META QUEST 3
Meta’s Quest 3 VR headset lets you play games, get fit and even send WhatsApp messages. Is the metaverse finally here?
from £479/ go.stuff.tv/Quest3
■ Initial setup of the Quest 3 includes a full 360° spin, which scans the room and draws a border around obstacles. There’s still a risk of knocking over a glass while swishing away wildly at Beat Saber, but it makes for a more reassuring VR experience.
■ In mixed-reality mode your surroundings look detailed and colourful but almost as if they’re computer-generated – your hands resemble those of a Skyrim character. It’s possible to type on a laptop with vague success, but there aren’t enough compatible games or apps to enjoy in MR.
■ The haptic feedback feature of the new controllers falls short of expectations, but there’s more fun to be had with the hand-tracking mode anyway, even if it’s just navigating menus like you’re in Minority Report.
■ A Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip makes for some speedy loading times but it’s still not seamless. Games are rich in colour and detail, even if many are still running PS3-era graphics, and expansive landscapes have greater depth than on the Quest 2.
■ There are plenty of games and apps to explore out of the box, and we’ve spent an unholy number of hours in the RPG Demeo; but many games offer little when it comes to returnability. Like a theme park ride, there’s often an immediate thrill but it’s fleeting.
