There is a smaller Oculus Quest on the way, but thanks to the current pandemic it’s unclear whether it’ll be arriving on schedule.
The Oculus division at Facebook Inc. is currently developing a successor to their first all-in-one HMD the Oculus Quest which was released almost exactly a year ago. The Quest was a huge success, and has been greatly responsible for pushing VR gaming further into mainstream acceptance.
The new Quest - originally due for a late-2020 release which may have to be pushed back now - will be sporting a range of improvements on the current model. We’re looking at a probable 10-15% size reduction which means a lighter and more comfortable HMD (the current Quest weighs around 1.25 pounds).
Devs are also aiming for an updated refresh rate from the current 60-72Hz to a smoother 90Hz. Some models under consideration even push to 120Hz, but these might need to be vetoed in favor of a better battery life. Other updates include more comfortable controllers and changes to the material used for the HMD’s straps.
Certain features of the current Quest that will likely be carried through to its successor are an adjustable interpupillary distance slider, and no need for a connection to a PC or smartphone whilst still supporting the Oculus Link.
With the current state of things, a 2021 release seems more realistic than a late-2020 one. Watch this space for further updates!
Source: Bloomberg
