VR technology has advanced enormously since the first Oculus Rift kickstarted modern virtual reality back in 2016. Last year‘s debut of the Oculus Quest 2, now rebranded as Meta Quest 2, marked a real turning point in delivering high-end features in an affordable, portable package. Its runaway success proved the masses want easy access to immersive digital worlds once confined to bulky gaming rigs and sensors.
Now in 2022, Meta is gearing up to launch a new headset under the code name Project Cambria which represents their next ambitious push for VR capabilities. Cambria promises cutting edge upgrades across the board from visuals to tracking and mixed reality tricks.
But is Cambria destined to supersede the still-mighty Quest 2 just two years after its launch? Let‘s compare what we know about these two models focusing on design, feature sets, target users and overall value. I‘ll offer my take on the better choice for most consumers today as well as where Cambria could pull ahead longer term.
Quest 2: The Standalone VR King
Before weighing up the rumors and leaks surrounding Cambria, it‘s essential to recap what makes Quest 2 such a category leader. Launching all the way back in 2020 as the Oculus Quest 2, Meta has cemented its status as the mainstream portable VR headset delivering desktop-quality experiences free from any PC or console.
The genius of Quest 2 lies in self containment:
- Smooth 72/90/120 fps graphics from Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon XR2 system-on-chip
- Inside-out tracking with 4 ultra wide cameras plus accelerometers/gyros
- Touch controllers paired directly rather than relying on line-of-sight
- Integrated speakers and mic support multiplayer games right off the bat
With 128GB or 256GB of storage plus a sharp 1832×1920 resolution LCD per eye, Quest 2 serves up richly immersive worlds on par with much costlier setups. While PC VR still claims the performance crown for now, Quest 2 represents outstanding value at just $399. And with over 15 million units shipped so far, its popularity speaks for itself.
For most folks Quest 2 hits the sweet spot delivering untethered, room-scale VR without complexity. Its well-rounded capabilities and ever-growing content library make it the obvious the top choice for virtual reality today.
What Will Project Cambria Change?
Code named Project Cambria, Meta‘s upcoming new headset represents an entirely new product tier rather than replacing Quest 2 outright. The two headsets aim at quite different targets which is clear from Cambria‘s rumored specs and design.
While still qualification-free and fully self-contained like Quest, nearly everything about Cambria looks unfamiliar:
| Feature | Meta Quest 2 | Project Cambria (rumored/expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399 starting | $800 starting (expected) |
| Release Date | Oct 2020 | Oct 2022 (TBC @ Meta Connect) |
| Target User | Gamers / consumers / enthusiasts | Professional creators & businesses |
| Use Cases | Gaming, media, communication, creativity tools | Productivity, collaboration, training, AR/VR blending |
| Tracking Cameras | 4 wide field-of-view | At least 3 for expanded mixed reality capture |
| Displays | Fast-switch LCD 1832×1920 per eye | Higher resolution with HDR, miniLED/MicroOLED expected |
| Audio | Integrated stereo speakers + mic | Unknown upgrades expected |
| Battery Life | 2-3 hours | Unknown – hopefully improved! |
As a next generation pilot device for bleeding edge capabilities, Cambria shakes up Quest 2‘s proven formula substantially. Let‘s analyze some of the key changes individually.
Design and Ergonomics
Cambria‘s physical design looks markedly different from Quest 2…but will it actually feel better day-to-day?
Leaked Product Shots Show Cambria‘s Radical Redesign (via SadlyItsBradley/Twitter)
The slick goggles-like aesthetic and almost sci-fi back head mount certainly look futuristic. However the crown-gripping stability of Quest 2‘s elastic strap system works well and keeps weight from pulling down on your face.
By relying more on rigidity through the top mount, Cambria‘s comfort could fare worse in longer sessions depending on overall balance and materials. Though if the display payload sits closer to your face as expected, counterbalancing could prove less critical.
The tracking rings have vanished from Cambria‘s controllers which likely means they will support better direct hand tracking. No more occlusions from putting your hands together. However they will still include buttons and triggers for traditional input when needed. This hybrid strategy offers the best of both worlds.
Overall the ergonomic changes remain unclear as a benefit or compromise until real world testing commences. I‘m cautiously optimistic though that with their experience on 6 Quest models so far, Meta‘s design team has this figured out. But we‘ll have to wait and see.
Processing Power Upgrades
Cambria needs extra horsepower to handle its enhancements like mixed reality blending with high-res color passthrough video. This means an upgraded system-on-chip (SoC) beyond Quest 2‘s Snapdragon XR2.
Reports point to Qualcomm sticking around as Meta‘s silicon partner. Their next-gen chip likely falls in the Snapdragon 888 class given a launch timeframe of late 2022. Built at 5nm instead of 7nm like the XR2, expect gains in efficiency, peak CPU clocks, AI acceleration and image signal processing.
These raw performance lifts will help Cambria tackle more ambitious capabilities using the same untethered form factor as Quest. The less energy going toward basic operation like rendering and spatial mapping, the more gets freed up for excitingHybrid Reality applications.
We‘ll have to wait for hands-on testing to determine real world battery life however. The more you ask of mobile hardware, the harder longevity becomes. I sincerely hope Cambria at least matches Quest 2‘s serviceable 2-3 hours per charge rather than regresses.
Mixed Reality Goals
While Quest 2 focuses on immersing you in purely virtual environments, Cambria wants to seamlessly blend the digital and physical for next level productive applications.
Its full color video pass through feature is central to this aim. Attached outward facing cameras capture your surroundings in high fidelity to integrate life-size into virtual spaces.
Imagine shuffling between full VR and pass through AR modes instantly thanks to quick switching OLEDs matching your environment‘s brightness and color gamut accurately. This could enable remarkable hybrid experiences like building a real and virtual art piece simultaneously side by side.
High precision foveated tracking also ties into productivity and social uses. Knowing exactly where you‘re focusing down to the pixel means rendering resources get applied ultra efficiently. Small text and fine details stay crisp in your central view without asking more of the hardware than needed.
By implication your avatars gain realistic eye contact and reactions in AltSpaceVR or Horizon Worlds. No more flavorless 1000 yard stares when trying to collaborate or connect with others. That subtle sense of sharing real intimacy sells the magic of presence essential to metaverse aspirations.
Target Users and Content Strategy
Mark Zuckerberg himself already spelled out how Quest Pro fits into their larger ecosystem strategy:
“Quest 2 will have its place for some period of time – I think quite a significant one – as kind of the mainstream consumer entry point into especially high-end VR.”
So Cambria aims higher – not directly replacing Quest 2‘s firm spot catering to the masses. Instead Cambria wants to push limits and achieve things not viable consumer hardware today.
Zuckerberg calls it satisfying “a real work need” centering productivity as the focal point rather than just entertainment ambition. That explains forgoing games given higher development costs without the scale Quest provides.
Exclusives matter far less when functionality sells itself like reviewing multi-thousand dollar 3D designs in life size. As capabilities justify the outlay for engineering firms or creative houses, the content comes built-in from their existing workflows.
So Cambria targets professionals first rather than consumers expecting an ecosystem of made-for games and apps. It may catch on with prosumers too if pricing reaches far enough. But Quest remains Meta‘s vehicle for affordable scale in the near term.
Closing Thoughts: Quest 2 Still Brings the Best Value for Most
There is tons to be excited about with Cambria and what it could enable as sophisticated virtual tools take hold across enterprises. It pushes boundaries in all the right places to make VR and mixed reality more capable and accessible without cords or external equipment.
But $800 puts it well outside what normal users can justify spending for home use- especially as an uncertain first generation product. For professionals it becomes a calculation around productivity and workflow gains.
By contrast Quest 2 offers proven quality and impressive capabilities today for hundreds less. Its mature software ecosystem features hit games and useful apps benefiting from years of optimization since the first Quest. And we know Quest 3 is coming to raise the bar again around affordability.
For these reasons Meta Quest 2 easily remains my recommended pick for most prospective buyers. Cambria nonetheless deserves applause for not compromising the accessible experience which made Quest a historic success.
Instead it charts a separate path to fund bigger investments in our mixed reality future combining AR and VR strengths into devices truly greater than the sum of their parts. Quest and Cambria can thus each focus on what they do best rather than one trying to serve both masters.
This bold but considered strategy gives me renewed confidence in Meta‘s vision. They continue working to democratize virtual worlds for the next billion users while still pushing the bleeding edge for professionals via Cambria. Paired with their infrastructure investments and developer tools, the future looks incredibly bright for immersive computing as these parallel tracks converge on consumer readiness.
Cambria means impressive possibilities professionals can harness today even if out of reach for most people. But tomorrow when costs reach parity with capabilities, we may look back on it as the pioneering hardware which made hybrid reality everyday magic rather than distant fantasy. So while I crown Quest 2 the undisputed value king of today, Cambria earns honors for embracing VR‘s tomorrow.
