Zornitsa Vuteva After Meta Quest 3’s recent launch, many of those who purchased the headset as soon as it hit the market reported that its comfort and performance could be improved with the help of additional accessories. Keep in mind that there are many third-party accessory alternatives that, though more affordable, may not be of great quality. The following examples include both Meta’s official products and a couple of tested third-party alternatives.
Key Takeaways
- Upgrading the stock strap with aftermarket options like Meta’s Elite Strap or Bobo VR’s third-party alternatives can provide extra comfort and weight distribution.
- Adding a silicone face pad, such as Meta’s Quest 3 silicone facial interface, can enhance comfort during extended gaming sessions.
- Upgrading to Meta Quest 3 Touch Pro Controllers with active straps can offer precise movements, better control over gameplay, and ergonomic design for an improved gaming experience.
- Custom prescription lenses from Zenni could eliminate the need for glasses during VR gaming.
Head straps
Users of the Quest 3 have reported that the stock strap it comes with doesn’t provide the needed level of comfort and proper weight distribution. Some have even complained that the strap can be too tight at the base of the ears, which is a great inconvenience for long-term use.
Opting for Meta’s Elite Strap and Elite Strap ($70) with an integrated 2,330mAh battery ($130) are great head strap upgrades for the Quest 3. However, there are amazing 3-rd party alternatives from respectable VR accessory producers like Bobo VR. Their BOBOVR M3 Pro Battery Pack Head Strap compatible with Quest 3 costs $69.99. The capacity of a single battery pack is 5200mah, which adds 2 extra hours of VR use. And the head strap comes with an 18-month warranty.
Meta Quest 3 Silicone Face pad
Meta offers its own Quest 3 silicone facial interface, which is easily wiped down before and after intense gameplay or a workout session. The silicone pad is soft and flexible, providing a snug fit around your face. Plus, it’s easy to maintain and can last for many years with proper care.
You can easily take out the original face pad after casual gaming and switch to the silicone pad when you’re ready for a workout.
It retails for $40 and is well worth the investment for those looking to maximize their comfort during extended gaming sessions.
Meta Quest Touch Pro Controllers
Since there is speculation about the tracking fidelity of Touch Plus controllers (which come with Quest 3) and concerns about blind spots. Opting for Quest Touch Pro Controllers is recommended. Introduced alongside the Quest Pro, Touch Pro Controllers boast some special features like self-tracking capabilities, which allow greater accuracy and steadiness. However, this is a great investment as the controllers cost $299.99, and if you’re not a capricious gamer, you can stick with the Quest 3 controllers.
Active Straps for Touch Plus controllers
Adding a pair of ‘Active Straps’ to your Meta Quest Touch Pro Controllers can give you extra stability and support for your gaming sessions. These straps cost $39.99 and wrap around the back of your hands, so you won’t drop the controller when your hand is opened.
Custom prescription lenses
Meta has partnered up with Zenni to enable people wearing glasses to get custom prescription lenses for their Meta Quest 3. Different lens options are available, including single-vision and progressive lenses. They can also be customized with anti-reflective coatings. Plus, the lenses are scratch-resistant and easy to clean. Zenni also provides a warranty for customer satisfaction.
They could be purchased for $49.99 on Zenni’s website:
https://www.zennioptical.com/vr-prescription-lenses-meta-quest-3
Quest 3 Charging Dock
And for those who want to keep their controllers and headset powered up at all times, the Meta Quest 3 Charging Dock is an essential accessory. It’s the first of its kind from Meta and works with the Quest 3 Elite Strap, facial interface and head strap bundle, and more.
It’s priced at $129.99 and is available on Meta’s Store. The dock is easy to set up, and it can be used to charge multiple controllers and headsets at once. It’s also convenient as it only needs to be plugged in once, and you can just leave it connected so that your controllers and headsets are always ready to go.
Although many 3-rd party alternatives could start appearing on the market pretty soon, it is best to rely on the official version of the product as of now.
Meta Quest Link Cable
This thin fiber-optic cable measures 16 feet and is lightweight at 7.9 oz. It’s essential for charging during gameplay or connecting the headset to your computer for PC VR.
Meta’s official cable can be purchased for $79.99, but you can find 3.0 USB-C cables for a fraction of the price on Amazon. This must-have accessory will allow you to enjoy games like Half Life: Alyx and Arizona Sunshine with your Quest 3.
Dual-band Wi-Fi router
Using Air Link on an older 2.4GHz router should still enable gaming, but to make the most out of your headset’s wireless capabilities, Meta recommends connecting to Wi-Fi via the 5GHz band (AC or AX).
You can find dual-band Wi-Fi routers for as low as $40 on Amazon, although the higher the price, the better the range.
D-Link Air Bridge
You’ll need a D-Link Air Bridge if you don’t have a router, as it creates a dedicated Wi-Fi network between your Quest headset and PC. This device eliminates the need for a router, reducing latency and making sure you get the best experience. It also has dual-band Wi-Fi capabilities, meaning it can switch between 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies for optimal performance.
The Air Bridge is a dedicated dongle that costs $100 and can be purchased from Meta’s Store: https://www.meta.com/quest/accessories/d-link-vr-air-bridge/
Quest 3 Carrying Case
Owning a carrying case for your Quest 3 is essential for keeping it in a dedicated storage space and also being able to travel with it without damaging or losing any of the headset’s add-ons. Meta’s official carrying case is designed to fit the headset, the controller, the charging cable, the adapter, the Elite Strap, and the Active Straps. It’s available on Amazon for $69.99.
The 3-rd party alternative case for the Quest 3, which is starting to gain popularity, is the BnLnHOGVR Carrying Case on Amazon.
It costs only $16.99 and is described as a hard shell bag suitable for travel and storage.
Conclusion
Although the Meta Quest 3 has been highly praised after its release on the market, there are still some details concerning its performance and comfort, which could be upgraded with the help of suitable accessories. Such add-ons don’t have to break the bank in order to justify quality; that’s why there are many third-party options for significantly cheaper, compared to Meta’s products, which would do enough of a great job. But always check customer reviews before purchasing any piece of accessory, as you may not receive what you’ve really paid for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the System Requirements for Meta Quest 3?
To play Meta Quest 3, you’ll need a computer with Windows 7 or later, 4 GB RAM, 2.2 GHz processor, and 2 GB graphics card. You’ll also need an internet connection and DirectX 9.0c.
Does the Meta Quest 3 Come With a Warranty?
Quest 3 comes with a 1-year warranty.
Are the Meta Quest Touch Pro Controllers Compatible with Other Gaming Systems?
The Meta Quest Touch Pro controllers are compatible with Meta Quest Pro, Quest 2 and Quest 3.
