Looking for upcoming VR headsets that could arrive in 2024? We’ve rounded up all the big names, like Valve’s Deckard, the Quest 3 Lite, and more.
The launch of the Meta Quest 3 made virtual reality more affordable and accessible than ever, and Apple’s entry into the VR scene with the Vision Pro reignited the industry and the market for high-end headsets.
Other hardware manufacturers are eager to get involved because of this increased interest. Many household names like Google, Samsung, and Valve are reportedly developing headsets, and some smaller companies have some very interesting projects planned.
Valve Deckard Virtual Reality Headset
Jugo Mobile
The creators of Steam Deck are working on a successor to the Valve Index. The company has confirmed that it is developing a second-generation VR headset but has not yet revealed details.
The company is confident in virtual reality because it has the experience to create new hardware and a library of games to utilize the prowess of the next headset.
Valve’s library of games and aggressive pricing are also behind the success of the Valve handheld gaming console. The Valve Index headset, meanwhile, was released in 2019 and, despite its $1,000 price tag for the full kit, is selling pretty well.
Valve’s upcoming VR headset could be an exciting gadget that could rival Bigscreen’s headsets, which are looking to tap into Valve’s library of games.
Apple Vision Pro Lite
Apple
- Resolution per eye: 3660 x 3200
- Refresh rate: up to 100 Hz
- Field of vision: 100 degrees
- Price: Starting at $1,500
- Weight: 600g
Since the launch of the Apple Vision Pro, rumors have been circulating that Apple is working on a cheaper and smaller version of the headset. Leaks suggest that the upcoming headset will be an “entry-level” version.
The main obstacle is the OLED display, which is the main reason for the headset’s high price. Apple is reportedly trying to find a cheaper alternative, perhaps by looking for a new supplier.
Rumors reported by an online informant Tech_reve The “entry-level” Vision Pro could be priced at $1,500, according to some sources. No official confirmation has been given yet, nor has a potential launch date.
Samsung and Google’s Project Moohan
AI image by Microsoft
- Resolution per eye: 4K
- Operating system: Android
Miscellaneous reports Samsung and Google, which already collaborate on Android and Wear OS, are teaming up to take on Apple. The result of this joint effort could be a powerful XR headset called Project Moohan.
Reports suggest this extended reality (XR) headset could feature Samsung hardware (and branding) as Google prepares Android XR Software to power the headset. The two companies want to create an impressive headset that would rival Apple’s Vision Pro.
However, teams at both tech giants are reportedly frustrated by delays and fear of producing an inferior product.
On the hardware side, Google has a long list of failed AR products, including Google Glass, Cardboard, Daydream, Tango, and Iris. The company has had some success with software like ARCore, Tilt Brush, and several Google Maps AR features.
This is why Samsung seems eager to take control of the project and wants to ensure that it sees the light of day.
The launch date of the Moohan project is still unknown at the moment. However, a Korean newspaper It has been reported that Samsung and Google have hit the reset button on their project and delayed the launch.
According to the site, Samsung is now planning to use higher-resolution displays for its XR headset to match the 4K displays in each eye (8K) offered by the Apple Vision Pro. This could push the headset’s launch to mid-2024.
In May 2024, Google announced a partnership with mixed reality company Magic Leap, with a focus on Magic Leap’s optical technology. This could indicate that Google is considering integrating Magic Leap’s optical technology into Project Moohan, although this could further delay the project.
At Samsung Unpacked in July 2024, Samsung’s President and Head of Mobile Experience Business, TM Roh, referred to a “new XR platform coming this year.” This is said to be related to Project Moohan.
Later at the same event, Google’s senior vice president of platforms and devices Rick Osterloh confirmed that Google was still involved in the project.
Pico Swan Project
Pico Interactive
Pico is a small virtual reality device maker owned by ByteDance. The upcoming Pico 5 has reportedly been canceled in favor of a high-end mixed reality device that is expected to rival the Apple Vision Pro.
Not much is known about the specifics of this device, other than that it is being developed under the codename “Project Swan”. It does not appear to have any connection to the Pico 4S project.
Pico 4 Ultra
Jugo Mobile
- Processor: Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2
- RAM: 12 GB
- Connectivity: 6 GHz Wi-Fi
- Resolution: 2160×2160 per eye
- Refresh rate: 90 Hz
- Operating system: Android based
The sales figures for the original Pico 4 headset have not met the expectations of parent company ByteDance. Thus, according to reports from DownloadVRThe company went back to the drawing board with a smaller, lighter headset.
The end result, the Pico 4 Ultra, is powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, similar to the one used in the Meta Quest 3. However, instead of 8GB of RAM like the Quest 3, the Pico Ultra comes with 12GB of RAM and has 6GHz Wi-Fi capability.
ByeDance launched the Pico 4 Ultra in China on August 20 for ¥4,300, or about $600.
The Pico 4 Ultra will ship to customers outside China starting September 20. Pre-orders for customers in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region will open on September 6. No US launch date has been confirmed.
We were lucky enough to attend the launch of the Pico 4 Ultra in the UK, where its capabilities were demonstrated. Also on display was the new Motion Tracker, a tiny device weighing just 27g that can be strapped to the user’s ankles to provide extremely accurate tracking of whole-body movements.
A bundle containing the Pico 4 Ultra, controllers and two Motion Trackers will be available once pre-orders go live.
Sony MR Headphones
Sony
- Resolution per eye: 4K
- Processor: Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2
- Display: 1.3 inch OLED
At CES 2024, Sony unveiled a new mixed reality (MR) headset. The headset, which has yet to be named, is expected to feature dual 4K OLED displays and a range of sensors to transition to the real world. It is powered by a Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor.
Unlike the PSVR 2, this headset is a standalone unit and is meant to be aimed at developers rather than consumers. It features a unique set of controllers split into a “pointer” unit and an “interaction” unit.
Early demonstrations of this unit have been seen at some trade shows, although it still appears to be incomplete. DownloadVR The reporter was given a hands-on demonstration at Augmented World Expo and reported that both the software and hardware were far from being shippable.
The headset is expected to be released in late 2024, although pricing has not yet been specified.
Meta Quest 3S
Panda VR / Pexels
- Resolution per eye: 1832 x 1920
- Processor: Snapdragon XR Gen 2
- Lenses: Fresnel
- Price: Less than $499.99
Nothing has been officially announced regarding the Meta Quest 3S yet, although there have been several persistent rumors.
It’s widely believed that if the headset does exist, it will be a budget version of the existing Quest 3 headset.
Another leak from Lunayian in May 2024 indicated that the Quest 3S would use the Quest 2’s Fresnel lenses and have a resolution of 1,832 x 1,920 pixels per eye. However, the budget unit would have the Quest 3’s color mixed reality passthrough.
The name is also a point of debate, with some sources referring to it as the Quest 3 Lite, while others are calling the device the Quest 3S.
In August, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman published in his Power On Newsletter The headset, tentatively called the Meta Quest 3S, could sell for between $300 and $400. The low price point is reportedly due to the fact that Meta is selling the tracked controllers separately. Other analysts say it’s unlikely that Meta will remove the controllers from the bundle.
Meta is expected to officially announce the Quest 3S at its Connect event, which will take place on September 25-26.
Meta Quest Pro 2
A report from Wayne Ma and Qianer Liu of The Information indicates that Meta is working on a successor to the Quest Pro.
According to the report, the Quest Pro 2 project has been underway since November 2023. This period also coincides with the start of a partnership between Meta and LG to create optical technology for future Meta headsets.
Further details are limited and unconfirmed, but a leaked roadmap indicates that the Quest Pro 2 would have a higher-resolution display, but would retain some aspects of the original Quest Pro design. The Quest Pro 2 would also use Meta’s experimental “Avatars Codec.”
New HTC Vive
HTC
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2
HTC has announced its plans to re-enter the consumer virtual reality market. The company has released a new video on its official website HTC YouTube Channel and other social media accounts.
The video is titled HTC VIVE: A Vision for You and shows a silhouette of the new headset. Little other information is available in the video.
However, Qualcomm has confirmed that HTC is one of the five companies that will be using the new Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset. This chipset is an improved version of the XR2 Gen 2 currently used in the Meta Quest 3.
