Colin Cassidy
Meta Partners with LG to Launch Quest Pro Successor
In an exciting development in the virtual reality (VR) space, Meta, previously known as Facebook Reality Labs, has reportedly teamed up with LG for the production of its upcoming Quest Pro successor. The collaboration is said to involve multiple subsidiaries of the LG Group and aims to build future high-end headsets.
Enhanced Display Technology
According to a report by South Korean news outlet Maeil Business Newspaper, Meta’s partnership with LG will bring OLED microdisplay technology to their VR headsets. Microdisplays offer significantly higher pixel densities compared to traditional displays, enabling higher resolution and more compact headsets.
The report suggests that LG Electronics will handle production, utilizing LG Display displays, LG Energy batteries, and components from LG Innotek. This combination of cutting-edge technology is expected to deliver an immersive and high-quality VR experience.
Possible Product Name
The report mentions that industry experts predict the new headset could be named “Quest 4 Pro.” However, given Meta’s current naming scheme and their previous descriptions of the Pro line as separate products, a more likely name would be Quest Pro 2.
Previous Successful Collaborations
This is not the first time that Meta has partnered with renowned consumer electronics companies for VR headsets. Xiaomi manufactured the Oculus Go, while Lenovo co-designed and manufactured the Oculus Rift S. These collaborations resulted in headsets that displayed both the partner company’s logo and the Oculus branding. It will be interesting to see how LG’s branding will be incorporated into the 2025 headset.
A Growing Trend
Meta is not the only software-first big tech company joining forces with a Korean hardware company to develop an extended reality (XR) headset. In February, Samsung announced its collaboration with Google to create a headset, with Google handling the software aspect. This signifies the growing interest in XR technology and the desire to deliver innovative and immersive experiences to users.
Pricing and Release Dates
According to the report, the first product from Meta and LG’s partnership is expected to hit the market in 2025, with an estimated price point of around $2000. Furthermore, the report mentions Meta’s plan to release a cheaper headset in 2024, priced under $200, although this may seem unlikely considering the current pricing of the Quest 2.
It is worth noting that these reports are yet to be confirmed by Meta. However, this collaboration with LG signals Meta’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of VR technology and delivering more advanced and immersive experiences to users.
Competition in the High-End XR Headset Market
The collaboration between Meta and LG, combined with the anticipated release of Apple’s Vision Pro in 2024, sets the stage for an intense race in the high-end XR headset market. Apple’s Vision Pro is reported to offer ultra-high resolution Sony OLED microdisplays and realistic ‘Persona’ avatars, but its production challenges may give Meta and LG an opportunity to gain a competitive edge.
Notably, Samsung and Google are also rumored to be aiming for a similar pricing range, further intensifying the competition. With these developments, the future of XR technology looks promising, as companies strive to provide users with mind-bending and immersive experiences.
We have reached out to Meta for further clarification and will update this article accordingly.
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