Design & Build Quality
The Quest Pro features the same design language as the previous Quest headset but with a more refined construction that is smaller yet heavier than the predecessor. The internal components have been split between the front and back parts of the headset, which are now connected by a rigid one-piece design. This has improved the weight distribution of the setup, as the batteries are now located on the rear, inside a curved plastic box that also features a larger pad to cushion the back of your head.
Due to the removal of the battery and the inclusion of a pancake lens design, the front head cover is now 40% thinner than the older model. It has also been redesigned to fit your forehead in a more ergonomically pleasing manner, with new magnetically attached light blockers for the side of your face. While the plastic strap connecting the two parts can be stretched to fit a larger-sized skull, it loses out of any vertical flexibility in order to make it a unibody design.
Another loss that you might notice is the removal of any special slots for adding prescription inserts. Although you can still wear the headset on top of your existing glasses, so it might not feel like such a big trade-off. Last but not least is the addition of a polarization layer on the glass front, which allows for full-colour pass-through while still protecting your eyes from any bright lights.
Display & Cameras
The display has been upgraded to feature a new 2-lens design, which allows for individual mechanical IPD adjustments of up to 55-75mm. They are using a pair of LCD LED backlit panels that can deliver a peak brightness of up to 500nits. The lenses have been tilted to provide a more natural field of view, which stretches up to 106 degrees horizontally and 96 degrees vertically. They have also worked hard to ensure higher pixel density in the front of your eyes, which is rated at 1800*1920 pixels per eye.
In addition to the increased brightness, the lenses can also go a lot dimmer, with a 500-point local dimming array that is supported by quantum dot colour for better contrast. You even get a higher refresh rate of 72Hz, with an option to go up to 90Hz. All of this and more enables a full-colour pass-through of the outer world, which is enhanced with a VR overlay. Just remember to use it in a room with lots of light, as the output tends to feature a little bit of noise in low-light conditions.
In order to get a clear picture of the world outside, the Quest Pro uses five outward-facing cameras, with two located right in front of your eyes facing forward. Another singular RGB colour camera is located between the two to provide accurate colour reproduction. Another two cameras on either side of your temples allow for limited peripheral vision, making the VR output look more realistic.
The Quest Pro even comes with five additional inward-facing cameras, which are used to track your own eyes and facial expressions. Just like the outer layout, the inner one features three cameras pointed right at your eyes, with a 75Hz refresh rate. While another two focus on your face, with a 30Hz refresh rate. The face and eye tracking algorithm is an opt-in functionality, with the company promising that they will not use your facial data without your express permission.
Performance & Controls
All the inputs from these cameras are processed using the latest-gen Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 1 processor. This is similar to the XR2 model, with the RAM spaced out farther for better heat dissipation. It is paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, all of which are cooling with the help of a dedicated cooling strip that runs horizontally through the circuit board. This allows for the chipset to be overclocked for up to 50% better performance than the previous model.
The processor also helps track and collate the inputs from the wireless handheld controllers, which feature a similar design but improved performance than the predecessors. These new controlled features 3 cameras each for improved hand movement tracking. You get lots of input options, with each one featuring a joystick, two buttons and a pressure-sensitive touch area on the top, along with one button on the back and another on the side. There is even the option to add a stylus nub on the bottom, which fits in the same slot that you would otherwise use for a wrist strap.
The insides of the controllers feature a special motor for active haptic feedback and a non-removable rechargeable battery for cord-free operation. The great thing is that these new models are backwards compatible with other Quest headsets, so you can easily use them with both, just in case you own more than one Quest headset model.
Both the headset and the controllers can be charged using a magnetic dock that has been designed to supply power to all three devices at the same time. There is also a special USB-C on the headset for data transfer and wired charging, just in case your need it. The Quest Pro can deliver up to 2 hours of function on a single charge, which should be more than enough for most use cases.
Price and Availability
Just like everything else on this headset, the price has also seen a massive upgrade, with the Quest Pro featuring a starting price of $1500. This, more than anything else, proves that the company does not intend for this model to be a mass-market offering. The headset will officially go on sale by the end of the month. With developers being able to access the SDKs around the same time. Potential users can also use the existing Quest applications with the device, so it shouldn't feel like a completely bare-bones ownership experience right out of the gate.
