If you may get your palms on a Quest 3, you’ve received every thing you want proper within the field to begin enjoying a number of the greatest VR video games on the market. When you’ve received a number of hours below your belt although, you’ll most likely discover a number of issues that positively want bettering, lots of which might fortunately be solved with a number of key aftermarket equipment.

Improve Your Headstrap

Meta has completed it once more; like Quest 2, they’ve included an affordable, floppy strap that you just’ll very doubtless wish to substitute quickly after coming out of your first lengthy playsession. For a lot of, the inventory strap simply doesn’t do a ok job of distributing weight evenly and comfortably on the person’s head. Some customers report the inventory Quest 3 straps even lower into the bottom of their ears a bit too, which is certain be bothersome long-term.

It’s tough to suggest Meta’s Quest 3 straps out of the gate: Elite Strap ($70) and Elite Strap With Battery ($130), the latter of which incorporates an built-in 2,330mAh battery promising two hours of additional gameplay.

Don’t get us flawed, they’re each comfy and nice out of the field. Meta’s one-year guarantee may also doubtless allow you to alternate them too if/after they break. Past that, you’re on the mercy of Zuckerberg although; Meta doesn’t have an ideal observe report with the construct high quality of its aftermarket headstraps, and till we put ours by its paces and we’re moderately satisfied it received’t snap in half just like the first-party Quest 2 straps have been vulnerable to do, properly, purchaser beware.

Revered third-party accent makers, resembling Bobo VR and Kiwi Design, are slated to have their very own variations quickly. If you happen to’re in search of one thing proper this second although, a reasonably cheap answer from MOJOXR ($25) not solely has nice critiques, but in addition helps each Quest 3 and Quest 2 due to an included adapter.

Supplied you may 3D print your individual adapter although, you could possibly use any Quest 2 aftermarket strap in the marketplace, which ought to offer you a bit of extra alternative within the meantime.

VR Cowl or Spare Facepad

The inventory facial interface on Quest 3 is definitely a giant enchancment over the Quest 2 model. Out of the gate, its material weave feels higher than having some form of clammy high-density foam straight in your undoubtably greasy face, though it isn’t practically as washable as, say, a silicone or detachable material cowl.

Silicone covers are nice for exercises since you may simply wipe them down earlier than or after a session. Meta presents its personal Quest 3 silicone facial interface ($40), which fully replaces the inventory facepad. The profit right here is you may shortly swap out the inventory pad whenever you’re completed enjoying informal video games, and swap within the silicone pad for whenever you’re prepared for some Les Mills Physique Fight, Supernatural, Beat Saber, Pistol Whip—no matter will get your coronary heart pumping.

Realistically talking although, you most likely don’t have to shell out the higher a part of 50 bucks to get the job completed. There are a selection of third-party silicone covers on Amazon which match proper over the inventory facepad, starting from $10 to $15, and provide equal safety from face grime.

As for material, the trusted third-party creator VR Cowl has its personal machine cleanable material cowl too ($30) in case you wish to maintain it a bit of extra cosy than the impenetrable seal of a silicone cowl. Alternatively, you can too get full facepad replacements from Meta which comes with matching floppy headstraps in Elemental Blue and Blood Orange ($50).

Make Charging Simpler

Quest 3 has charging pins on the backside of the face plate, that means we’re positive to see a bunch of third-party charging docks and equipment come to market quickly sufficient.

For now, there’s actually just one actual answer although: Meta’s official Quest 3 charging dock ($130). Whereas this additionally fees your Contact Plus controllers, remember this received’t cost up any form of exterior battery strap.

At all times the previous dependable: the second possibility might be to get magnetic USB-C connector cables, which let you connect and detach particular charging cables to your headset with out having to wear down the charging port. Many on Amazon may even do quick charging, though getting one with knowledge switch is hit or miss. Even if you happen to may, you wouldn’t wish to use Meta Hyperlink with a magnetic cable due to how simply it could actually detach.

Carrying Circumstances

Meta’s official Quest 3 carrying case ($70) is definitely an excellent choice to holding your Quest 3 prim and correct—if you happen to don’t thoughts the hefty price ticket, that’s.

There are positively cheaper methods to spend 70 bucks although, contemplating Quest 3 is smaller and can most positively match within the carrying instances initially designed for Quest 2; there are a ton on Amazon, with many hovering below the $25 mark.

There’s certain to be an explosion of Quest 3-specific instances within the coming months, though it’s nonetheless too early to inform. Third-parties have created a ton of various case types through the years for Quest 2, starting from commonplace copycats of Meta’s personal to official case to ones that even double as charging docks. Extra of these, please.

Lengthy USB-C Cables for Wired PC Play

Whether or not you’re simply in search of a technique to cost throughout gameplay, otherwise you wish to join Quest 3 to your laptop through Meta Hyperlink to make use of it as a PC VR headset, you’ll want a USB-C cable lengthy sufficient to get the job completed.

Observe: to play PC VR video games through Hyperlink, you’ll want a VR-ready PC.

By now, you realize the drill: ‘Meta first, then the precise possibility you’ll truly wish to purchase’. Meta’s Hyperlink Cable ($80) is a skinny fiber-optic cable that spans 16 ft (5m). It’s an ideal cable because it’s very skinny and pretty gentle at 7.9oz (224g).

That stated, any 3.0 USB-C cable will work, and there are tons on Amazon that may do the job simply as properly at 1 / 4 of the value. Choose one, and also you’re enjoying Half-Life: Alyx (2020) very quickly.

Wi-Fi Router for Wirelessly PC VR Video games

We all know who you might be. You’re extra of a “low contact” form of individual. You solely cost your whole units wirelessly, solely speak to buddies by Discord, and like courteous bows from throughout the room over shaking palms. Your ‘hover over public bogs’ recreation can be suitably on-lock. Effectively, you’ll be completely satisfied to know you may play PC VR video games cable-free too due to Air Hyperlink.

It is best to be capable of recreation simply sufficient utilizing Air Hyperlink on that previous 2.4GHz router, though if you happen to’re trying to get essentially the most out of Air Hyperlink-ing your headset to a VR-ready PC for a bunch of PC VR video games, it is perhaps time to improve to a dual-band router, as Meta recommends connecting to Wi-Fi through 5GHz band (AC or AX).

Observe: Digital Desktop developer Man Godin has reported an early challenge with Quest 3 and the way it connects over Wi-Fi. For now, it seems the headset has community efficiency points with routers working in Wi-Fi 5 (AC) mode. The difficulty disappears when switching the router to Wi-Fi 6 (AX) or Wi-Fi 6e (AXE) mode.

Yow will discover dual-band Wi-Fi routers for as little as $40 on Amazon, nonetheless the extra you pay, usually the higher vary you get. You may also get them for considerably cheaper if you happen to don’t thoughts refurbished models.

Then there’s devoted dongles, such because the D-Hyperlink Airplay ($100), which creates a devoted Wi-Fi community between your Quest headset and your PC, skipping the entire Wi-Fi router tango fully. Regardless of the case, Meta recommends having your PC related to a router or entry level through ethernet cable, and in the identical room because the headset or in line of sight. The higher the connection, the decrease the latency concerned.

Different Equipment to Contemplate

Did we miss any massive ones? What are your favourite Quest 3 equipment? Tell us within the feedback under!