Meta may not have fully revealed Project Cambria to the world yet, but one analyst may have spoiled their announcement by revealing everything up front.
Ming-Chi Kuo is a well-known and fairly accurate Apple forecaster, but he also recently directed his analysis at Meta's upcoming VR headset. On Twitter (opens in a new tab), Kuo shared his latest predictions for what we'll see in Project Cambria (what he calls Meta Quest 2 Pro). So what could Project Cambria users be good for?
Following the theme of visually enhancing Meta's recently unveiled VR headset prototypes, Kuo reiterated that Project Cambria will use mini LED screens and pancake lenses. This should not only improve the visuals of the headset, but also reduce its form factor.
The device will also be equipped with around 16 cameras according to Kuo: 10 in the ear cups and three in each of the two controllers. These would likely be an essential part of the device's AR capabilities, working in tandem with the headset's rumored 3D sensing support to create realistic experiences. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg already showed off some of the Cambria's AR features in a bizarre demo earlier this year, with AR apparently a priority for this headset.
Kuo also reaffirms that Project Cambria will use eye and face tracking for better expression recognition, another feature that Zuckerberg and Meta have said is a must for next-gen headsets. It remains to be seen how realistic these expressions are with the spooky valley in the background, ready to make the experience nightmarish.
Interestingly, despite all these added capabilities, Kuo predicts that Meta will still use a Qualcomm XR2 processor, just like the Quest 2. Many developers we spoke to are desperate for a more powerful VR headset, so we hope that Meta want to offer that. with a new second generation XR2 processor – more power would also help the device handle all its new components without being overwhelmed. However, we will have to wait and see.
Finally, Kuo predicts that the headphones will launch in the second half of 2022, which is something of a hack. Meta is adamant that Cambria will launch this year, and since we're halfway there, she only has six months left to deliver on that promise.
Kuo also suggests that the headphones will cost around €799 (around €649 / AU$1,159), if not more. Meta has long called the Cambria its most premium headset, so it's no surprise that it costs more than twice as much as the Quest 2.
As with all rumours, we have to take what Kuo says with a grain of salt. That said, the analyst has a very good track record when it comes to predicting Apple news based on his analysis of its suppliers, so it's always worth paying attention to what he has to say.
Should we wait for Project Cambria?
Based on what Kuo predicted, is Project Cambria worth keeping, or should I just get a Quest 2 headset now?
Well, cost seems to be the most important factor here. As we noted earlier, Quest 2 costs at least half of what Kuo predicts Cambria will cost; if you're on a tight budget, Quest 2 is a clear winner.
That said, don't buy a Quest 2 just yet. Whether you have extra money to spend or are not interested in Cambria, this would be a smart move.
If you can afford it, the Cambria will probably be the superior device, with improved VR and vastly improved AR capabilities. It'll also be more future-proof, so even if it costs more, you won't feel the need to change it as much when Quest 3 arrives.
But if you're more of a budget, then once Cambria launches, we could see the price of the Quest 2 drop permanently, allowing you to save a bit more on this device. Even if not, the Cambria launch could pave the way for some Black Friday sale discounts on Quest 2 later this year.
Quest 2 offers some of the best VR experiences out there, so while Meta is planning a follow-up soon enough, we're sure you'll enjoy using it.