The Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro have received their most recent software update, Quest v55, leading to massive improvements in performance.
According to the recent teaser, the upgrades will boost both headset’s processing speed by 26 percent. The Quest 2 and Quest Pro will additionally receive graphics processer (GPU) increases of 19 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
Here’s what’s coming in v55, a 🧵
⚡️ Higher clock speeds on Quest 2 & Quest Pro
📈 up to 26% increase in CPU speed for Quest Pro and Quest 2
📈 up to 19% increase in GPU speed for Quest 2
📈 up to 11% increase in GPU speed for Quest ProGotta go fast 🏃 pic.twitter.com/2HxIDYcHYu
— Meta Quest (@MetaQuestVR) June 21, 2023
Hardware enhancements will allow Meta’s current headset lineups clock processors at higher speeds than their previously underclocked performance. This initially protected headsets from issues such as overheating.
Further augmentations include greater eye-tracking capabilities for the Meta Quest Pro, which come after Apple’s headset debut. However, Meta has aimed to experiment with new features for its Reality SDK, which recently offered Direct Touch hand-tracking enhancements for the Quest 2.
Finally, improvements to Meta’s hand-tracking capabilities allow users to adjust swipe notifications with tapping and other gesture controls.
The company will also integrate Messenger for calling and messaging others. This comes just a day after reports teased WhatsApp integrations to the Quest platform, allowing messaging and calls for users and their contacts.
Meta’s WhatsApp functionality previously debuted on the firm’s Ray Ban Stories smart glasses, allowing users to access their messages.
Meta Quest Headsets Receive Progressive Upgrades
The news on Meta’s Quest 2 and Pro performance boost comes after the Menlo Park-based firm announced its latest hardware addition, the Quest 3, in early June. The big reveal took place just days before Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2023, which debuted the company’s Vision Pro mixed reality (MR) device.
Also, the immersive and social media company partnered with Unity Technologies to develop a bespoke OpenXR package for Quest 3 app development. This will support open-source real-time 3D assets on the immersive device and further backing from global firms developing technologies for the OpenXR.
It will also provide the package ahead of the final product, allowing developers and teams to experiment with the technology and offer feedback. Features ready for developers on the preview release include passthrough, spatial anchoring, device tracking, plane detection, and others.
Meta also released its Quest v54 update in May, complete with a trove of features. These include bespoke Skyboxes, Messenger notifications, and Quest Pro controller upgrades, among many others.
