Meta Quest
Standalone VR/AR headset line from Meta's Reality Labs.
The Meta Quest, known as the Oculus Quest before August 2022, is a series of virtual reality headsets that also include augmented reality features. They are made by Reality Labs, which is part of Meta. The first model, the Oculus Quest, was created by Oculus (at the time a Facebook brand, later absorbed into Meta’s Reality Labs division) and came out on May 21, 2019. As of 2025, the Quest line is the most widely used headset platform for both virtual and augmented reality worldwide.
Like its forerunner, the Oculus Go, the Quest is a standalone device. It runs games and software wirelessly on an Android-based operating system called Quest OS (or Horizon OS). The headset tracks position with six degrees of freedom using built-in sensors and a front-facing camera array, so it doesn’t need external sensors. It also supports hand tracking. A feature called Oculus Link lets users connect the Quest to a computer via USB to play games made for the Oculus Rift. The Quest was Meta’s first headset to offer augmented reality through “Passthrough,” which shows a live camera feed when the user steps outside the designated play area (the “Guardian” boundary). Starting with the Meta Quest Pro, newer models have color passthrough.
By February 2023, over 20 million Quest headsets had been sold. In 2023, Meta struck a deal with Comcast, so Quest headsets now include the Peacock streaming service.
- Initial release
- May 21, 2019
- Original name
- Oculus Quest (until August 2022)
- Developer
- Reality Labs (division of Meta)
- Units sold
- Over 20 million total Quest headsets as of February 2023
- Operating system
- Android-based Quest OS (Horizon OS)
- Tracking
- Positional tracking with six degrees of freedom using internal sensors and cameras
Lore & Background
The Meta Quest line, initially branded as Oculus Quest, was developed by Oculus, then a brand of Facebook and later a division of Meta Platforms known as Reality Labs. The first-generation headset was released on May 21, 2019. Similar to its predecessor, the Oculus Go, the Quest is a standalone device that runs games and software wirelessly under the Android-based Quest operating system (also called Horizon OS). It supports positional tracking with six degrees of freedom using internal sensors and an array of cameras in the front of the headset, rather than external sensors, and also supports hand tracking.
The line introduced a feature called 'Oculus Link,' which allows the Quest to be connected to a computer via USB, enabling use with Oculus Rift-compatible software and games. It was the first device from Meta to support augmented reality via 'Passthrough,' which shows a view from the cameras when the user exits their designated boundary area known as 'Guardian.' Since the Meta Quest Pro, Quest models have supported color passthrough. After an agreement with Comcast in 2023, Meta Quest headsets included Peacock.
Reader's Guide
The Meta Quest series represents a significant shift in virtual and augmented reality by offering a standalone, wireless headset that does not require external sensors or a connected PC for basic operation. Its integration of six-degrees-of-freedom positional tracking and hand tracking via onboard cameras made it accessible to a broad consumer audience. The addition of Oculus Link bridged the gap between standalone and PC-based VR, allowing users to access the Oculus Rift software library. The introduction of Passthrough augmented reality, initially in black-and-white and later in color on the Meta Quest Pro, expanded the device's utility beyond pure virtual reality. By February 2023, over 20 million Quest headsets had been sold, and as of 2025, the Quest series is the largest headset platform for virtual and augmented reality worldwide. The inclusion of Peacock via a 2023 agreement with Comcast added a streaming service to the platform.
Did You Know?
- The Meta Quest was originally called the Oculus Quest until August 2022.
- The first-generation Oculus Quest was released on May 21, 2019.
- Over 20 million total Quest headsets had been sold as of February 2023.
- After a 2023 agreement with Comcast, Meta Quest headsets included Peacock.
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