Summary
The Meta Quest family of virtual reality headsets is seeing the v72 update start rolling out as of this post, bringing with it a number of hand tracking improvements. It’s the latest in Meta’s efforts to improve upon the performance of existingMeta Questhardware, allowing users to do and enjoy more with their VR headsets.
The Meta Quest remains one of the most popular virtual reality headsets due to its ability to be used completely independently. VR enthusiasts don’t need a high-performance PC or aPlayStation 5 to play in VR. While the headsets already lack a physical tether, the ability to use the headsets with just one’s hands makes the experience even more freeing.
WhileMeta Quest headsets have had some form of hand trackingfor some time now, the company has improved upon the performance in this new update.Meta Quest’s v72 updatehas cut down on latency, made tracking more stable, responsive, and improved the pinch-and-drag interaction functionality. Given that recent updates have made the Meta Quest headsets better while traveling, this update also takes that into consideration, allowing users to more easily use hand tracking in confined spaces, which could be useful while doing things like sitting in a plane or train seat.
What Else Does the V72 Meta Quest Update Do?
In addition to the hand tracking improvements, the v72 update also adds some new functionality and improves upon existing elements. Instagram Direct Message is now incorporated directly into the headset, the media gallery is being improved, and call captions are being added for calls in the People app. Meta is also beginning to roll out Meta Quest’s keyboard tracking improvements, which will let users utilize any keyboard with mixed reality passthrough. Meta is also working on an experimental feature that will makepairing up a PC and Meta Questeven easier. After the initial setup is complete, users will be able to simply look at their Windows 11 PC and the headset will ask if the user wants to pair the devices, without any further input needed on the PC.
Meta has said that this wraps up the major updates the systems will receive for 2024 as the year is coming to a close. However, more updates will arrive in the following year, so it will be interesting to see what new experiences and options come to the family of standaloneVR devicesonce 2025 arrives.
Meta Quest 3S
Meta Quest 3S is the budget alternative to the Meta Quest 3, one that still offers high-end performance. Supporting virtual and mixed reality, the headset comes with a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, 8GB RAM, HD resolution (1832x1920 pixels per eye), and roughly 2.5 hours of battery life.
