Why the Meta Quest 3.
Spec sheet against spec sheet.
We compared the virtual reality headsets on sale today, spec sheet against spec sheet, with a single question: which one best serves a patient aged 10 to 100, in a session supervised by the care team?
Short answer: RVer runs on the Meta Quest 3, with 512 GB. Of the 11 virtual reality headsets we compared, it is the only one that combines room for the whole RVer library (close to 300 GB), cable-free sessions, a sharp image through pancake lenses, 515 g on the head and wear over prescription glasses, at a price that keeps the service affordable.
ForManagement, clinical teams and procurement
0111 VR headsets, side by side
The headsets are part of the RVer service: they are ours, they arrive configured and maintenance is on us. The institution never has to choose or buy them. This page explains the choice, for anyone who wants to understand it.
| Chosen | Fits the library, ruled out for other reasons | Does not fit the RVer library | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specification | Our choiceMetaMeta Quest 3 | AppleApple Vision Pro Why it was ruled outPrice. Almost €4,000 for the headset alone, more than six times a Quest 3, before any accessories. And it runs visionOS, not Android. | HTCHTC Vive Focus Vision Why it was ruled outHeavy on the head (785 g), shorter battery life than the Meta headsets, and a price that would make the RVer service far more expensive. | ValveSteam Frame Why it was ruled outIt runs SteamOS, not Android. It accepts Android apps installed by hand, but the RVer app is built for Android, not for that. And the version with room for the library costs more than twice a Quest 3. | Play For DreamPlay For Dream MR Why it was ruled outAbout 650 g on the head, almost as much as the Vision Pro. It needs the external battery to last past an hour, and costs more than three times a Quest 3. | DPVRDPVR P2 Why it was ruled outCommon in healthcare projects, but it only tracks head rotation (3DoF), and it weighs 690 g on the head. | MetaMeta Quest 3S Why it was ruled outIt tops out at 256 GB, and the RVer library is already close to 300 GB. The image is worse too: Fresnel lenses and lower resolution per eye. | Pico (ByteDance)Pico 4 Ultra Why it was ruled outIt came second. It only comes with 256 GB and no memory card slot, and the RVer library is already close to 300 GB. | SamsungSamsung Galaxy XR Why it was ruled outIt cannot be worn over prescription glasses, which rules out many patients. It tops out at 256 GB, costs far more and the battery life is weak. | MetaMeta Quest 2 Why it was ruled outNo longer sold since 2024. It tops out at 256 GB and uses Fresnel lenses, like the 3S. | GenericSmartphone VR viewers Why it was ruled outIt only tracks head rotation (3DoF), the image depends on whoever's phone it is, and the phone heats up and drains. There is no way to guarantee hygiene or the same set-up from one session to the next. |
| Hard requirement | |||||||||||
| Fits the RVer libraryclose to 300 GB today | Yes | Yes, from 512 GB up | Yes, with a microSD card | Yes | Yes | Yes, with a microSD card | No | No | No | No | No |
| On the patient's head | |||||||||||
| Weight on the head | 515 g | 750–800 g | 785 g | 440 g | ≈ 650 g | 690 g | 514 g | 580 g | 545 g | 503 g | ≈ 400 gwith the phone |
| External battery | Optional, for long sessions | Yes, 353 g | No | No | Yes, to go past 1 h | No | No | No | Yes, 302 g | No | No |
| Cable during the session (required) | No | Yes, to the battery | No | No | Only to go past 1 h | No | No | No | Yes, to the battery | No | No |
| Wear with glasses | Yes | No, ZEISS inserts sold separately | Yes | Yes, with a spacer | — | Yes, with a spacer | Yes | Yes | No, prescription inserts only | Yes, with a spacer | Depends on the model |
| Interpupillary distance (IPD) | 53–75 mm, continuous | 51–75 mm, automatic | 57–72 mm, automatic | manual | automatic | 58 / 64 / 70 mm | 58 / 63 / 68 mm, 3 positions | 58–72 mm, motorised | 54–70 mm, automatic | 58 / 63 / 68 mm, 3 positions | fixed or manual |
| Image | |||||||||||
| Display | LCD | micro-OLED | LCD | LCD | micro-OLED | LCD | LCD | LCD | micro-OLED | LCD | the phone's |
| Resolution per eye | 2064 × 2208 | ≈ 3660 × 3200 | 2448 × 2448 | 2160 × 2160 | ≈ 3840 × 3552 | 1832 × 1920 | 1832 × 1920 | 2160 × 2160 | 3552 × 3840 | 1832 × 1920 | ≈ 1200 × 1080depends on the phone |
| Lenses | Pancake | Pancake | Fresnel | Pancake | Pancake | — | Fresnel | Pancake | Pancake | Fresnel | Basic aspheric |
| Field of view | 110° × 96° | ≈ 100° | 120° | 110° × 110° | ≈ 103° | 94° | 96° × 90° | 105° | 109° × 100° | ≈ 97° × 93° | ≈ 90° |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | 90 Hz | 72–144 Hz | 90 Hz | — | 120 Hz | 90 Hz | 90 Hz | 120 Hz | 60–120 Hz |
| Tracked movement | 6DoFturn and move around | 6DoFturn and move around | 6DoFturn and move around | 6DoFturn and move around | 6DoFturn and move around | 3DoFhead rotation only | 6DoFturn and move around | 6DoFturn and move around | 6DoFturn and move around | 6DoFturn and move around | 3DoFhead rotation only |
| In the team's day-to-day | |||||||||||
| Operating system | Meta Horizon OS (Android) | visionOS | VIVE OS (Android) | SteamOS (Linux) | its own, Android 14 | Android | Meta Horizon OS (Android) | Pico OS (Android) | Android XR | Meta Horizon OS (Android) | the phone's |
| Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB to 1 TB | 128 GB + microSD up to 2 TB | 256 GB / 1 TB + microSD | 512 GB / 1 TB | 128 GB + microSD up to 1 TB | 128 / 256 GB | 256 GB | 256 GB | 128 / 256 GB | the phone's |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | 12 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB | 6 GB | 8 GB | 12 GB | 16 GB | 6 GB | the phone's |
| Processor | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 | Apple M5 + R1 | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 | Snapdragon XR1 | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 | Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 | Snapdragon XR2 | the phone's |
| Battery life | ≈ 2.2 h2 h 40 playing video, measured by RVer | ≈ 2.5 h | ≈ 2 h | ≈ 1 h without a PC | ≈ 1 h, 3.5 h with the external battery | ≈ 4 h | ≈ 2.5 h | ≈ 2.5 h | ≈ 2 h | ≈ 2–3 h | the phone's, and it heats up |
| Released | 2023 | 2025 | 2024 | 2026 | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | 2020 | — |
| Retail priceheadset only | 619,99 €512 GB | 3 999 €M5, 256 GB | 1 149 €official EU store | 1 279 €1 TB | 1 999 $not officially sold in the EU | —on request | 359,99 €128 GB | 599 €256 GB | 1 799 $US price · not sold in the EU | —discontinued in 2024 | 15–50 €+ the phone |
| Chosen | Does not fit the RVer library | |
|---|---|---|
| Specification | Our choiceMetaMeta Quest 3 | Pico (ByteDance)Pico 4 Ultra Why it was ruled outIt came second. It only comes with 256 GB and no memory card slot, and the RVer library is already close to 300 GB. |
| Hard requirement | ||
| Fits the RVer libraryclose to 300 GB today | Yes | No |
| On the patient's head | ||
| Weight on the head | 515 g | 580 g |
| External battery | Optional, for long sessions | No |
| Cable during the session (required) | No | No |
| Wear with glasses | Yes | Yes |
| Interpupillary distance (IPD) | 53–75 mm, continuous | 58–72 mm, motorised |
| Image | ||
| Display | LCD | LCD |
| Resolution per eye | 2064 × 2208 | 2160 × 2160 |
| Lenses | Pancake | Pancake |
| Field of view | 110° × 96° | 105° |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 90 Hz |
| Tracked movement | 6DoFturn and move around | 6DoFturn and move around |
| In the team's day-to-day | ||
| Operating system | Meta Horizon OS (Android) | Pico OS (Android) |
| Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Processor | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 |
| Battery life | ≈ 2.2 h2 h 40 playing video, measured by RVer | ≈ 2.5 h |
| Released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Retail priceheadset only | 619,99 €512 GB | 599 €256 GB |
falls short of the criterionhover or tap to see the reason
Red means the same thing for every model: does not fit the library · 650 g or more on the head · cable required during the session · cannot be worn with glasses · Fresnel or basic lenses · lower resolution than the Quest 3 · head rotation only (3DoF) · not Android · shorter battery life than the Quest 3 · over €1,000 or no longer sold.
As you scroll the table, the Quest 3 stays pinned next to the specs: every model is compared against it.
Retail price, headset only. Each RVer kit also includes a hard case, a washable silicone cover and other accessories. Prices in dollars where the model has no official euro price.
02Why we went with the Quest 3
In order of importance.
- 01Room for the whole library
The RVer library is already close to 300 GB. The Quest 3 has 512 GB on board: the videos are always there, even without a network. This requirement alone ruled out 5 of the 11 options.
- 02A price that keeps the service affordable
The headsets are ours, but they go into the cost of the service. The more expensive models did not improve the patient’s session, only the institution’s bill.
- 03No cable required
Nothing ties the patient to a computer or to a battery in their pocket, and they can look around freely. An external battery exists, but it is optional: only for sessions longer than two and a half hours.
- 04A sharp image, less risk of motion sickness
Pancake lenses and 2064 × 2208 pixels per eye, sharp from edge to edge. A blurry image tires the eyes and raises the risk of motion sickness.
- 05Light
515 g, with no battery hanging off it. It makes a difference in any session, and even more for someone with little strength in the neck.
- 06Works for people who wear glasses
The lenses move away from the face and the Quest 3 fits over prescription glasses. Many patients wear glasses, especially older ones. No separate lenses, no swapping between patients.
03Questions
What people ask us about the headsets.
What is the best virtual reality headset for hospitals, care homes and palliative care?
It depends on the use. For sessions supervised by the care team, with patients aged 10 to 100 and a 360° video library stored on the headset itself, our answer is the Meta Quest 3 with 512 GB: it has room for the whole RVer library (close to 300 GB), needs no cable, has a sharp image through pancake lenses, weighs 515 g and can be worn over prescription glasses. Of the 11 models we compared, it is the only one that meets all of these criteria.
Meta Quest 3 or Meta Quest 3S: which one for healthcare?
For RVer, the Quest 3. The Quest 3S tops out at 256 GB, which is no longer enough for the library, and uses Fresnel lenses with lower resolution per eye (1832 × 1920, against 2064 × 2208 on the Quest 3). A less defined image tires the eyes and raises the risk of motion sickness. The 3S is cheaper, but for the way we use it the saving is not worth it.
Meta Quest 3 or Pico 4 Ultra?
The Pico 4 Ultra came second: pancake lenses, a good image, and it can be worn over prescription glasses. But it only comes with 256 GB and no memory card slot, and the RVer library is already close to 300 GB. That requirement is what ruled it out.
Can patients wear glasses with the Meta Quest 3?
Yes. The Quest 3 lenses move away from the face and the headset fits over the patient’s prescription glasses, with no separate lenses and no swapping between patients. The Apple Vision Pro and the Samsung Galaxy XR cannot be worn over glasses: they need prescription inserts bought separately.
Why not the Apple Vision Pro or the Samsung Galaxy XR?
The Apple Vision Pro costs almost €4,000, more than six times a Quest 3, and runs visionOS, not Android, which is what the RVer app is built for. The Samsung Galaxy XR tops out at 256 GB, cannot be worn over prescription glasses, has short battery life and is not sold in the EU. Both have an excellent image, but both are cabled to an external battery.
Does the institution have to buy the headsets?
No. The headsets are part of the RVer service: they belong to RVer, arrive configured, and maintenance is on us. The institution neither chooses nor buys them. The prices in the table are retail prices for the headset only, there purely to compare the models.