an extra special way. Of course, you’ll need a way to actually view these videos in stereoscopic 3D, and, not by coincidence, Acer’s SpatialLabs brand has a line of monitors and laptops that won’t require you to wear headsets or even glasses just to do that. The Acer SpatialLabs Eyes stereoscopic 3D camera launches in Q3 of this year for $549 in the US.

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The hype around the so-called Metaverse seems to have died down a bit. Even Facebook, which changed its name to Meta to emphasize its new mission, has been rather silent on that front, especially in light of AI being the hottest thing in tech these days. With the launch of the Apple Vision Pro, however, interest in mixed reality, as well as AR and VR, is once again on the rise. As such, now seems to be the best time for Microsoft to also make widely available its own virtual meeting platform, Microsoft Mesh, encouraging a new approach to hybrid work arrangements that will have attendees “sitting” around digital bonfires or posh virtual rooms, all for the sake of trying to make people feel more connected even when they’re all just sitting in their own homes.

Designer: Microsoft

In order to shake off the image of something only for games and entertainment, platform developers like Meta and Microsoft try to make mixed reality technologies something that’s actually useful for serious business as well. These usually involve providing virtual spaces for meetings, creating avatars that represent employees, and holding more interactive and livelier gatherings that would otherwise be a boring experience of watching people’s faces in a grid of boxes. In other words, they try to recreate the feelings and emotions of meeting in person when they physically can’t.

Microsoft Mesh is Redmond’s solution to this problem. Think of it like a VR Microsoft Teams and is, in fact, integrated into Microsoft’s collaboration platform. With just a few clicks, you can turn a flat, literally and figuratively, meeting into a 3D virtual experience, complete with bars, chairs, fires, and, of course, a screen inside a screen for showing presentations to your team. You’ll have to create your own personalized avatar, preferably something close to your real-world appearance, and you can decorate your spaces the way you want, including company logos, of course.

Microsoft is leaning heavily on its no-code tools to make Mesh more enticing, in addition to having it tied to Microsoft Teams in the first place. Designing the area is a simple process of dragging and dropping assets as you would in a 3D game editor, thanks to a collaboration with Unity 3D. But if that is already too complex, Microsoft Co-Pilot offers an easier method that utilizes AI to translate your prompts into captivating virtual interiors, or at least the semblance of one. Whether it’s just a simple stand-up meeting that needs everyone to be on their toes, a brainstorming session that requires a bit more creativity, or a presentation that needs to keep people attentive, a virtual meeting space is probably going to help spice things up a bit.

Mesh comes at an interesting time when businesses are actually pushing for their workers to return to the office completely. For many companies, however, hybrid has become an unavoidable and permanent reality, with both the benefits and drawbacks it carries, particularly when it comes to the indirect interaction between humans. Microsoft Mesh is being positioned as the next best thing to support those social connections even when actual physical cues are absent. It’s now being made available for Windows PCs, but those who want a more immersive and convincing experience can enjoy it using their Meta Quest headset. That said, you’ll need a Microsoft subscription as well, so it’s not exactly something that everyone can experience.

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Let’s be honest, VR headsets are exciting tools for immersive experiences in virtual or augmented reality applications, but damn they are too bulky to account for any practical usage for an extended period of time.

Be it the Sony PlayStation VR, HTC Vive Pro 2, or Meta Quest 2; each one of them is still not compact for the masses to garner major attention. That could change with the Beyond VR headset, one of the lightest and most compact VR headsets for a comfortable Metaverse exploration.

Designer: Bigscreen

For someone like me who’s always eager about new technologies infusion into the gaming and entertainment world, the Bigscreen Beyond VR headset is as exciting as it could be. All the powerful VR headsets currently on the market are bulky and heavy – not igniting my interest beyond just a few minutes of curiosity. This PC-only headset is different though, weighing just 127 grams, it is six times lighter than any other headset currently up for grabs. At its thinnest point, the VR headset measures less than an inch and has a very low profile (something akin to the DJI FPV goggles), which is a major design advantage.

If you are thinking, this compact form factor would have some hardware compromises, then that’s not true. The VR headset comes with two 1-inch OLED microdisplays, each at a resolution of 5120×2560, and support for 75Hz and 90 Hz refresh rates. The headset has a 90 to 93-degree horizontal field of view, along with the six-degrees of freedom tracking (requires SteamVR Base Stations) and three-element pancake optics to eliminate the screen door effect which used to hamper the overall viewing experience in other VR headsets. Bigscreen also includes stereo microphones, and a proximity sensor to detect the distance between the face and the headset for an immersive experience.

The significant reduction in size of the Beyond headset is achieved by making some strategic sacrifices like adjusting knobs or other controls that are not vital. Those face cushions on the headset can be customized using the accompanying app to fit your face snugly. There’s a catch though, for now, only the iPhone XR or newer Apple phones can use the TrueDepth sensor to create a “ millimeter precision 3D mesh of your face.” Device sharing is also possible since the face cushions can be swapped with another one.

Beyond VR headset is available for pre-order in the US for $999, with shipping promised in Q3 this year, and the amount is fully refundable. You’ll have to buy the compatible SteamVR base station, and the Valve Index controllers to get going right away with the VR exploration. Also, the built-in headphones only come with the optional Audio Strap, and the video feed can only be tethered via a PC.

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We’ve seen plenty of new laptops and desktops so far at CES 2023, especially since silicon giants Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA have all announced their newest, shiniest, and most powerful processors to date. While these cover the majority of computing needs, especially gaming, they aren’t the only personal computers available to us today. Thanks to advancements in technology, we have a variety of devices available today that make computing more mobile, more efficient, and even more personal. At CES 2023, Lenovo is showing off how it goes beyond regular computers with its most powerful tablet yet, a new e-Paper solution, and the next step in bringing mixed reality to your living room.

Designer: Lenovo

Lenovo Tab Extreme

There was a point in time when it seemed that tablets were on the way out. As smartphones became bigger, the need for tablets with big screens became almost pointless. Recently, however, the tablet has taken on a new mission as a true mobile computer, almost like a laptop replacement, and Lenovo is taking that to the extreme with its biggest and most powerful tablet yet, clearly designed for more than just watching videos.

Of course, it’s also a delight to do that on the Lenovo Tab Extreme, thanks to its spacious 14.5-inch 3K 120Hz OLED screen and eight high-performance JBL 4-channel speakers. The tablet shines brightest, however, when used for more than just consumption but also for creation, whether it’s a work of art or a work document. The MediaTek Dimensity 9000, 12GB of RAM, and Android 13 all work together to deliver this productivity experience on the go, and the gigantic 12,300mAh battery ensures you’ll have as little downtime as possible.

Beyond just the specs, the Lenovo Tab Extreme is designed to be flexible and stylish in any situation. A magnetic dual-mode stand makes it convenient to prop up the tablet horizontally or vertically, while the optional dual-hinge keyboard lifts it up for a more ergonomic position while you type your next great novel. The tablet can even be used as a digital sketchpad by plugging it in via its DP-in USB-C port or as a second monitor through the DP-out port. The Lenovo Tab Extreme will be available later this year with a starting price of $1,199.99.

Lenovo Smart Paper

Not everyone needs a full-blown tablet, though. There are some who just need the digital equivalent of a notebook, one that blends the conveniences of mobile tech with the universality of pen and paper. Fortunately, there is a new breed of devices that promise exactly that, and the new Lenovo Smart Paper takes the lead in combining digital and analog in a smart and meaningful way.

Powered by a 10.3-inch E-Ink display, the Lenovo Smart Paper presents the perfect size for a paper notebook, one that does away with wasteful paper without giving up on the experience of using a pen. It’s all digital, of course, but the feeling and texture of guiding the Smart Paper Pen over the e-Paper display are as close as you can get to the real thing. And like a normal pen or pencil, you don’t need to worry about batteries or charging the pen as well.

The device is specifically designed to make taking notes not only enjoyable but also efficient. With two integrated microphones, you can record a meeting or lecture while you’re scribbling down notes. And when it’s time to review those notes, simply select the written text to hear a playback of the recorded audio to help jog your memory. The Lenovo Smart Paper is expected to launch sometime this year for $399.99.

Lenovo Project Chronos

Most of the computing devices we have today come in the form of something we can touch, be it a laptop, a tablet, or a smartphone. The future of computing, however, might be less tangible. Buzzwords aside, the metaverse and mixed reality represent an inescapable future, but it’s a future that’s hindered by clunky headsets and devices. Lenovo is taking a plunge into this still-gestating market with an innovative concept device that removes the need to weigh your body down just so that you can move your virtual avatar.

Project Chronos is basically a box with a camera that can keep track of your body movement to control a virtual character, often your avatar. It uses advanced depth cameras and algorithms to recreate your movement within a 3D environment without having to wear glasses or mocap sensors. It can even track your facial expressions so that your avatar can truly express your emotions, just as your own body can sometimes betray you in the physical world.

Despite that seemingly magical capability, Project Chronos is designed for home use, and its simple and discreet design can easily blend with the rest of your entertainment system. You simply connect the box to a TV or monitor, and you’re good to go. And once you’re done, you can rotate the camera down to ensure your privacy. This gear-free mixed reality device opens a whole new world of applications, from creating content with a VTuber avatar to getting personalized real-time coaching from a fitness expert. The Lenovo Project Chronos, however, is still a concept and work in progress, and its full name and capabilities will be disclosed when it’s ready to launch.

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Not everyone might be buying that whole metaverse spiel, but many might have been enamored by the idea of having a virtual version of themselves in certain spaces. Imaging ourselves in a different form inhabiting different worlds goes back farther than VR and AR, but the technologies to enable such an experience haven’t exactly been available until now. Sure, you can already have a Mii or a Bitmoji to represent you today, but having them actually move like you is a completely different thing. For that, your avatar will need to be able to read and copy your body’s movements, and Sony’s latest wearable tech is going to make that as easy as wearing six sensors on your body.

Designer: Sony

Motion capture, or mocap, has been around for decades and is primarily used in the entertainment industry to make 3D models move more realistically. At first, only large studios were able to utilize this technology due to the sheer size and costs of the equipment needed to make it happen. Today, there are more affordable forms of mocap systems, but they’re still way out of reach of ordinary people who just want a virtual avatar to mirror their moves.

Sony’s new mocopi, short for “motion copy,” was designed to cater to this crowd. The entire system is composed of nothing more than six sensors that look like Apple AirTags, as well as five straps and a clip to attach them to different parts of your body. Four sensors go around your wrists and ankles, one clips behind your lower back, and another wraps around your head. As far as hardware goes, that’s really all there is to it.

The magic unsurprisingly happens on the software side, particularly with a companion mobile app that displays your live avatar of choosing. Using Bluetooth technology, the app is able to read the sensor’s motion data and translate that into the avatar’s movement in real-time. This video can later be used in different applications, like live streaming, VRChat, and more. At the time of launch, the only way you can use mocopi is with that smartphone app, but Sony plans on making a software development kit (SDK) available so that it can be integrated into other applications as well.

mocopi isn’t going to be as detailed and as fluid as professional mocap systems, but at around $360, it is significantly more affordable. It’s designed for more casual use, targeting an audience of content creators that are more interested in creating fun ways to express themselves than professional animated avatars. If it takes off, it could at least make such affordable mocap systems more common. Sony mocopi is launching in Japan in late January 2023, and it will be coming in zero-plastic packaging to boot.

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Perhaps it was thanks to Mark Zuckerberg’s and Meta’s recent event that the Metaverse and its related but dissimilar buzzword Web 3.0 came back under the spotlight. After a long stretch of near silence, companies and brands are once again showing interest in this still ambiguous market, especially when it comes to controversial non-fungible tokens or NFTs. After all, NFTs that can sell for thousands of dollars apiece are perfect for limited edition collectibles that put the brand’s stake in future virtual worlds. Granted, most people still can’t make heads or tails of all these concepts, but there’s already a good number of collectors and believers that are willing to show their support with their money and other resources. It’s for this group of fans that Bang & Olufsen had decided to take the plunge into the world of Web 3 and the metaverse with an NFT collection designed to show off its creative chops more than its audio expertise.

Designer: Bang & Olufsen

Although the technologies and details swarming around NFTs are indeed complicated, the basic idea behind its pull is understandable from a human perspective. In essence, it is related to owning a unique and singular digital artifact, similar to the idea of physical property that can’t be cloned perfectly. In a digital world where it’s trivial to copy files and images, such a kind of ownership sounds radical and revolutionary. Of course, implementation has been far from perfect, leading to the rather contentious position of NFTs, especially among artists, designers, and other creatives.

That hasn’t stopped big brands from proving they can go with the flow and the times, and Bang & Olufsen’s “DNA Collection” NFTs are in the same vein. The company best known for its exquisite audio equipment has announced an upcoming collection of 1925 NFTs, a nod to the year the company was founded. Rather than just a simple NFT drop, as these events are usually called, B&O is putting a rather unique and fun twist that tries to share the spirit of creativity with its music-loving community.

The DNA collection revolves around some of its most elegant products, including the Beogram 4000 as well as the Beoplay A9 and Beolab 90 speakers. These have been distilled down to key parts like legs, frame, front cover, and back cover, which are then combined with a custom-made range of digital product materials. During the minting process, buyers will be able to get a random selection of products and product materials that will allow them to mix and match designs for a truly unique B&O product that they’ll be able to display in their future virtual home in the metaverse.

The DNA Collection is meant to showcase Bang & Olufsen’s design heritage over the decades, which is an admittedly surprising venture for the company. While the brand is definitely praised for its design chops, it is, at its heart, an audio company, something that won’t translate so smoothly to Web 3.0. NFTs are also still a divisive topic within the design community, especially because of their environmental repercussions. In that regard, B&O promises that it has chosen a blockchain that reduces its climate impact, even if that impact can still be quite significant.

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After a short period of relative silence, the metaverse became a hot topic again in no small part thanks to Mark Zuckerberg’s and Meta’s most recent buzz, which, unsurprisingly, split people into camps again. Some say or are hoping that the metaverse is already dead and, along with it, the more controversial NFTs. If that were the case, it seems that nobody told luxury luggage maker RIMOWA about it because it seems that the marque will be diving right into this mess when others seem to be silently stepping out. RIMOWA has partnered with Nike-owned digital fashion brand RTFKT to bring its iconic luggage brand to the metaverse via two NFT drops, but RIMOWA fans can rest assured that they can still get this upcoming limited edition luggage in physical form as well.

Designer: RIMOWA x RTFKT

The metaverse will eventually happen and become our present, though many argue that we’re still ways off from making that a reality. Even more problematic are NFTs, which were supposed to bring the concept of unique ownership of goods from the physical world to the digital realm. Camps are still split on whether it’s a boon or a bane, but many companies have already put a stake down on those nascent ecosystems to appeal to early adopters, especially among designers and collectors.

While news about big brands embracing NFTs seems to have mellowed down a bit, RIMOWA is stirring things up again with a “phygital” campaign in partnership with RTFKT (pronounced “artifact”). The latter has been making a name for itself in bringing big brands into metaverse spaces, specifically via those highly-debated NFTs. “Phygital” is the new buzzword coined to describe products that are getting both a physical as well as a digital release, the latter usually through NFTs to ensure their uniqueness and exclusivity.

That’s probably a good thing for RIMOWA loyals that have a few geeky inclinations because the limited edition “Meta Artisan” Original Cabin Luggage is quite a looker. Its surface is covered with a pixelated “Anti-FUD” pattern print that looks like a corrupted QR code spread across the luggage. Only 888 of these will be made available, both digitally and physically, as a nod to the triple-digit figure that has become synonymous with good luck in the crypto community.

The collaboration will also produce 2222 WorkerBots NFTs that will be like collectibles for this virtual world made by RIMOWA and RTFKT. These admittedly cute robots won’t have physical counterparts, unfortunately, and you’ll only be able to enjoy their existence on AR platforms or digital displays. The unique-looking luggage could spark a bit of interest as well as controversy, as you won’t be able to buy the physical luggage separately and will have to buy the NFT version first for around $3,000 at a “forging” (redemption) event later on.

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Although almost everyone still refers to it as Facebook, changing its official name to Meta shows just how much the company, or at least CEO Mark Zuckerberg, believes that the metaverse is the future not just of computing but also of social. After a few months of hype and buzz, some of the narratives around the metaverse have died down a bit. There is even news that Meta itself is taking a step back to reflect on its grand plans. That’s not to say that Meta has given up on those ambitions, though, and it is, in fact, making an even bigger gamble on that future. It has just launched a new mixed reality headset that aims to take the metaverse beyond games and entertainment, but it carries a rather high price that almost makes that dream even more unreachable for most people.

Designer: Meta

The Meta Quest Pro is the latest headset to come from the company formerly known as Facebook, and it combines two of its major designs and strategies when it comes to virtual reality. Like the Quest 2, the Quest Pro is a standalone device that doesn’t require tethering to a PC that would limit the wearer’s mobility. Like the old Oculus Rift system, however, it boasts enough power and features that enable a wider variety of experiences and, in Meta’s words, enable the metaverse.

It definitely looks refined and more streamlined than even the Meta Quest 2, so you finally won’t look ridiculous wearing one for “serious business.” It’s no longer front-heavy like almost all standalone VR headsets due to the battery being relocated to the back of the strap, creating a more balanced design. Pancake lenses also help make the entire assembly thinner while also providing an even better view of the wearer’s field of vision. More than just the design upgrade, however, the Meta Quest Pro also offers more power and flexibility in how it mixes the virtual and the real.

Full-color outward-facing cameras, for example, will let you see the real world beyond the headset, allowing Meta’s system to seamlessly merge virtual objects with physical ones or vice versa. Inward-facing cameras, on the other hand, are able to track not only where your eyes are pointing but also your expressions that can be reflected on your avatar’s face. Even the new controllers themselves have their own cameras so that they can keep track of their location and position independently and more accurately.

All of these do translate to a metaverse-oriented device that offers more flexibility and more options that go beyond the usual applications of VR and AR. In fact, Meta envisions the Quest Pro more as a productivity and work tool that can help you get your job done, no matter where you are in the physical world. All that power comes with a hefty price, though; $1,499, to be exact. That’s almost four times the price of the $399 Meta Quest 2, but it does also pack a lot more features. Still, it’s a pricey investment even for companies who might be able to afford it, especially for a metaverse future that few people can see.

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