Highlights
- Meta Quest 2 and 3 users can now use their headsets on airplanes thanks to a recent update, a feature in high demand.
- The wireless nature of Meta Quest headsets doesn’t require setup, making it convenient for travel and on-the-go usage.
- The Meta Quest 3 offers impressive upgrades like better display resolution, improved controllers, and a more powerful processor.
Meta Quest 2 and 3 have received an update that makes it possible to use the Meta Quest virtual reality headsets while on airplanes. The feature has been in demand for some time, so users should be happy for an opportunity to use their headsets in a way that will help to make travel time seem shorter.
Unlike wired headsets like Valve Index, Meta Quest headsets are wireless and don’t use tracking base stations. This is a significant boon for users, as they don’t have to trouble themselves with setting up dedicated space to use their VR headset in, significantly cutting down on setup time. However, while this frees up the Meta Quest so that it can be used just about anywhere, planes and other types of travel have been excluded from this due to the way that tracking works.
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Now, an update to Meta Quest’s v65 system software makes it so that gamers can make use of their Meta Quest 2 and 3 devices while traveling on planes. The original Oculus Quest and Meta Quest Pro have been excluded from this update. While it was previously possible to use the Quest on planes, it required making major concessions, forcing users to shut off positional tracking. This greatly reduced the functionality of the device, disabling passthrough mode and reducing it to 3 DoF.
Now, users can access this function through the Experimental area of the devices’ settings. This will allow users to activate Travel Mode, which should work on any flight in motion. Meta has noted that the function doesn’t officially work on other methods of travel as of yet. The company also claims that in some cases, the headset may directly prompt users to enable Travel Mode if they’re on a plane.
Making Use of a VR Headset While Traveling
While this addition could be utilized to play some games, movement on planes tends to be restrictive. Simple hand tracking will be helpful here, but where this update will likely shine the most is with productivity apps, as well as entertainment apps like Bigscreen or YouTube on Meta Quest. Being able to block out the world around the user so that they can focus or simply tune out while traveling is something that should help to make travel time more enjoyable. Whether or not users really embrace this mode remains to be seen, as some VR enthusiasts still have difficulty with motion sickness when standing on solid ground. Nonetheless, having an extra feature available is always welcome, especially when an airplane-friendly travel mode was previously only available on devices like the much more expensive Apple Vision Pro.