🥽 Meta Quest 3 VR Headset - Hands On Review for Familes

At Tech Age Kids we love VR technology and we're excited to get our hands on the new Meta Quest 3 and review the device. In this article we'll look at the age rating, the new features and the range of apps that are now available for the device as well as the bonus free game offer for early adopters.For those new to the range, the Meta Quest is a VR headset from Meta (formerly Facebook) and it was previously called the Oculus Quest. The Quest 3 is compatible with the existing library of games and other experiences which is pretty extensive now. You'll need an obstacle-free playing space of around 2m x 2m.

Meta Quest 3 Age Rating

Meta have recently announced that preteens age 10-12 can use the Meta Quest 3. If you are the parent or guardian of a 10, 11 or 12 year old then you can set up a parent-managed account for your child. This is a new feature being rolled out from September 2023. Meta have some additional safety guidelines for younger users including making sure that the headset is a good fit and limiting usage to two hours per day (parents can set a lower limit). 

Teens aged 13+ can set up and manage their own accounts for the Meta Quest 3. Content for the Quest comes with an age rating. There are many options for teens, but be aware that some content has higher age ratings. 

Meta Quest 3 New Features

The Meta Quest 3 is a fairly major update on the previous Meta Quest 2. Key improvements include:

• The Meta Quest 3 has a much slimmer profile than the previous version. This makes it more practical for younger users. Note that it weighs about the same, but the weight is distributed closer to the head which makes it more comfortable and puts less strain on your neck. 
• The Quest 3 has a much higher resolution screen and field of vision. There's still room for improvement here but it's pretty impressive relative to the cost of the headset.
• The Meta Quest 3 has better support for XR - extended reality.  Colour cameras on the device allow you to 'see' your physical surroundings with digital content overlaid. This opens up new opportunities for augmented reality and mixed reality experiences. 
• Smaller form factor and Improved haptics in the handheld controllers which offers more realistic physical feedback. 
• Improved sound for a more immersive experience. 

Meta Quest 3 Price

Why is the Meta Quest 3 more expensive? Well as we've seen, the hardware is higher quality. It is a pretty major upgrade in specification. It's still a lot cheaper that the Meta Quest Pro which is aimed at businesses. Basically, you're getting a decent amount of tech for your money even without the bundled game. 

Meta Quest 2 vs Meta Quest 3

If you're getting a VR headset for your family for the first time and it won't break the bank then I'd recommend choosing the Meta Quest 3 - it's a much better experience and will last longer before you need to upgrade. If you're on a tight budget then the Meta Quest 2 is still a valid option. There are so many games and experiences available for the device and so many of the headsets out there that it's likely to be supported for enough time for you to get value from it. 

The Meta Quest 3 offers a superior experience and the promise of a shift in the kinds of experiences that are possible with it's improved pass-through (mixed and extended reality) support and improved haptics (physical feedback through the controllers). It takes time for companies to develop experiences that fully utilize new features so it will be a while before the potential of the Quest 3 is achieved. 

If the bundle offer of Azgard's Wrath 2 makes sense for your family then that's definitely a factor due to the high value of this premium game. 

Coding for the Meta Quest 3 

One of the things we love about the Quest is that it's pretty straightforward to create your own 3D experiences for the device. This is a pretty cool feature for teens who want to create their own 3D games or experiences. 

Options include:

• A-frame - we created an A-frame demo, this just needs a suitable web browser installed on the headset
• Roblox - Games created for Roblox can be played on the Meta Quest
• Horizon Worlds (from Meta) - create interactive experiences on the headset itself using a drag and drop, blocks-based language
• You can use the Unity games engine to develop for the Meta Quest for free
• Creating games with the Unreal engine from Epic is also possible

If you've got a tween or teen who is already interested in coding or could be persuaded to try creating interactive content for 3D then the Meta Quest is a pretty cool platform to develop for. 3D environments are likely to be very popular in the future for entertainment, commercial and social experiences as well as for games. It's a valuable skill set to develop. And it's very cool to be inside a world or experience that you have created. 

Meta Quest 3 Launch Bundle Offer

The Meta Quest 3 launches with a free copy of Asgard’s Wrath 2 - a brand new premium game which is launching in December 2023. But ... the game has an age rating of 18 so this is going to be a bit disappointing for families with tweens or younger teens. It's a shame that there isn't an alternative launch bundle for families. Asgard's Wrath 2 does look amazing though, one for the adults and older teens once the younger ones have gone to bed!

Meta Quest 3 Summary

VR hasn't quite become mainstream but there are a lot of devices out there. In our household I'm the main user. I love 3D games, experiences and especially fitness apps. For my kids the previous Quest was a fun gadget to get out and show to friends and family. Other young people prefer VR to other forms of gaming. 

Personally I think that immersive 3D is going to be important in the future. I'm team metaverse. I think the technology is going to keep evolving and the slimmed down Meta Quest 3 is going to look clunky and dated in 5 years. But it's the best option there is at this price range in 2023 and probably for the next few years.