The XR Weekly Recap (January 15, 2025): CES Showcases Numerous XR Devices, Quest 3S Tops 2024 Sales Charts, and More!

Having just returned from my exhilarating stint at CES, I find myself back in the serene embrace of Italy. It’s truly surreal that I’ve finally ticked this massive event off my bucket list. Despite returning home with every muscle in protest, the satisfaction far outweighs the fatigue. Engaging with CES has been thoroughly rewarding from every angle—as a blogger, a tech enthusiast, and an entrepreneur, each facet of my identity resonates with excitement. While CES dominates this week’s update, there are also intriguing tidbits that demand our attention. Let’s dive into the highlights together! (And apologies for the newsletter delay—the post-Vegas whirlwind was quite something!)

Top Highlights This Week

A Showcase of XR at CES

CES stands tall as the premier tech spectacle annually, and it was refreshing to see XR carving out its own niche in the form of a dedicated area. This niche tech sector is growing steadily, underscored by the bustling presence of XR enthusiasts and professionals at the event. Smartglasses dominated the spotlight—many integrating AI technologies—like the Ray-Ban Meta and the Halliday glasses, which boast a compact display. Goertek made waves by introducing new smart and AR glasses designs, a step that will likely prompt a surge of product releases in this space. While no groundbreaking announcements hit the XR world from CES, notable names like NVIDIA and Sony did drop some exciting news. NVIDIA unveiled its powerful RTX 50 graphics cards, promising to enhance PCVR performance significantly, albeit at a stable price range akin to the 40 series—except for the 5090, which is priced at a steep $2000. NVIDIA also expanded its Geforce Now cloud streaming service to Quest, Pico, and Apple Vision Pro, opening up a new realm for gamers to enjoy flatscreen titles on massive virtual displays. Sony, on the other hand, introduced XYN, a fresh suite of XR tools aimed at creatives. Details remain sparse, with the debut of a new headset—building on Sony’s enterprise model, which now goes for over $4000—unfortunately inaccessible to attendees for hands-on trials. Still, Sony’s dedication to XR and digital landscapes is commendable. HDMI unveiled a new 2.2 standard with a mind-blowing 96Gb/s bandwidth, which might tempt headsets to revert to this port type. I’ve penned some hands-on articles about devices like Shiftall MeganeX SuperLight 8K, Ray-Ban Meta, and Pimax Crystal Super, linking them below for your reading pleasure. My standout favorite? The Play For Dream headset. A full review is on the horizon. And I wasn’t alone in my admiration—Amanda Watson also picked it as her top choice. (It was wonderful meeting her at CES; she’s fantastic.) For those who couldn’t attend, don’t worry; I’ve got a video tour of the XR area linked below. It wasn’t a groundbreaking CES for XR, but it certainly held its own.

We’ve also got:

Meta Quest 3S Tops Amazon’s 2024 Bestsellers

Among the most joy-inducing news this week is the phenomenal sales performance of Meta Quest 3S on Amazon. Not just topping VR categories, but staking its claim as the top-selling console overall throughout 2024 in the U.S.! The Quest 3S didn’t just dominate the VR niche; it outstripped all other gaming consoles in sales volumes. Plus, it snagged third place for sales volume across all Video Games categories. This feat is even more impressive given its October release. Such statistics further reflect that the Quest 3S had an exceptional holiday run—along with the Meta Horizon companion app topping the Apple App Store and a surge in Batman Arkham Shadow players around Christmas, signaling ample Winter Holiday sales. While this doesn’t necessarily indicate VR’s mainstream leap, it’s clear that continuous growth is happening, bringing a wealth of new users.

Meta Discontinuing the Quest Pro

The news is out—Meta officially pulled the plug on the Quest Pro. For those eyeing it, it’s no longer available on Meta’s site. The Quest Pro’s controllers, however, remain available as they’re compatible with other Quest headsets. Honestly, this move didn’t catch many off guard. Hastily launched due to the Vision Pro, the Quest Pro entered the market half-baked and overhyped. With an initial $1500 price tag later slashed to $1000 due to dismal sales, it struggled from the get-go. Meta even handed out Quest Pros at a Roblox event to mimic the common corporate gesture of giving out cheap keyrings. Its end has been a long time coming. I’ll miss one thing about it: being Meta’s sole headset with eye and face tracking—vital for specific research applications. Interestingly, it coincides with the reveal of ASUS’s upcoming headset featuring similar tracking abilities, hinting at Horizon’s commitment to maintaining these features.

News Briefs

-ASUS is rumored to be equipping its ROG VR headset with face tracking technology, and it’s encouraging to hear third-party headsets are moving forward with innovative features.

-Infinite Reality is soaring high after amassing an unexpected $3 billion in funding. The XR community is scratching their heads, given such funding clout usually aligns with the likes of red-hot tech like OpenAI. Nonetheless, seeing such investment flowing into the realm of immersive tech is intriguing.

-Apart from tech marvels, quirky innovations are also aplenty. Researchers have found a way to "walk" in VR while lying down, encouraging a cycling motion for a truly peculiar experience. Talk about a work-out mode for your abs!

-DotLumen’s groundbreaking project equips a headset for the visually impaired, guiding them safely through environments. This technology could revolutionize the way individuals with vision impairments navigate the world.

There are waves of excitement across the XR sphere, signaling progress and some surprising turns. I for one, am thrilled to see what the future holds. Remember, your contributions to causes like the Red Cross still make the world a better place, and, once again, a big thank you to supporters who make ventures like this blog possible.

It’s a riveting time to be involved with XR, and, as always, stay tuned for more insights and reviews as they come!

(P.S. Check out my pal Tyriel Wood’s excellent XR content on YouTube for a closer look at CES wonders!)