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VR headsets could soon get a massive wireless boost
In This Article
With the launch of theMeta Quest 3and theRay-Ban Meta Glasses, mixed reality is very much a hot topic in the tech world. But, what’s next? It could be good ol’ Wi-Fi that enables a big step forward.
We were impressed by the Meta Quest 3 in our review but, undoubtedly, headsets focused on mobile experiences and donning mobile processors have their limits. That’s why we see devices that aim to provide high-end gaming resort to connecting to consoles or PCs using wires or, admittedly, shaky wireless connections. Now, an FCC approval in the US could give a huge boost to the latter.
A big hope forPSVR 2was that it might be a wireless offering but that wasn’t to be, and it has to be assumed that the technology just wasn’t there yet. That may change with Wi-Fi 6GHz. Companies like Apple, Meta, Microsoft and Google have been hoping that the FCC in the US will allow them to use the superfast short-distance Wi-Fi 6GHz spectrum for wireless device connectivity – and it’s been approved (viaThe Verge).
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Wi-Fi standards aren’t the most exciting of topics but this move looks set to enable technology companies, in the US, to offer more rich and powerful virtual and augmented reality experiences. But there are limits.
The Wi-Fi 6GHz spectrum was originally opened up for use by routers and devices like phones, laptops and more. But, AR and VR headsets were not included. The new rules enable lower power operations over a short distance or higher power operations if usage is geofenced so as not to interfere with licensed 6GHz use.
The results could be game-changing for powerful AR and VR experiences over Wi-Fi. It creates the possibility that the PSVR 3 could very well become a wireless device, as well as potentially enhancing existing streaming-over-Wi-Fi experiences. Think connecting VR devices to PCs, like what is possible with Meta Quest headsets, and boosting capabilities to connect to your Mac devices, like what we’re set to see with theApple Vision Pro.
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Adam is the Computing Editor of Trusted Reviews. He joined as a staff writer in 2019 after graduating from Newcastle University with an MA in Multimedia Journalism. After spending two years at WIRED,…
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Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
