Meta Quest 3: A Review for Sim Racers and Occasional VR Gamers

I’m a sim racer with a passion for Motorsport, good racecraft and the tech side of sim racing. I made SIMRACINGCOCKPIT.GG as a place to share my experiences. I hold an International Class C race licence and write for sim racing store G-Performance and Motorsport resource Driver61.com

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I’owned a few ‘high-end’ headsets over the years (currently: Pimax Crystal Light), but until recently I’ve been yet to give the Meta Quest 3 a proper look. Today I’m getting an opportunity to finally give it a test drive.

Design and Aesthetics

The Quest 3’s design is a clear evolution from its predecessor the Quest 2. I’d guess at it being around 40% slimmer than the Quest 2 and despite the specifications, it sort of feels lighter – I think because the centre of gravity in the design has shifted. Overall it’s a nice, curved organic design and white is a nice colour for a VR headset.

The headset’s exterior features three front-facing cameras and a depth sensor, a significant upgrade from the Quest 2’s monochrome cameras.

This new array enables the better mixed / augmented reality capabilities and the pass-through is good – there’s it’s slightly noisy (what pass through is perfect?) and there’s some lag, but colour is a nice to have and the detail is good enough to actually do things without removing the headset.

Be aware of space requirements if you plan to use this outside of the simulator. While you can use the Quest 3 in the race seat (obviously!), you’ll want a decent amount of obstacle-free space if you’re going to really get on the move.

The process to set boundaries is simple, though – and if you’re too close a boundary, pass through activates so you can see what might (be about to) happen.

Comfort and Ergonomics

Out of the box, the Quest 3 comes with a strap that’s good enough but, like just about every headset on the market, not so ideal for extended use. It’s like the strap is an afterthought, or simply doesn’t have its own ergonomics team in charge of the strap!

Obviously vigorous play will make you a bit hot (which can steam the lenses) and head movement generally brings attention to the strap, which isn’t good. If you’re yet to order one of these things, do some research on a good strap (with a battery if you can afford it). Products like the Elite Strap quickly rectify these sorts of frustrating but small problems.

I’m a fan of the new IPD (Interpupillary Distance) adjustment mechanism. Unlike the Quest 2’s limited three-position system, the Quest 3 offers a fully mechanical adjustment ranging from 53mm to 75mm. This, by the way is something Pimax dispensed with from their original Crystal when creating the newer Light.

I like automatic IPD adjustment, it just makes it easier to quickly dial in a clear, comfortable view and get on with the actual gaming. In fact, the Quest 3 is a headset that you can achieve and maintain clarity with quite easily – some more expensive VR kit can seem like it takes days to get it well adjusted.

Setup

Setting up the Quest 3 (as a standalone headset) is a painless process. The initial room mapping, aided by the new depth sensor, was noticeably quicker and more accurate than with previous VR headsets I’ve used.

The “guardian” system, which creates a virtual boundary to prevent you from colliding with real-world objects, feels more reliable and less intrusive.

The user interface is intuitive and responsive, right from the first power on. Hand tracking, while not new to the Quest line, feels more precise on the Quest 3. It’s now reliable enough that I often find myself navigating menus without picking up the controllers.

Visual Tech

The new “pancake” lenses work well. They offer good clarity across the entire field of view, with minimal distortion – a significant upgrade from the original fresnel lenses used in most VR headsets, including the Quest 2.

Performance-wise, the resolution has been increased to 2064 x 2208 pixels per eye (which isn’t far off the latest consumer VR headsets priced in the $1500 category). Combine the improved resolution with the new lenses, and you’ve got a clearer, sharper image – far better than the Quest 2.

This makes in-game text more readable, and fine details in games and applications are far less frustrating.

It’s worth noting that the Quest 3 uses LCD displays rather than OLED. While this means blacks aren’t as deep as they could be, the overall colour vibrancy is impressive. The screen door effect, that visible mesh you sometimes see in VR, is nearly imperceptible on the Quest 3.

The field of view has been increased by about 15% compared to the Quest 2. While this is a welcome improvement, it’s still not as wide as some high-end PC VR headsets like the Pimax models. I’ve never really felt sim racers need excessive FOV, but it’s certainly a nice feature to have; as it’s more information for your peripheral vision to be aware of.

Performance

The Quest 3 is powered by the Snapdragon XR Gen 2 chip, which Meta claims offers about twice the performance of the Quest 2. This, coupled with 8GB of RAM (up from 6GB in the Quest 2), allows the headset to handle more slightly demanding standalone games and apps.

In practice, most games run smoothly, with improved textures and lighting in titles particularly optimised for Quest 3. Standalone games like Asgard’s Wrath 2 showcase the Quest 3’s capabilities, offering visuals that show off the Quest’s capabilities.

However, performance isn’t always perfect. I noticed occasional stuttering in some games, particularly when using the Quest 3 for PC VR in more demanding titles like F1 23 and Assetto Corsa Competizione. I think with some thought put into the right settings you’ll be able to dial this out easily enough. It’s fair to say that my 3080 is probably a little underpowered to deal with the Quest 3 too. For info, Ross’s Quest 2 settings guide might be a helpful place to start.

Mixed Reality Capabilities

The Quest 3’s mixed reality features are a big step up from the Quest 2. The colour passthrough cameras, with their 4MP resolution, provide a much clearer view of your surroundings than the Quest 2’s grainy monochrome feed. They’re not perfect as I mentioned earlier but they beat the Pimax Crystal Light!

I really like good passthrough. To me, that’s the massive improvement VR headsets have made over the past few years and it just and helps with safety, interacting with your PC (via Air Link) and games that use mixed reality environments.

Controllers and Tracking

The new Touch Plus controllers are a notable improvement. The removal of the tracking rings makes them feel more natural in hand and allows for a nicer ergonomic feel. The haptic feedback has been enhanced, providing slightly more nuanced tactile sensations.

Tracking is generally accurate, with more coverage in front of and below the headset, but slightly less above. I occasionally noticed minor issues when the controllers left the cameras’ field of view, but these were infrequent and usually corrected quickly.

Audio and Communication

The built-in speakers have seen an improvement over the Quest 2, improving on the predecessor’s audio. However, for the best experience, especially in games with rich soundscapes or for watching movies, I’d recommend using your standard audio setup. In my case, I route instructions from Crew Chief into the Quest 3 headphones and leave the external audio (engine etc) to my main soundsystem.

The microphone is adequate for in-game chat but may be too quiet for streaming or recording without an external mic. In noisy environments, it might struggle to pick up voice commands clearly, although don’t forget modern AI noise reduction tech on platforms like Discord is pretty good these days.

Battery Life

Battery life remains a bit of a limitation of the Quest 3, ranging from 1 to 2.5 hours depending on usage.

For graphically intensive games or when using PC VR mode, you’re likely to be on the lower end of that range or you’;; be wise just to use the wired link cable.

Software and Game Library

The Quest store offers a library of games and apps, many of which have been updated to parade the Quest 3’s improved capabilities. The emphasis on mixed reality experiences is notable, with more developers exploring the possibilities offered by the Quest 3’s enhanced passthrough and depth sensing capabilities.

Backwards compatibility with Quest 2 titles is well-maintained, with many older games receiving visual upgrades for the new hardware.

PC VR Capabilities

Using the Quest 3 for PC VR, both wired and wireless, works well overall. For wired connections, the setup process is straightforward, though you’ll need to purchase a separate link cable if you don’t already have one. Here’s the starter to install Meta Quest Link and Airlink.

Wireless PC VR is where the Quest 3 really shines, offering a tetherless experience that’s hard to beat. However, to get the best performance, a Wi-Fi 6E setup is strongly recommended. The common advice is wirelessly tether to the router (on your wireless network I mean) but the PC should be on a LAN cable. I think this might be true – when I set the Quest up on a PC with wireless only, it dropped the connection once or twice.

With my RTX 4090 equipped PC, most games ran smoothly at high settings, though as mentioned earlier, I did encounter occasional stuttering in very demanding titles. A cable, like the Quest 2 improves this problem.

Sim Racing Experience

As a sim racing enthusiast, I’m hardly going to ignore talking about sim racing with the Quest 3. The improved clarity and wider FOV of the revised device make a noticeable difference in games like Assetto Corsa Competizione, iRacing, and F1 23.

Reading gauges, spotting brake markers, and judging apexes are easy thanks to improved clarity, which as we know is always bound to have a positive impact on your drive and consistency.

The sense of immersion is good (as it always is with a good VR headset). The depth perception and scale feel spot-on, giving a genuine sense of being in the car. This is particularly noticeable in open-cockpit cars, where you can lean out and look around your virtual vehicle.

I plan to follow up with a bit more detail on the settings for the games themselves; but I’m currently working on getting the wireless settings as good as I can so Air Link is reliable enough for a proper sim race!

Comparison with Other VR Systems

As you know, I’m concurrently testing Pimax’s Crystal Light. Compared to the Light, the Quest 3 offers a far more intuitive UI and accessible use. However, by comparison, the Quest 3 falls short in terms of overall FOV and that crisp visual fidelity for high-end PC VR use. In terms of a high-end VR headset – the Pimax has the Quest covered.

pimax crystal light — Pimax crystal light (review here)

That said, for its price point and versatility, the Quest 3 is an impressive package. It bridges the gap between casual and enthusiast VR in a way that few other headsets manage. The Quest 3’s interface, wireless feature, passthrough and comfort level makes this a really, really great VR headset. I like it, and I’ll keep it for the fun gaming whenever my son feels like a gaming session.

Price and Value Proposition

At $499 for the 128GB model and $649 for the 512GB version, the Quest 3 isn’t cheap, especially when you consider the potential need for accessories like a better head strap, facial interface, and maybe an external battery. But it isn’t expensive either – it’s about as good a specification as you’ll see at this price until the next generation headsets come from Meta, Pico, Varjo and of course Pimax.

For sim racing specifically, it provides a quality VR experience at a really fair price, making it an attractive option for those looking to dip their toes into VR sim racing.

Like me, I’m sure many of you drive in VR and on Monitors, so it doesn’t always make sense to buy the highest of high-end VR gear.

Conclusion

The Meta Quest 3 represents a significant step forward in consumer VR technology. Its improved visuals, performance, and mixed reality capabilities make it a decent choice suitable for a wide range of applications, from gaming and fitness to productivity and social experiences.

For sim racing enthusiasts, it offers an experience that’s hard to beat at this price point. The improved clarity and wider FOV enhance the racing experience, though serious enthusiasts might still prefer higher-end PC VR systems for their superior visual fidelity and a wider FOV.

As developers continue to leverage its capabilities, particularly in the realm of mixed reality, the Quest 3’s value proposition should only improve over time, even just as a fun device to have in the home. Overall I like it!