Meta previously known as Facebook, Inc., is a tech conglomerate focusing on social media, advertising, consumer electronics, and VR. With major products like Facebook, Instagram, Oculus, Messenger, WhatsApp, Meta aims to build the metaverse. It has subsidiaries like Novi Financial, Reality Labs, and a range of additional offerings.
For those exploring options beyond Meta, choices include Quest, Quest 3, Quest Pro, Oculus, Oculus 2, Metaverse, Decentraland, The Sandbox, Spatial, VRChat, Second Life, Roblox.
Quest
Introducing Quest, an illustrious jewel in the crown of VR technology. Developed by Oculus and nurtured under the aegis of Facebook’s Meta, this standalone headset was aimed at infusing Virtual Reality with mainstream appeal.
Quest Top Features
Standalone design that emancipates from the need for a phone or PC.
Vivid resolution screen pushing the thresholds at 1600 x 1440 pixels per eye.
Empowered with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 mobile chipset for seamless performance.
Voluminous storage options, encompassing choices between 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB.
Wireless elegance glorified by an anticipated battery life ranging between two and three hours.
Accurate Touch controllers and esteemed hand tracking for certain games.
Support for an enthralling array of popular gaming experiences.
Specifications
Details
Chipset
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Release Date
May 21, 2019
Future Updates
Prospective rebranding as “Meta Quest 3” in late 2023.
Quest Limitations
Employs Snapdragon 865-derived Snapdragon XR2 processor, limiting the potential for more advanced functions.
An optional accessory cable is required for PC tethering to access graphically advanced VR experiences.
The power thrills only for two to three hours, necessitating frequent recharging.
Quest Pricing
The original version was priced at $399. However, the upgraded model, Meta Quest 3, wielding increased storage capacity, and more detailed games is set to hit the shelves in fall 2023 with a price tag of $499.99 for the 128GB variant.
Quest Use Cases
Use case 1
Quest provides a spectacular gaming experience, with its wireless design and technological prowess. It emerges as an all-encompassing platform for popular gaming sensations like Beat Saber, The Climb, and Robo Recall.
Use case 2
For tech aficionados, Quest serves as an impressive exploration into advanced VR tech. Its high-resolution screens, Snapdragon chipset, and the provision for immense storage amplify the experience of virtual reality.
Use case 3
Quest’s hand-tracking and Touch controller capabilities make it an exquisite choice for interactive VR experiences, significantly enhancing user engagement.
Quest 3
Introducing the Meta Quest 3, the world’s first mass-market mixed reality headset. This breakthrough device powers immersive experiences in both virtual and physical spaces, blurring the lines between the two like never before.
Quest 3 Top Features
Significant advancement in visual resolution and audio range, boasting a 30% increase compared to its predecessor, Quest 2.
Empowered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 platform, Quest 3 operates with double the graphic processing power of Quest 2.
A redesigned, slimmer profile and balanced weight distribution provide a comfortable and customizable user experience.
Equipped with improved pass-through cameras and new “pancake” lenses for high-quality visuals.
The inclusion of a new depth sensor and updated cameras permit an automatic guardian system, preventing collisions and creating valuable spatial data.
Enhanced mixed reality capabilities, supported by a streamlined design and advanced mixed reality technology.
Display
4K+ Infinite Display
Resolution
25 pixels per degree, 1,218 pixels per inch
Memory
Two models, 128GB and 512GB
Compatibility
Backward Compatibility with Quest 2 titles
Quest 3 Limitations
Prices might be high for casual users, with models starting at $499.99 USD.
Dependent on the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 platform for graphics and mixed reality operations. Any limitations or flaws in this platform will directly impact the Quest 3.
Quest 3 Pricing
Available in two models, the 128GB priced at $499.99 USD and the larger 512GB model at $649.99 USD. Pre-orders are now open with the release date set for October 10, 2023.
Quest 3 Use Cases
Use case 1: Gaming
The Quest 3 demonstrates its potential with games like Demeo, offering enhanced graphics and spatial awareness that enable interactive experiences with virtual elements overlaid on physical environments.
Use case 2: Fitness Training
Through offerings like Xponential+, Quest 3 users can access immersive fitness training experiences within their mixed reality headsets, providing an engaging and effective way to get fit.
Use case 3: Sports-Viewing
With Xtadium, sports enthusiasts can enjoy an immersive sports-viewing experience, bridging the gap between virtual and physical realities like never before.
Second Life
Second Life, an audacious brainchild of the visionary Philip Rosedale, is a riveting digital platform that turned the mundane into spectacular, bridging the gap between reality and the metaverse. Born from the aspiration to craft vast green vistas across multiple servers, this game-changer has evolved into a dutiful host for countless shared experiences in a meticulously crafted 3D virtual world.
Second Life Top Features
Distinctly user-generated content with impressive diversity of user-base.
Innovate economy model with its unique Linden dollars.
A heightened level of niche personalization owing to its functional cookies.
Sharing 3D experiences reinforcing connection across the globe.
Crafting a safe and trustworthy environment with an infrastructure of user verification and avatars with consequences.
Feature
Benefits
Verification System
Crafts a trustworthy environment for user interactions.
Unique Economy
Simulates a real-world financial environment allowing users to trade and engage in commerce.
Functional cookies
Helps users to customize their experiences.
Second Life Limitations
Cryptocurrency isn’t suitable for metaverse transactions.
Primary demographic being children and teenagers, which may limit some sophisticated user experiences.
Second Life Pricing
Dive into this engaging metaverse free of charge! Yes, that’s right, Second Life is here to open gateway to a new world without tapping into your pocket!
Second Life Use Cases
Use Case 1: For Brands and Companies
Companies like Gucci and Ferrari have graced Second Life’s platform, showing its potential to be an innovating marketing space for your brand!
Use Case 2: For Social Interactions
With its army of tens of thousands of users active at any given time, engage in stimulating conversations and make lasting connections!
Use Case 3: For Creative Minds
Second Life serves as a dynamic canvas for artists and creators to showcase their work and engage with an appreciative global audience.
Roblox
A brainchild of David Baszucki and Erik Cassel, Roblox is a mammoth platform for interactive, user-generated games. Boasting of over 100 million active users monthly, it offers a vast universe for game creators and players alike.
Roblox Top Features
Robust Content: Home to over 50 million user-generated games, some of which boast up to 100,000 simultaneous players.
Proprietary Development Environment: Leveraging the Roblox Studio and its Lua derivative, Luau, 2 million creators have sculpted their gaming fantasies here.
Community Building: Encouraging collaboration and unstructured play, this platform stands as a pillar of support for its vast community of developers.
Emphasis on Safety: Rigorous efforts towards player safety include algorithmic blocking of sensitive data and a comprehensive reporting system.
Feature
Description
External Software Compatibility
Integration with Blender for advanced model creation and animation.
Robux Currency
In-app purchases feasible using the in-game currency ‘Robux’.
Developer Earnings
Creators get compensated handsomely increasing potential for freelancer developers and small businesses.
Roblox Limitations
Controversies: Reports of adult content misuse and allegations of child exploitative practices have occasionally cast a shadow on the platform.
Moderation: Although safety measures are in place, criticism regarding moderation issues continues.
Microtransactions: The use of Robux for in-app purchases could potentially be seen as a downside for some users.
Roblox Use Cases
Use case 1
As a tool for game creation, Roblox offers a powerful engine, diverse features, and collaborative development opportunities for aspiring game developers.
Use case 2
For freelance developers and small businesses looking for a rewarding venture, the platform’s creator compensation model proves significantly attractive.
Use case 3
Being a safe haven for unstructured play, it caters to the creative inclinations of young players and encourages exploration.
Quest Pro
Stepping into the professional sphere of VR/AR technology is the Quest Pro. Specifically crafted for enterprise users, this mixed-reality headset integrates seamlessly into workflows, promising a unique and rewarding user experience.
Quest Pro Top Features
Sleek Design: The glossy black front panel and comfortable head strap enhance user experience.
Advanced Hardware: Five cameras for extensive view coverage, two charging sets, and the Snapdragon XR2+ processor, which offers 50% better performance than its predecessor.
Impressive Audio-Visual Quality: Features include two headphone jacks, angled speakers, a resolution of 1,920 x 1,800 pixels per eye, and a 130% larger color gamut than Quest 2.
Efficient Controllers: Redesigned from the Quest 2, the new motion controllers are lighter, less cumbersome, and incorporate rechargeable batteries.
Comprehensive Software: Quest Pro runs on Meta Horizon Worlds, with customized interfaces for collaborative work.
Feature
Specification
Processor
Snapdragon XR2+
RAM
12GB
Storage
256GB
Quest Pro Downsides
Unpadded headset pressing against the face may cause discomfort. An optional light blocker accessory available for a more comfortable fit.
Limited consumer-focused software leveraging Quest Pro upgrades.
Quest Pro Pricing
The Quest Pro is priced at $1499.99, making it a more suitable option for professionals in need of specific VR/AR capabilities.
Quest Pro Use Cases
Use case 1
For individuals in the business arena, Quest Pro’s high-resolution display and robust processing capabilities can elevate virtual meetings and conferences.
Use case 2
Designed for the content creators, its mixed-reality capabilities can redefine the way artistic and design content is visualized and shared.
Use case 3
Education professionals can make use of Quest Pro’s immersive VR experience to enhance learning, making it an innovative tool in education.
Oculus
In the grandeur parade of Virtual Reality, one name stands resplendent – Oculus. Yes, dear reader, Oculus, the Palmer Luckey’s brainchild, the harbinger of accessible virtual reality experiences. Birthed in 2011, Oculus laid its mark with Oculus Rift DK1 in March 2013, heralding a new era in the VR industry.
Oculus Top Features
The first VR headset to provide a realistic VR experience at a reachable price, embracing novel technology to increase quality and reduce costs.
Remarkable Field of View (FOV) offering more than 90 degrees horizontal, doubling the FOV of preceding VR devices.
Advanced head orientation tracking using three-axis gyros, accelerometers, and magnetometers, ensuring an immersive experience.
Prototypes subsequent to Rift DK1 introduced a 1080p LCD panel, significantly enhancing clarity and reducing the infamous screen door effect.
Oculus Rift DK1
Unveiled in March 2013, offering a 90 degrees horizontal and 110 degrees vertical stereoscopic 3D view.
Oculus Rift S
Replaced the Oculus Rift CV1 in March 2019, continuing the illustrious legacy of Oculus Rift.
Oculus Quest
A standalone VR headset, that broke the tether thus delivering unprecedented wireless freedom.
Oculus Disadvantages
End of Oculus Rift line in 2021 with the discontinuation of Oculus Rift S, leaving users with a confined range of headsets.
Limited compatibility due to proprietary nature of the Oculus software library.
Oculus Use Cases
Use case 1: Gaming
Oculus, with its immersive virtual reality experiences, has become a game changer, quite literally. Games come alive in the Oculus realm, from the heart-racing action sequences to serene landscapes, it’s more than playing, it’s practically living the game.
Use case 2: Professional Training
The Oculus technology allows for effective and realistic training simulations in various professional arenas. Be it an astronaut preparing for space, or a doctor mastering surgical techniques, Oculus is the facilitator of ingenious learning experiences.
Use case 3: Virtual Tours
Imagine visiting the Louvre from the comfort of your home or experiencing the Grand Canyon’s awe-inspiring vistas without moving an inch, Oculus makes it possible. It unlocks a world of virtual tourism and exploration – immersive, memorable and safe.
Oculus 2
An award-winning product by the widely-known Oculus, a Meta-owned company, the Oculus Quest 2 provides a standalone virtual reality experience that is even more potent, sharper, and lightweight than its precursor. This device stands out as a more budget-friendly option in the virtual reality landscape.
Oculus 2 Top Features
High-resolution display: It features an impressive 1,920-by-1,832-pixel display per eye.
Powerful processor: Powered by the Snapdragon XR2, with more capabilities than the original’s Snapdragon 835 chip.
Upgraded refresh rate: Supports 120Hz refresh rate compared to the original’s 72Hz.
Improved tracking capabilities: Aided by four wide-angle cameras, six degrees-of-freedom.
Platform Compatibility: Compatible with a wide variety of VR games and experiences, and also supports tethered access to Steam games.
Extended battery life:
2-to-3 hours on a full charge, extendable with a $129 add-on battery pack.
Safety feature:
The Guardian system helps users avoid straying out of the designated play area.
Unique features:
Hand tracking, Oculus Link and Air Link, and Fitness tracking support.
Oculus 2 Limitations
Mandatory Facebook account, which may raise privacy concerns.
Limited storage options and no expansion capability.
Pricey add-ons to extend battery life and for PC tethering.
Oculus 2 Pricing
In terms of pricing, the Oculus Quest 2 with 128GB storage begins at $499.99 USD. An advanced model offering more storage is also available at an additional cost.
Oculus 2 Use Cases
Social Interaction
With its ability to connect with Facebook, Oculus Quest 2 facilitates social interactivity, thereby significantly enhancing the gaming experience for users.
Personal Fitness
The device includes a Fitness tracking feature, providing users with the unique opportunity to monitor their physical activities within the virtual world.
Mobile Computing
Given its Android-based operation and wireless standalone functionality, the Oculus Quest 2 offers an unrestricted mobile experience, retaining the charm of computing while navigating the digital realm.
Metaverse
An evolution of the internet, the Metaverse is envisaged as an immersive 3D virtual world, populated by realistic avatars and experiences, that is designed to ‘ubiquitize’ AR and VR technologies.
Metaverse Top Features
An expansive 3D universe that fuses AR and VR experiences.
Interoperability via blockchain and NFTs for seamless commerce.
Wide-range applications across industries and consumer markets.
Experiences steeped in a rich history dating back to Antonin Artaud’s essays in 1938.
Immersive prototype worlds like Linden Lab’s Second Life and Roblox’s multiplayer games.
Feature
Advantage
Haptic Technology
Creates a realistic sensory experience in the Metaverse
Brand Engagement
Companies like Nike are exploring retail options within the Metaverse
Virtual Collaboration
Microsoft’s Mesh introduces a new way to collaborate within a metaversal context
Metaverse Limitations
Technical challenges related to creating realistic and seamless experiences.
Data privacy implications due to the immersive and ubiquitous nature of the systems.
High costs associated with computing capability and AR/VR equipment.
Metaverse Use Cases
Use case 1: Virtual Marketplaces
The Metaverse offers an ideal platform for virtual marketplaces, with brands like Nike and Tommy Hilfiger exploring retail opportunities.
Use case 2: Gaming
For gamers, the Metaverse offers next-level immersion, with platforms such as Roblox and Epic Games’s Fortnite leveraging the technology.
Use case 3: Collaboration and Social Networking
Microsoft’s Mesh offers a taste of future collaborative and social experiences in the Metaverse.
Decentraland
A Ethereum-based, user-controlled 3D virtual world platform, Decentraland was established by Argentine tech innovators, Ari Meilich and Esteban Ordano in 2015.
Decentraland Top Features
Unique ecosystem driven by LAND and MANA tokens, and the Estate token, representing grouped parcels.
Enables creation of digital environments and applications.
Parallel economy, facilitated by tokenization.
Robust social and explorative features like purchasing digital art, learning at universities, or trading in Bartertown.
Feature
Description
Smart Contracts
Overseen by Decentraland DAO, granting game creation options.
User Governance
Token holders participate in decision-making, influencing policy changes, auctions and subsidies.
Monetization
Enables landowners to make money from their digital experiences.
Decentraland Limitations
It has been criticized for technical glitches.
Despite its vast scope, much of the virtual world often remains unoccupied.
A modest active user base, with an average of 8,000 users per day in 2022.
Decentraland Pricing
Initial land was sold at approximately $20, escalating to between $6,000 to $100,000 by April 2021. Users pay in MANA, the in-world digital currency, originally priced at $0.02.
Decentraland Use Cases
User Case 1: Digital Explorers
For visual adventurers, Decentraland offers an immersive, avatar-based experience of exploration in novel landscapes like Dragon City, Fashion Street, and Vegas City.
User Case 2: Digital Creators
Artists and developers can leverage the platform’s provision for creating unique environments, applications, or even virtual offices, appealing to entities like Rarible, SuperRare, and MakerDAO.
User Case 3: Digital Traders
Enthusiasts in digital economies could find Decentraland engaging, offering in-platform commerce opportunities, digital art trading or even land auctions.
The Sandbox
An embodiment of virtual world platforms on the Ethereum blockchain, The Sandbox offers a radiant universe for its users to create, share, and trade digital assets. Originally launched as a mobile game in 2012, the platform has smoothly transitioned to its blockchain version in 2018.
The Sandbox Top Features
Allows users to monetize and share creations in the form of NFTs.
Equips users with VoxEdit, Marketplace, and Game Maker for a user-friendly experience.
Ensures copyright ownership for users’ creations via blockchain and smart contracts.
Feature
Description
Land Ownership
The platform offers “LAND” for sale, represented by NFTs. These parcels are 5 times larger than a typical residential land parcel.
Sandbox DAO
The platform employs a DAO, aiming for full decentralization within 5 years.
Tokens
Uses different tokens: SAND, LAND, ASSETS, Gems, and Catalysts, each with unique functions and stored on Ethereum blockchain.
The Sandbox Limitations
Not yet widely available for the public, making monetization of creations or sharing with fans currently impossible.
Land owners cannot change the platform without consent of private owners.
Still awaiting its full launch date, which is yet to be announced.
The Sandbox Pricing
Pricing in The Sandbox is calculated with SAND tokens. Users can liquidity mine these tokens and use them in transactions, including the purchase of virtual real estate, LAND.
The Sandbox Use Cases
Use case 1
For creators and designers, The Sandbox provides a platform for uploading, owning, and selling creations with relative ease, inclination, and security.
Use case 2
For gamers and virtual inhabitants, The Sandbox offers an expansive virtual world for creation, sharing, trading, and ownership of digital assets.
Use case 3
Entities like the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) can own land in Sandbox’s metaverse, opening new possibilities for virtual presence and headquarters.
Spatial
In the realm of AR/VR, the name Spatial resonates globally. Crafting peerless, immersive experiences for gaming and collaboration, Spatial.io blazes a trail that invites everyone into an alternative reality, devoid of geographical boundaries.
Top Features of Spatial
Immersive AR/VR experiences that bind the global tech community.
Facility of expansion with stunning 3D templates, Sketchfab models, and custom branding options.
Unity integration for the creation of personalized spaces, galleries, live shows based on your digital preferences.
Fashion-forward Avatar customizations steered by brand partnerships with Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas.
Spatial audio, Token Gate privacy features for an intimate, secure digital environment.
Works in synergy across myriad VR/AR devices.
Seamless integration with Google Drive, Microsoft 365, Slack, Figma.
Leaders of global impact like Samsung, Polygon Studios rely on its exceptional service.
Feature
Advantages
3D Design collaboration
Interact, brainstorm, and design globally.
Creation from 2D photos
Personal avatars rendered from your 2D photos to 3D realistic avatar using AI.
Accessibility
Web browser, Android, iOS compatible, purely cross-platform.
Advanced Reach
Eyes, hands, voice interactions available for a heightened tech experience.
Spatial Limitations
Limited to 30 participants for free service.
Requires high-powered devices for optimal AR/VR representation.
Spatial Pricing
Spatial offers a free service for up to 30 participants, making it an attractive entry point into the AR/VR realm.
Spatial Use Cases
Use Case 1: Collaboration
With its 3D design collaboration, Spatial embraces creatives, designers, and innovative teams worldwide.
Use Case 2: Gaming
Immerse yourself in the next level of gaming experience with Spatial’s high-fidelity AR/VR blueprint.
Use Case 3: Commercial Applications
Spatial’s impressive client base, inclusive of heavyweights like Samsung, Polygon Studios, testifies to its efficient use for commercial purposes.
VRChat
Developed by Graham Gaylor and Jesse Joudrey, VRChat is a user-centric AR universe powered by the Unity Engine. Since its inception in 2014, it offers a sublime escape into 3D virtual worlds, crafted for both headset and desktop users.
VRChat Top Features
User-created 3D avatars and worlds
UDON– a Visual Programming Language
Comprehensive Interactive Features: lip sync, eye tracking, blinking, head and hand motion
Compatibility with multiple Platforms and Devices
Additional Features
Unique Applications
Premium membership with VRChat Plus
Communities spawning weekly newspapers, talk shows, and podcasts
Incorporation of anti-cheat system (EAC)
Dance music events and virtual performances
VRChat Limitations
Controversy – minor access to adult-themed content features
Optimization struggles – susceptible to review bombing due to large popularity
VRChat Pricing
While VRChat allows a free entry for all users, it upscales the experience through its premium membership, VRChat Plus, introduced in November 2020.
VRChat Use Cases
Use case 1 – Avatar Customization
With VRChat, morph into anything from an extraterrestrial to a sentient shoe with glowing adornments, through its daunting range of avatar customization.
Use case 2 – Virtual Livestreams
VRChat’s robust sociability features enable live music performances, classes, and dance events, making it a palpable hit among YouTubers and Twitch streamers.
Use case 3 – Inter-community Engagement
Host weekly podcasts, newspapers, and talk shows to foster a vibrant VRChat community, akin to established platforms like Second Life and Habbo Hotel.
Logan Bellbrook
Content writer @ Aircada with a knack for nature & AR/VR/XR. Blogging the intersection of tech & terrain.
