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Best Wireless Bluetooth Keyboards For Meta Quest 2

From uploadvr

Looking to use an external wireless keyboard with your Meta Quest 2 headset? Here are the options.

Quest 2 now supports using Bluetooth keyboards with the headset in VR, both across the system and in Meta’s remote work solution, Horizon Workrooms.

While you can connect most Bluetooth keyboards to the Quest, only a few are fully compatible and considered ‘tracked’ keyboards in VR.

When connected, a tracked keyboard is represented in VR with a 1:1 model that matches the position and orientation of the keyboard in real life. It also shows an overlaid view of your hands above the keyboard, as pictured above. This allows you to use the physical keyboard as normal while in VR.

However, there aren’t many keyboards that support fully tracked functionality on Quest 2. Meta has said it wants to expand support to more keyboard models, but it’s proving “harder than expected.”

Without tracking, you will still be able to use a Bluetooth keyboard but you won’t be able to see it while in VR, making it much harder to type reliably.

So without further ado — here are the best keyboard options for Quest 2.

Logitech K830

logitech k830

The Logitech K830 is the best keyboard to pair with a Meta Quest headset.

This keyboard was the first to receive support and remains the best option, as it includes a trackpad on the side. This allows you to have full mouse and keyboard control with just one device in VR. The trackpad isn’t the most responsive but its inclusion is still welcome.

It’s also worth noting: this is specifically relating to the US model of the K830. Some users previously indicated that other international K830 models, such as the UK model, are not supported, but we haven’t be able to verify this ourselves.

Apple Magic Keyboard

magic keyboard apple

The Apple Magic Keyboard is the second supported tracked keyboard on Quest 2. This keyboard is Apple’s standard wireless keyboard, often shipped with iMacs and other desktop Mac computers and also sold separately.

If you have an iMac or other desktop Mac with a Magic Keyboard, you’ll be able to disconnect it from that device and connect it to your Quest 2. Similarly, if you own a standalone Magic Keyboard or if you buy one, it can easily connect to Quest 2.

Any Bluetooth Keyboard

As mentioned above, you can connect any Bluetooth keyboard to Quest 2 and it should work fine. However, you won’t be able to see the keyboard at all while in VR, which is quite inconvenient.

However, if you’re using Horizon Workrooms specifically, you can use any keyboard and turn on the passthrough cutout feature on your desk. While using Workrooms, this will let you see your keyboard on your desk while in the app using passthrough — slightly better than the alternative. It should be noted though – in this instance, the keyboard should be paired with the computer you’re using in Workrooms via remote desktop, not your Quest.

Horizon Workrooms Bonus – Apple MacBook Pro

quest ar keyboard label

When using the virtual desktop feature of Horizon Workrooms, there is support for one additional keyboard type: the Apple MacBook Pro laptop keyboard.

This will only work when using virtual desktop in Workrooms — there’s no way to use or connect the keyboard directly to the Quest for general use — but it does give you one more tracked keyboard option for that service specifically. You can use it with the passthrough cutout and AR button labels (pictured above) or fully in VR with a tracked virtual keyboard model.

What keyboard are you using for your Quest 2? Let us know in the comments.

Report: FTC Investigating Meta’s Competitive Practices

From uploadvr

The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating Meta for potentially anti-competitive practices, Bloomberg reports.

The recent report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and Naomi Nix indicates the FTC is investigating Meta’s virtual reality units over potential anti-competitive practices.

Last month, a report from The Information indicated the FTC opened an antitrust probe into Meta’s acquisition of VR fitness platform Supernatural. The new report from Bloomberg indicates the FTC’s investigation is “scrutinizing how Meta, the world’s largest social media company, may be using its market power in the VR space to stifle competition,” including asking about Meta’s sales strategy for Quest 2 which sees it priced starting at just $299, far below the nearest competition.

Apps like Virtual Desktop and Bigscreen have faced situations where Meta (formerly Facebook) made it either difficult or unprofitable for certain aspects of those products to function on Quest. In the case of Virtual Desktop, for example, developer Guy Godin wasn’t allowed to release a PC VR streaming feature for his app through official channels for more than 20 months. When Facebook finally allowed the feature officially it was just a couple months before Facebook launched its own version of PC VR streaming called Air Link. The Bloomberg story reports the FTC “quizzed outside developers that make Oculus apps in recent months as part of the inquiry,” particularly in relation to how the company might discriminate against third-party services or apps that compete with solutions or apps offered by Meta directly.

The full report from Bloomberg, which may be behind a paywall, is available here. It’s been a busy start to the year — other recent reports indicate that Apple’s unannounced mixed reality headset might not ship this year, amid reports of lucrative hiring pushes between Meta, Apple and Microsoft.

Editorial: With Apple Approaching, Meta Needs A More Intuitive VR User Experience

From uploadvr

As we head into 2022, the virtual and augmented reality industry is starting to look a little more competitive than it has in the last few years. But with Apple approaching the market, Meta needs to change its approach to user interface and experience in VR headsets.

Since its launch in 2019, Meta’s Quest platform has dominated the VR market. But with PSVR2 specs announced and Apple’s VR/AR headset potentially arriving as soon as this year, competition is on the rise. 

Recent reports indicate that Apple and Meta are in competition over talent, both enticing their existing employees to stay while also trying to lure the competition away.

Meta is building up its AR efforts after showcasing its prototype AR project, Nazare, while also moving towards release of its Project Cambria headset later this year. Cambria is expected to feature high-resolution color passthough, eye and face tracking and much more.

A reported rough depiction of Apple’s unannounced mixed reality headset, drawn by The Information.

Apple’s VR/AR headset is expected to focus on mixed reality using high resolution color cameras, along with a 300-400 gram weight range, dual 4K OLED microdisplays and “M1 MacBook level performance.”

While Meta has seen the most success with the Quest platform, the expected specs for Cambria and Apple’s headset would position them more in competition with each other than with the Quest.

Both companies are essentially building towards the next big leap in personal computing. As they take these next steps, it becomes increasingly important for both Meta and Apple to pair cutting-edge hardware with a seamless and intuitive user interface and experience.

Guiding the User

For Apple, this is an area of expertise. Apple is known for providing an unparalleled, seamless experience within its own ecosystem. This intuitive ‘walled garden’ approach is both chided and praised from a wider technological standpoint, but the benefit to the Apple user experience is undeniable. 

Apple pairs smartly-designed, intuitive user interfaces with a notorious “it just works” attitude to new software and features, capped off by unmatched integration across its own ecosystem of devices. For most users, Apple’s software is the easiest to instantly understand — the complicated technology gets out of the way. Apple’s interfaces are designed to be used with little instruction, from either the device or other people. 

Steve Jobs coining Apple’s now-infamous “it just works” mentality, on stage announcing iCloud at WWDC 2011.

On the other side of the coin, Meta offers a very different approach to user interface and experience. Despite being one of the largest social media platforms in history, Facebook is a cluttered and confusing mess of an interface. This is partly because the site’s design is constantly changed, re-designed and evolved to improve engagement. It’s a live experiment in progress, always. 

From a sales point of view, Quest 2 has been a phenomenal success and it’s now a fantastic content platform for some of VR’s biggest releases. However, the base user experience mimics the Facebook design principles of confusion, evolution and convolution.

Quest 2 runs a custom VR operating system, built around a modified version of Android. Meta has made significant improvements (both in terms of design and available features) to the OS since the original Quest launch in 2019. For dedicated users and those accustomed to advanced technology, the Quest UI does its job.

For a casual audience however, Quest 2’s interface and user experience is often clunky, unintuitive and confusing to navigate. Simple actions and features are frequently hard to find or hidden away.

The latest iteration of the Quest 2 UI.

This became apparent to me personally over the holiday period, while trying to help my Dad launch an app on his Quest 2. He only uses the headset once every few months, but is otherwise adept when it comes to phones, computers and other technology platforms. 

What followed was a series of endless troubleshooting questions for very basic actions. “Have you found the app menu? It’s the icon with a grid of squares. It’s on the dashboard, at the bottom, can you see the dashboard? You bring it up by pressing the Oculus button. No, not that one. It’s the one that has no indentation, it’s flat, at the bottom of the face on the right controller. Can you see the dash now? Okay, can you find the app? It’s in the app menu…”

For a device that can fabricate an entire world around you, with limitless design options, it feels less natural and more confusing to navigate than almost any other platform. Meta’s UI on Quest obfuscates simple actions, over-complicates the basics and seemingly fails at guiding the user around the headset. 

A Tale of Two Operating Systems

The reasons for this are somewhat clear – Meta does not have Apple’s breadth of experience in the computer platform realm. Apple have been doing this for decades, Meta just over one. 

Perhaps some of the answers to these UI design problems will be solved with Meta’s proprietary VR/AR operating system, which is being developed internally and was, until recently, led by Mark Lucovsky (formerly of Microsoft, now developing an AR OS for Google). 

Project Cambria
Meta’s upcoming Project Cambria headset.

But with Cambria releasing this year, it seems unlikely it would run Meta’s proprietary OS — a continuation of the modified Android build pioneered for Quest seems like the safer bet.

Apple’s headset will probably feature much of the same design language, features and experience that has propelled Apple to become one of the most esteemed technology companies on the planet. So if Apple’s headset releases later this year, will Cambria’s competing user experience hold up to Apple’s standard?

Apple has spent more than a decade perfecting, streaming-lining and synergizing the design of its three big operating systems: iOS, MacOS and iPad OS. The upcoming headset is rumored to run its own operating system, rOS, and job openings describe engineers working on VR/AR problems alongside Apple’s existing UI frameworks and system software teams.

Meta may have a lead in the VR/AR content war and now seems laser-focused on building its own metaverse, but Apple could easily outplay them on a system software level. How? Let’s speculate on the hypothetical user experience offered by Apple’s upcoming headset, based off the company’s existing products and ecosystem-spanning features.

The (Hypothetical) Apple Headset Experience

Like most Apple devices, the headset will probably pair automatically with your account when placed in proximity to another Apple device you own, eliminating the need for almost any user setup. This would automatically connect the headset to your existing Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth and Apple devices, and your iCloud account.

In terms of user interface, the headset will likely borrow a lot of visual and interface cues from iOS/iPad OS, adapted for mixed reality. With an Apple chip inside, native support for existing 2D iOS and MacOS apps might be possible, if not expected. If so, automatic pairing would likely sync your existing app data and files across instantly using iCloud, syncing everything inside and outside of VR perfectly.

Apple Export
Apple’s heavily-integrated product ecosystem. 

Likewise, the headset would instantly connect to your accessories, like AirPods, right out of the box. Screenshots or video recordings taken in VR or mixed reality will probably upload automatically to iCloud, ensuring easy access from other non-VR devices. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see other Apple services, like AirDrop or AirPlay, to be integrated at launch as well.

While all of the above is hypothetical, it’s not necessarily unlikely — new Apple devices tend to fit into the ecosystem perfectly. Ecosystem features like AirDrop and automatic pairing are standard fare on every new Apple device.

Many of these features are already available on Quest, some in a different or much less convenient manner. However, the way that Apple melds intuitive design with convenient features is what counts. The average consumer doesn’t have to search very far to AirDrop a photo from one device to another — it’s just a button press or two away at all times.  On Quest 2, moving a screenshot from the headset to a phone or computer is unclear and cumbersome every step of the way. For ease of use and intuitive design, it’s still apples and oranges — even when counting recent improvements on Meta’s end.

If Cambria launches with such a low standard of user experience, then Apple’s headset shipping with AirDrop and other ecosystem staples would set it up to outclass Meta in several areas almost overnight.

A Fruitful Opportunity

Meta has arguably bought and developed its way to an impressive content library and feature set, but it lacks the experience to leverage that as part of an effective, integrated platform. At launch, the opposite might be true for Apple’s headset.

Both headsets are aiming higher than a gaming market — they are the next generation of personal computing. If Meta wants to compete with Apple on that level, then it will need to adapt and make some serious changes — and soon.

Clear and intuitive user experience is becoming increasingly crucial as VR reaches a wider audience. Apple joining the fray should present the industry with some well-needed competition in this department – let’s hope Meta bites back. 

Report: Metaverse Escapism ‘Off Limits’ For Apple Headset

From uploadvr

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman shed light on Apple’s approach to the so-called “metaverse”, making it clear the company’s upcoming headset is expected to focus on “bursts” of gaming, content consumption and communication above all else.

The information was dropped in the paid edition of Gurman’s Apple and consumer tech newsletter for Bloomberg, Power On. The newsletter includes a section for Q&A with Gurman, which led to one reader sending in a question about the metaverse and how Apple will approach it.

Gurman posted his full response on his Twitter account for those who aren’t paid subscribers. Gurman has a long track record reporting accurately on Apple, so there’s a pretty substantial takeaway here that the company’s leadership doesn’t seem to be interested in a “metaverse” akin to the groundwork being laid in efforts like Meta’s Horizon Worlds. Gurman goes as far as to suggest the idea of a “completely virtual world where users can escape to” is “off limits from Apple.”

Gurman suggests Apple is focusing on making a headset designed for short-burst use, not all day, with a focus on “gaming, communication and content consumption.” An eventual fully augmented reality headset is supposedly Apple’s “real priority.” Gurman’s analysis is in line with public comments made by Apple CEO Tim Cook over the years. You can read a useful collection of comments Cook has made put together by The Verge, including “a significant portion of the population of developed countries, and eventually all countries, will have AR experiences every day, almost like eating three meals a day, it will become that much a part of you…VR I think is not going to be that big, compared to AR. I’m not saying it’s not important, it is important.”

Here’s a copy of Gurman’s response that he posted to Twitter:

Q: Do you think the Apple headset will be a full metaverse play? Or just focus on core AR and VR?

A: Here’s one word I’d be shocked to hear on stage when Apple announces its headset: metaverse. I’ve been told pretty directly that the idea of a completely virtual world where users can escape to – like they can in Meta Platforms/Facebook’s vision of the future – is off limits from Apple. Executives today at the highest levels of the company, and in the past like Jony Ive, have pushed for the virtual reality headset to not be an all-day device, and instead one that can be used for bursts of gaming, communication and content consumption. The augmented reality headset is Apple’s real priority because it can be worn all day and, naturally, not take anyone out of their real environment.

You can read more about Apple’s unannounced headset, potentially launching later this year, here.

Report: Lucrative Hiring Push Sees Microsoft, Apple Employees Defect To Meta

From uploadvr

Reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal indicate Microsoft and Apple employees are leaving to join Meta Platforms, as part of the latter company’s increased push into AR. To counter, Apple are offering some employees lucrative and unusual stock options as bonuses if they stay.

Meta, formerly Facebook, has consistently shown interest in expanding its VR/AR team for the last several years, including studio acquisitions and head-hunting competitors’ employees. However, the company’s recent emphasis on the metaverse and its latest product and prototype announcements seem to be resulting in an increased hiring push.

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft’s AR team (reportedly around 1500 people) has lost around 100 employees in the last year.

Of those staff, 70 were from the HoloLens team (headset pictured above), 40 of which went on to join Meta Platforms. This includes Charlie Han, former head of customer feedback for HoloLens, and Josh Miller, formerly part of the HoloLens display team and now display director at Meta.

Given their experience shipping an AR headset, former HoloLens staff would be enticing hires for Meta as part of the increased push towards consumer AR devices. In September, Meta shared a look at its prototype AR glasses project, subtitled Nazare, pictured below.

Project Nazare AR Meta

Microsoft also reportedly failed to hire ample new staff to manage the $20+ billion contract it signed with the US Army in April 2021. This army contract would see Microsoft supply ruggedized AR headsets, based on the HoloLens program, to frontline soldiers.

However, The Wall Street Journal reports that the program faced technical difficulties, particularly involving bringing high-quality night vision to the HoloLens. These strains reportedly enticed some members of the team to consider competitor offers. Despite this, Microsoft told the Wall Street Journal that it has a “strong team and is making progress on the project.” In October, the US Army announced it would move further testing of the project into 2022.

However, Microsoft is not the only one facing stiff competition in the VR/AR space. According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is facing similar defections to Meta from within its AR/VR team.

More specifically, Bloomberg reports around 100 employees left Apple to join Meta in the last few months. That being said, Apple also reportedly managed to entice some key Meta employees across in the same period.

The Information Apple VR

Apple is working toward release of a VR/AR mixed reality headset in the near future, potentially as early as this year, with high resolution color cameras for mixed reality. The embedded image above is a concept drawn by The Information, reportedly depicting an impression of the headset.

To counter Meta’s recent interest in its employees, Apple is reportedly offering some of its engineers lucrative and unusual stock bonuses to entice them to stay. These options, which would be vested over four years, are being offered to only some engineers in “silicon design, hardware, and select software and operations groups.” The bonus amounts range from $50,000 to $180,000, with “as much as $120,000 in shares.”

You can read the full reports at The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.

Sony Won’t Say If PSVR 2 Is Releasing This Year (Yet)

From uploadvr

It appears that Sony is tight-lipped on if PSVR 2 will be releasing this year.

Following last week’s official reveal of the headset’s name and specs, Axios’ Stephen Totilo noted that he had reached out to Sony to ask two key questions about the device. First, Totilo asked if PSVR 2 would be backwards compatible with the original PSVR and its library of content. He also asked if it would release this year.

According to Totilo, Sony declined to comment on each point.

Sony Silent On PSVR 2 Release Date

This perhaps isn’t too surprising given that companies often have dedicated beats for when and where they’ll reveal details such as this, but it is somewhat curious that Sony hasn’t confirmed a broad 2022 release window for its next VR headset yet.

The headset was first announced in early 2021 and UploadVR was the first to reveal specs for the device around the middle of the year, so it’s clear that many details about the kit have been nailed down for a long time. Plus, revealing information at CES in the first week of the year does suggest that you’re firing the starting gun for a months-long promotional plan leading up to a release somewhere around the holiday season. That’s exactly what Sony did with the PS5 two years ago, for example.

But it’s very possible that the ongoing component shortage that has plagued the rollout of so many electronic devices — not least of which the PS5 — is having an influence on Sony’s plans. With so much up in the air and different manufacturers offering differing opinions on when the situation might be resolved, the company might not yet be able to commit to a 2022 release date even if that is the plan.

But, regardless of the silence, we’re fully expecting to at least hear much more about PSVR 2 this year. Stay tuned to UploadVR, where we’ll bring you all the latest on the headset.

FitXR Adds New Programs, Formats & Coaches On Quest

From uploadvr

Fitness app FitXR is adding a bunch of new content to help users achieve their new year fitness goals, including new workout programs, formats and coaches on Quest headsets.

These new changes are available now and should add some variety to the existing programs. One big addition is a new training program called “Find Your Fit”. It’s a four-week, 12-class program that’s “curated by experts to help members discover the class style, coach and music they prefer to help them stay motivated and build more consistent habits to ultimately form healthier lifestyles.”

The new program also includes a partnership with Spinnin’ Records for the accompanying music, which features tracks from artists like Timmy Trumpet, Lucas & Steve and Sam Feldt.

In addition to the new program, there are now new class formats for FitXR’s boxing classes – Vibe, Velocity and Knockout. This will give users more choice, offering experiences that cater to different difficulty levels and styles. Vibe is more about the music, while Velocity is more of a sweaty workout and Knockout focuses on simulating real matches and focuses on technique.

The last new addition to the update is the addition of new coaches with three new trainers joining the FitXR roster.

Originally launched as BoxVR, FitXR is one of a few veteran fitness apps available on the Quest platform. The experience has continually evolved to include new features and changes, including a shift to a subscription-based pricing model in April last year. FitXR has also worked to add inclusive options for everyone, adding accessible seated workouts to the service last September.

To learn more about FitXR, check out our talk with FitXR Head of Fitness, Ianthe Mellors, from August last year.

Hoame To Launch VR Meditation Subscription Service On Quest 2

From uploadvr

Hoame, a Toronto-based meditation service, is to launch a subscription-based app on Quest 2 this month.

The Hoame app recently appeared on the ‘Coming Soon’ section of Quest’s store. It’s scheduled to launch in January, though a final date is still TBA. Traditionally, the company offers in-person meditation classes, but the VR version of the app will immerse you in virtual environments with recordings of instructors guiding you through sessions.

A trailer on the store page sees users customizing their environments and taking part in traditional classes as well as sessions that use music and focus on mental fitness and mindful escapes.

Membership to Hoame will include daily studio classes with sessions being saved so you can revisit them in the future. There will also be monthly workshops and you’ll be able to track your progress as you go. A price for the plan hasn’t been revealed just yet, but you will be able to try it out with a week-long free trial. A release on other platforms beyond Quest hasn’t been confirmed at this time.

Subscription services are becoming increasingly common on Quest. Hoame is the first of its kind for meditation apps, though, even if the experience itself looks close in nature to Supernatural, a fitness app that also gives you daily meetings with experts that pre-record a workout. Meta ended up purchasing the service last year, though there are reports that the FTC is investigating the deal.

Are you going to be checking out Hoame? Let us know in the comments below!

Quest 2 vs PSVR 2 Specs Comparison

From uploadvr

How does Sony’s new headset measure up next to the leading standalone VR? Find out in our Quest 2 vs PSVR 2 specs comparison!

2022 is upon us and Sony has fired the starting gun with new information about its upcoming PS5 VR headset, now officially named PSVR 2. At CES 2022 in January the company revealed the first official specs for the device (which UploadVR previously revealed in 2021) and, while there’s still plenty more to learn here, we know just enough for an initial comparison to what’s thought to be VR’s market leader by some way, Meta’s Quest 2. We’ll update this story with more details when we have them.

But, even at a first glance, PSVR 2 offers a noticeable (and perhaps expected) jump in display resolution over the 2020 headset. That said, its mandatory connection to a PS5 console via a single wire is likely to be a big deciding factor for people when choosing between that and the wireless Quest 2. We’ve also thrown in specs for Meta’s upcoming Project Cambria headset as a bonus – there’s still a lot we don’t know about that device too but it’s likely to go head-to-head with PSVR 2 whenever it does launch, even if its target audience will be inherently different.

As we said, though, this is only the first trickle of information for PSVR 2. We still haven’t seen the headset itself and don’t know its price or launch window, not to mention a full line-up of content that developers are working on for the device. We’ll bring you those stats as soon as we have them but, for now, here’s what we know.

Quest 2 vs PSVR 2 Specs Comparison

Specs PSVR 2 Quest 2 Project Cambria
Format Wired connection to PS5 console Wireless standalone with wired/wireless PC connection optional Wireless standalone (more TBA but wired/wireless PC optional connection likely)
Price Headset unknown, PS5 $399 without disc drive, $499 with $299 for 128GB, $399 for 256GB TBA (definitely more than >$399)
Display Resolution Per Eye 2000×2040 1832×1920 Unknown
Display Type OLED LCD Unknown
HDR? Yes No Unknown
Refresh Rate 90Hz/120Hz 72Hz/90Hz/120Hz (limited to only some apps) Unknown
Field of View “Around 110 degrees”, direction undisclosed Estimated around 90 degrees horizontal and vertical Unknown
Lens Type TBA Fresnel Multi-element pancake
Lens Separation Adjustable (specifics TBA) 3-point adjustable TBA
Tracking Type 4 camera inside-out 4 camera inside-out Inside-out (more details TBA)
Eye Tracking? Yes No Yes
Hand Tracking? No Yes Yes
Face Tracking? No No Yes
Headset Vibration Yes No Unknown
Mixed Reality Passthrough? Unknown Yes, black and white Yes, color
Microphone? Yes Yes Unknown (likely)
Audio Headphone jack Built-in speakers, headphone jack TBA
Controllers Bundled Sense controllers with buttons, sticks, capacitive touch sensors, haptic feedback (single actuator per unit), trigger resistance  Bundled Oculus Touch controllers with buttons, sticks and capacitive touch sensors New Oculus Touch controllers with no tracking ring (more details TBA)

As you can see from our Quest 2 vs PSVR 2 comparison, then, Sony’s new headset goes toe-to-toe with Quest 2 in a number of areas. Quest 2 might have hand tracking capabilities, but PSVR 2’s eye tracking will enable foveated rendering and more expressive social avatars, whilst it looks like Sony’s new headset has Quest 2 beat on per eye resolution and field of view.  We’ve already seen the kind of visual fidelity PS5 VR can push with the reveal of Horizon Call of the Mountain, too (check out the trailer just below). With all that said, though, we don’t know what the headset will cost and we can’t definitively say if it’s releasing this year, either. With the ongoing semiconductor shortage continuing to hamstring manufacturers, there’s every chance the device might slip into 2023.

That’s the Quest 2 vs PSVR 2 specs comparison. How do you think Sony’s headset measures up to Meta’s offering? Do you plan on picking the new device up? Let us know in the comments below!

Nvidia Reveals Powerhouse RTX 3090 Ti And $249 RTX 3050

From uploadvr

Nvidia’s two newest graphics cards sit at opposite ends of the scale.

The company announced the low-end RTX 3050 and the (very) high-end RTX 3090 Ti at its CES press conference today.

The former card is designed for top-quality 1080p performance, though it’s tough to say if it might be at all applicable to VR titles without testing it ourselves, though other cards in the 30 series would certainly be a safer bet. Crucially, the card costs $249, which is an incredibly low price for VR compatible cards, though AMD also announced its own 1080p card, RX 6500 XT, for $199 earlier today too. Both of those cards launch later this month.

The RTX 3090, meanwhile, was only quickly teased with more details set to be revealed later in the year. Nvidia estimates the new card to be 10% faster than the 3090, with 24GB GDDR6X RAM and 40 TFLOPs of GPU performance. Basically, you can expect this one to handle almost any and all VR needs without so much as a splutter. And, as you can see from the image above, it’s certainly big enough too.

Nvidia’s announcements may be exciting, but they come in the midst of the ongoing component shortage that’s sure to hamper availability and jack up the company’s MSRPs just as with the rest of the 30 series. The 3090 Ti didn’t have a price attached to it, but considering the 3090 is supposed to start at $1,499, it’s going to be far from cheap.

Are you going to try to pick up either the 3050 or 3090 Ti? Let us know in the comments below!