The Most Outstanding Feature Of The New Meta Quest Pro

The Meta Quest Pro comes with a killer feature not seen in previous headsets, and it can be a game-changer both figuratively, and literally. Meta made some notable changes with the newer Pro headset when compared to the Meta Quest 2. While past models focused mainly on the gaming aspect, the Meta Quest Pro puts a lot of emphasis on picture quality. As if that "Pro" demarcation wasn't enough of a hint, Meta's new Virtual Reality headset is aimed more toward work than play. However, that doesn't mean it can't do both, and its revamped Passthrough feature is proof of that.

What Passthrough mode does is allow users to see through the headset using its integrated front cameras, forming an interactive Augmented Reality space in the process. Wearers will not only be able to see their surroundings, but also virtual objects that they can react with — something usually referred to as a mixed-reality set-up. Now, there are various differences between VR and AR, but when integrated into a full mixed-reality setting, it can bring about a completely different experience from the usual Meta Quest games. As for what kind of experience that is exactly — in this case, seeing is believing.

The Quest Pro's Passthrough feature isn't the first time an AR-like external viewing mode was available on a Meta or Oculus VR headset. In fact, it's among the Meta Quest 2's various hidden features already. However, the Meta Quest 2's Passthrough mode leaves a lot to be desired, given its drab, monotone rendering of the real world. With the Meta Quest 2 specs utilizing less powerful hardware consisting of 6GB RAM and a Snapdragon XR2 processor, these limitations basically keep its Passthrough function from its full potential.

Unlike the more gaming-oriented VR headset, the Meta Quest Pro's superior hardware makes Passthrough mode an entirely new experience. Thanks to the upgraded Meta Quest Pro specs featuring an updated optical lens setup, improved 12GB RAM, and Snapdragon XR2+ processor, it offers 50% more power (via Meta). That means apps and games on the Meta Quest Pro will perform better, look smoother, and feel more natural, all while being less nauseating and claustrophobic compared to the Quest 2 headset. Of course, this bump in quality also carries on to its Passthrough mode; as it's now fully-colored, visually vibrant, and significantly crisper, making it capable of much more complex activities. Needless to say, the Meta Quest Pro is certainly a game-changer for some, but not just in a figurative sense, as it's capable of changing the whole notion of gaming quite literally.

One of the biggest challenges with VR headsets is the potential strain it causes, leading to users feel disoriented after prolonged sessions. After all, being shut inside virtual reality can easily make anyone yearn for the outside world after a while. Fortunately, the Quest Pro's upgraded hardware is optimized specifically to merge both realities. Except users won't just be mindlessly killing time, they'll be productive as well, since the Meta Quest Pro's applications can make work feel like play at the same time. For example, the VR headset already has a handful of launch titles that take full advantage of these technical improvements (via Oculus).

Apps like "Arkio" and "Resolve" allows creators to visualize and collaborate on their work in a mixed reality environment that resembles their actual surroundings more accurately. Without the constraints of the physical world, artists and designers alike can push past the boundaries of their ideas, and while using lesser resources, too. Other use-cases include utilizing "Immersed" to turn any empty room into a decked out office space, or using "Figmin XR" to bring your wild visual fantasies into reality. Meanwhile, the "Tripp" and "Wooorld" apps can give a relaxing escape from the real world without having to leave it in the first place. Passthrough mode alone sounds promising enough, but it's just scraping the surface of what the Meta Quest Pro is capable of. In such a world where fantasy meets reality, the sky isn't the limit; it's the user's imagination.