Meta Platforms has released Quest 3, its latest virtual and mixed-reality headset, which is geared towards a higher-end market, at the Meta Connect conference.
Originally announced in June, the new device will start at $499.99 for the 128GB version and $649.99 for those who want a larger storage capacity at 512GB, Meta announced at the conference in Menlo Park, California, on Wednesday.
The new device is much cheaper than the introductory price of its predecessor Quest Pro, which was launched in October last year at $1,500.
But the company reduced its price to $1,000 in March to make the device more accessible.
Meta said customers can start placing orders for Quest 3 immediately and shipping will start on October 10.
“Quest 3 is the most powerful VR headset yet … it allows you to blend physical and digital worlds together,” Mark Zuckerberg, founder and chief executive of Meta, said while releasing the new headset.
“We are focused on building the future of human connections. We are doing this because we believe in the strength of our cohesive relationships between physical and the digital worlds.”
Mr Zuckerberg said Meta aimed to democratise the technology.
“We not only focus on ground-breaking technology but also on making it more affordable and accessible … we are building our technology responsibly and thoughtfully and will continue improving it with more users’ feedback,” he said.
Meta stock closes 0.41 per cent lower at $297.74 a share on Wednesday.
Meta Quest 3 features mixed-reality technology that enables various immersive experiences, such as playing a virtual piano on your dining table or watching a football game from the comfort of your living room.
The new device offers an almost 30 per cent improvement in visual resolution, 40 per cent louder audio range, and 10 times more pixels than Quest 2.
Sharpness also has a 25 per cent boost, with fewer stray and scattered light remnants, Meta said.
Quest 3 comes with 40 per cent slimmer optic profile compared to Quest 2, without compromising the depth of visual immersion.
A thinner design gives it a more balanced weight distribution than Quest 2, for maximum user comfort.
For users who are willing to wear Quest 3 over glasses and want to change it to fit their hairstyle and face shape, the new headset comes with a soft adjustable strap design.
Launched in 2020, the Quest 2 headset disrupted the industry as more users opted for it in search of indoor entertainment options during coronavirus lockdowns.
In June this year, the company lowered its starting price to $299.99 to attract more customers.
Augmented-reality and VR seamlessly blend digital elements into the real world, elevating how users perceive and interact with their environment.
While AR enriches the real world with digital overlays, VR takes users on immersive journeys to computer-generated realms.
These experiences are enabled through VR headsets, equipped with display screens, motion sensors and audio systems, all working in concert to deliver interactive user experiences.
The global AR and VR headsets market is expected to reach $142.5 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 35.6 per cent from $6.8 billion last year, says market researcher Precedence Research in Ottawa.
North America is expected to hold the largest market share in the global market. In the US, the AR headset market revenue is expected to hit $1.88 billion this year from $1.84 billion last year, Statista said.
Meta bought VR start-up Oculus for more than $2 billion in 2014 to strengthen its position in the industry.
Quest 3 can automatically map users’ space and understand important elements such as walls, furniture and other objects, so they can interact with the virtual world.
Its lens distance adjustment wheel gives users more precise positioning and smooth distance adjustment options, so they can customise the distance between the lenses to enhance their fit and picture clarity.
Meta said more than 100 new and upgraded apps and games are coming to Quest 3 by the end of the year.
“Because Quest 3 is backwards-compatible with Quest 2, you get access to the world’s best library of over 500 immersive games and experiences on day one, so there’s something for everyone to discover,” it said.
Xbox cloud gaming will also come to Meta Quest in December, allowing users to play Halo Infinite, Minecraft Legends, Forza Horizon 5, and hundreds of other high-quality Xbox games.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Test squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan(wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah
Twenty20 squad: Babar Azam (captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz
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The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
How they line up for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
3 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
4 Max Verstappen, Red Bull
5 Kevin Magnussen, Haas
6 Romain Grosjean, Haas
7 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault
*8 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
9 Carlos Sainz, Renault
10 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
11 Fernando Alonso, McLaren
12 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren
13 Sergio Perez, Force India
14 Lance Stroll, Williams
15 Esteban Ocon, Force India
16 Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso
17 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber
18 Charles Leclerc, Sauber
19 Sergey Sirotkin, Williams
20 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso
* Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth but had a three-place grid penalty for speeding in red flag conditions during practice
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Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
BlacKkKlansman
Director: Spike Lee
Starring: John David Washington; Adam Driver
Five stars
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
