The headset has cameras that pass high-res full-color video to the screens inside and will include face and eye-tracking as well as sensors and algorithms to augment the real world around you—adding AR capabilities to this “mixed reality” product. The above video teases the headset, which is supposedly slimmer than others on the market.
The Information, citing an unnamed source who is “familiar with the matter,” said the Project Cambria headset will cost $799, more than double the Quest 2’s price, when it launches in September. However, a Meta spokesperson confirmed to UploadVR that the headset would be priced “significantly” higher than $799. It will reportedly be followed in 2024 by an updated version with the codename Funston.
Cambria will supposedly come with screens sharp enough for you to read text, so you can type emails or code in the metaverse without needing a monitor on your desk. The headset will run Meta’s version of Android OS and come with processing power equivalent to a low-end laptop, giving it the ability to run web apps. Specifically, The Information reports that Cambria has been internally described as a “laptop for your face,” with specs similar to a Chromebook. Along with its improved imaging, the headset will supposedly be more comfortable to wear and pack a larger battery.
Following on the heels of these work-focused models are a pair of gaming headsets codenamed Stinson and Cardiff. We don’t know much about these two, except that they will be released in 2023 and 2024, and the first release will be a high-end VR headset while the other will be a budget model.
Meta is trying to seize the market by expanding into different price ranges and creating headsets not only for gamers, but potentially for the office, school, or factory. It’s all part of the long-term vision of convincing consumers to step into the metaverse, a theoretical virtual space that blends the real world with the digital through the use of VR, AR, and mixed reality. Next week, Meta will open its first physical storefront to convince you to stay in the digital world.
Advertisement
Update 5/3: A previous version of this article stated Project Cambria will reportedly cost $799. Meta has since confirmed to UploadVR that it will be priced “significantly” higher.