Meta Quest Pro AR-VR headset review: Price, specs, features, comparisons

• The Meta Quest Pro is a mixed-reality headset priced at $999.99.
• Meta is positioning the Quest Pro for professionals who want to use the Metaverse
• The Quest Pro is lightweight and comfortable, though it's three times the cost of the Quest 2.

The Meta Quest Pro is Meta's latest VR headset and has features aimed at professional customers rather than gamers and hobbyists. The Quest Pro is more than a traditional Meta VR headset; it also has augmented reality capabilities that integrate virtual elements into the real world. That makes this a so-called mixed-reality headset. Here's everything you need to know about the new Meta Quest Pro.

What is the Meta Quest Pro?

The Meta Quest Pro is the latest Meta VR headset, but it is not intended to be an upgrade to the Meta Quest 2. While the Quest 2 is exclusively a VR headset and intended primarily for gamers and VR hobbyists, the Quest Pro lives up to its name by being aimed at professional users who may have a need to perform activities in the metaverse. Even so, the Quest Pro operates very much like the older Quest 2, and more casual users may use it for gaming.

The headset is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ chipset and has 12GB RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. Each eye delivers a resolution of 1800x1920 pixels -- about the same as the Quest 2. It also has three front-facing and two side-facing cameras. Like the Quest 2, it comes with a pair of hand controllers.

The primary difference between the Quest Pro and the older Quest 2 is that while the Quest 2 is designed entirely for virtual reality, the Quest Pro has mixed reality capabilities that can blend virtual elements into a view of the real world transmitted through the headset's cameras. It has some other, less significant differences as well. It is equipped with twice the memory (12GB vs. 8GB), for example, and a more elegant IPD adjustment for optimizing vision and focus.

What is special about Meta Quest Pro?

You might be familiar with the Quest 2's black-and-white passthrough mode, which switches off virtual reality to let you see the physical world around you. The Quest 2's passthrough mode is mainly designed to let you briefly interact with the real world without removing the headset.

In contrast, the Quest Pro has a full-color, high-resolution passthrough that serves as the basis of the headset's mixed reality mode. With the right software, you can run augmented reality simulations in the real world, for example, or use your computer's mouse and keyboard within a mixed reality experience.

How much does the Meta Quest Pro cost?

The Meta Quest Pro cost is currently $999.99, a substantial price reduction compared to when the Quest Pro debuted in October 2022 at $1,500. There are a handful of accessories available as well, like full light blockers that shield light coming in from the periphery of the headset, a carrying case, and more.

The current price is substantially more than the $300 Quest 2, but most casual gamers and hobbyists should probably pass on this headset and opt for the less expensive Quest 2 or the forthcoming Quest 3.

Is the Meta Quest 2 or Quest Pro better?

There's no easy answer to the question of which headset is better. Technologically, the new Quest Pro is significantly better, with a faster processor -- the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ is about 50% faster than the chipset found in the Quest 2 -- and additional memory. However, it only features 256GB of storage for games and apps, while the Quest 2 has more storage options.

It has the same resolution as the Quest 2, but the display is slightly better overall, with a wider color gamut that can add up to better VR visuals. The headset itself is less bulky and more lightweight. It also has a continuous IPD control from 55-75mm, making it easier for people with varying interpupillary distances to get a comfortable experience. The Quest 2 has fewer options for getting a comfortable fit.

But the real difference between the Meta Quest 2 and the Quest Pro comes down to the Quest Pro's mixed reality capabilities. And with the right software, it has the ability to integrate virtual elements into the passthrough view of the physical world. This augmented reality capability might be valuable to professionals who need to work and collaborate this way.

The tradeoff, though, is that the Quest Pro pricing starts at $1,000, which is more than three times more expensive than the Quest 2. If you don't need the mixed reality features, you're almost certainly better off with the Quest 2 or the forthcoming Quest 3.