New Quest Update to Reduce Bluetooth Audio Latency
Meta is set to unveil a new software update that will cut down on the Bluetooth audio latency issues on the Quest headset. Such a novel solution will make it much easier to use Bluetooth headphones or earbuds with the headset.
Meta did not make a formal announcement about this new development. Instead, it was only cited in passing in a video presentation geared at developers by the company’s Developer Relations Engineer AR Schleicher. The information was also picked by a Redditor.
Schleicher details the Meta Quest 3S in the video, highlighting how it differs from the Quest 3 headset. He notes that the Quest 3S headset no longer features a headphone jack. He then goes on to promise a new Android update that will cut down on the headset’s Bluetooth audio frequency.
The built-in audio is still there. The USB headphones still work as well. But the headset no longer has a headphone jack. Bluetooth audio is still available and will get even better thanks to the upcoming low latency features following an Android 14 upgrade that Schleicher says will arrive “sometime next year”.
It still isn’t apparent which other Meta headsets will get better from the lower latency software update or to what extent Meta will be able to lower the latency. The Quest 3 headset is likely to be supported.
The Importance of Lowering the Latency
At the moment, Meta Quest’s Bluetooth audio has a high latency. Higher latency means faster-paced games or even fitness apps perform poorly and are virtually unplayable.
If the latency can be reduced considerably in the Meta headsets, Bluetooth audio can realistically replace the cumbersome wired headphones.
In a Reddit post, Schleicher argued that good wired headphones are becoming rarer by the day while Bluetooth is becoming an almost ubiquitous option. It is thus sensible to Bluetooth audio better. Schleicher added that Bluetooth audio would have been a nice launch feature but “it didn’t work out” for reasons he couldn’t disclose to the general public. He promised, however, that this feature is coming.
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