Meta Cambria to Include MiniLED Screens, Launching Q2 2022
Rumors have been making rounds during this CES 2022 week regarding Project Cambria and Meta Quest 3. These have come from XR analyst Brad Lynch and the reliable tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Cambria is the codename for Meta’s next VR headset, a high-end device that will be sold alongside Meta Quest 2 and is also compatible with it. The Meta Quest 3 will not replace Quest 2 and will be a lot more expensive.
Meta Cambria (Q2 2022) will include MiniLED screens. Targeting to sell 3 million HMD units in its first year.
Quest 3 is planned to include uOLED. Meta signed deal to build production lines for these displays with Changxin Technology
Connect 2023 announce/release soon after
— Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) January 4, 2022
Cambria was first presented at the Connect 2021 and is scheduled for launch later this year. According to Brad Lynch, Meta Cambria is arriving in Q2 2022 and will also include miniLED screens.
Meta Quest 3 Launch Likely in 2 Years?
Not much is known about the Meta Quest 3 headset but we know the device is currently in development and should be much more compact than its predecessors. Consulting CTO at Oculus VR John Carmack recently stated that the current Quest 2 headset still has a “long life” ahead meaning it will be around for quite some time before a successor.
An important point here is that the “project Cambria” product will *NOT* replace Quest 2, it will be sold alongside it. Quest 2 will have a long life. https://t.co/6S7ARZwfS9
— John Carmack (@ID_AA_Carmack) December 24, 2021
According to Brad Lynch’s sources which he isn’t disclosing for obvious reasons, the Meta Quest 3 headset will first be unveiled at the Connect Conference scheduled for autumn 2023 and will be going on sale shortly after the announcement. The launch timeline will be similar to that of the Quest 2 in the autumn of 2020.
Lynch says Meta Quest 3 will use microOLED displays. The contract for the construction of the production facilities has reportedly been signed already. The Snapdragon XR3 will also be ready for launch by the end of 2023 although Meta is hoping to use its own chip with a VR-optimized GPU by then.
Cambria to Include LC Displays
Lynch also gave a few interesting details on Cambria such as the launch date which he says will be in the second quarter of 2022.
Cambria will use miniLED displays, unlike the Meta Quest. The miniLEDs are improved LC displays that have a deeper black level although they do not give you the image quality that you would get with the OLED screens. However, Lynch believes that Meta is reaching for HDR rating for its Cambria displays in a bid at allowing for corresponding content for the Meta Quest 3.
Lynch is estimating that Meta plans to sell 3 million Cambria devices in its first year. This is a very optimistic estimate and should this figure prove correct, then the device will likely be heavily subsidized as is customary with Meta’s other products, making it available not just for professionals and developers but also to the VR-enthusiast buyers. Lynch estimates that the headset will cost under $1,000.
Mass Production for Cambria and PSVR 2 Should Begin Soon
A day after Brad Lynch’s tweets on Meta Cambria, tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also released a report that supports Lynch’s predictions and adds new details.
According to Kuo, Meta will be using two 2.48-inch miniLED displays with a resolution of 2,160 x 2.160 pixels for Cambria. Kuo named Sharp and JDI as suppliers. Like Lynch, Kuo says the market launch for Cambria will be in the mid to the second half of 2022. He also states that Meta is targeting 1 to 2 million sales for its Cambria headset during this period.
Kuo also commented on Apple’s upcoming AR/VR headset and the PlayStation VR 2 with the PSVR2 predicted to go on sale in the second quarter of 2022. Check out Kuo’s full report (in Chinese) on the Chinese XR blog Nweon.
Goertek, Chinese manufacturer, will be in charge of mass producing Meta Cambria and PS VR 2 (soon!)
Goertek sold off Pico to Bytedance earlier this year, but signed a deal to continue producing Pico headsets
Also expected to supply components for Apple AR/VR HMD
— Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) January 1, 2022
Meanwhile, Lynch says the Chinese contract manufacturer Goertek is set to begin mass production of Sony’s VR headset and Meta’s Cambria. Lynch is citing is a well-known Chinese supply chain analyst as the source for this information.
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https://virtualrealitytimes.com/2022/01/06/meta-cambria-to-include-miniled-screens-launching-q2-2022/https://www.xrcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/meta-cambria-to-include-miniled-screens-launching-q2-2022-2.pnghttps://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Project-Cambria-150×90.pngTechnologyVirtual Reality NewsRumors have been making rounds during this CES 2022 week regarding Project Cambria and Meta Quest 3. These have come from XR analyst Brad Lynch and the reliable tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Cambria is the codename for Meta’s next VR headset, a high-end device that will be sold alongside Meta…Sam OchanjiSam Ochanjisochanji@yahoo.comAdministratorVirtual Reality Times
