Can you utilize wi-fi or Bluetooth headphones with the Meta Quest 3?
The Quest 3 helps Bluetooth 5.2, meant to attach you to wi-fi mice and keyboards for utilizing the in-headset browser or recreation controllers as a substitute for Contact controllers. It’s also possible to technically join Bluetooth headphones the identical manner: put them in pairing mode, then go to the Quest 3 Settings web page > Gadgets > Bluetooth and choose your headphones, assuming the headset can discover them. Nevertheless, be warned that the latency is actually terrible.
Simply because you should utilize Quest 3 Bluetooth headphones on this manner doesn’t suggest it is best to, nevertheless. Anybody who tries will discover a painful latency between video and audio, ruining your immersion. We do not advocate it.
As an alternative, the best choice is to attach a brief 3.5mm cable between your Bluetooth headphones and the headset’s designated port, even when this implies they’re now not “wi-fi.”
If you wish to use wi-fi earbuds, you will want a wi-fi dongle related to the USB-C port. Soundcore by Anker earbuds are your finest guess — based mostly on each Meta’s suggestion and our personal testing — as a result of (amongst different causes) they use the USB-C port however nonetheless can help you plug in a battery pack.
Simply because you should utilize Quest 3 Bluetooth headphones doesn’t suggest it is best to due to latency between video and audio.
The Meta Quest 3 has built-in audio system that get 40% louder than the Quest 2 did, offering wealthy recreation audio. You may hardly ever want to show the amount up above the center vary to get clear, immersive sound; in actual fact, you are liable to get some audio bleed for those who go any increased.
With headphones or earbuds, you get the absolute best spatial sound and keep away from annoying your roommates or relations by forcing them to listen to no matter you are taking part in.
However as we have already stated, Bluetooth headphones do not work correctly on the Quest 3; Meta hasn’t made low-latency Bluetooth a precedence as a result of you possibly can at all times plug headphones into the three.5mm jack and tie or velcro the wire to the Quest 3’s high fabric strap in order that it does not dangle throughout gameplay.
In case you’re actually invested in making your wi-fi Bluetooth earbuds work with the Quest 3, then purchase a wi-fi adapter with aptX Low Latency help that you could plug into the Quest 3’s USB-C port; it is the one method to interpret the sign shortly sufficient to keep away from lag between recreation audio and video.
Sadly, this answer additionally ensures you possibly can’t plug a battery pack into the USB-C port concurrently, so you will have to decide on one or the opposite. We all know of Bluetooth receivers just like the Anker Soundsync A3352 that plug right into a 3.5mm jack as an alternative — bypassing the USB-C problem — however we have not examined this feature for ourselves.
In case you’re keen to purchase new wi-fi earbuds, look into the Soundcore VR P10, our favourite Quest 2 earbuds that additionally work completely nicely with the Quest 3.
They plug into the Quest’s USB-C port and work over 2.4GHz wi-fi, supplying you with low-latency audio (underneath 30ms) for the Quest 3, PC, PS5, or another console with an identical port. They’re additionally IPX4 sweat-resistant for Quest train apps and provide 6 hours of playtime per cost. Our tester says that they’ve “deep bass, nice readability, and total sound high quality that is higher than most earbuds on this worth vary.”
Most significantly, the dongle presents passthrough charging, that means it plugs into the Quest 3 port however has its personal USB-C port to plug in your battery pack of selection.
The VR P10 earbuds additionally present Bluetooth connectivity with a “Twin Connection” mode, so you possibly can keep related to your smartphone whereas gaming; if somebody calls you, you possibly can reply the decision and have the audio robotically converted from the Quest 3. Because the Quest 3 has full-color passthrough, it’s going to be pretty straightforward to see who’s calling and determine whether or not to reply.
Meta now sells “Soundcore by Anker Wi-fi VR Earbuds” which are official “Made by Meta” equipment to the Quest 3, however they seem to have the identical 11mm drivers, LC3 Bluetooth codec, and passthrough-supporting dongle because the P10 mannequin for a barely increased worth. You may most likely save just a few {dollars} with the P10 with none discernable distinction.
Regardless of all the variations between the Quest 3 and Quest 2, it is good that your previous earbuds or headphones ought to carry over to the brand new headset. Many different Quest 2 equipment like straps, face covers, and controller straps will not work on the Quest 3.
Made for Quest
The Quest 3 does not work correctly with Bluetooth headphones, so depend on a 2.4GHz low-latency wi-fi connection as an alternative. These earbuds offer you high-quality sound for his or her dimension, do not add to the load of the Quest 3 as headphones do, and guarantee you possibly can increase the headset’s battery life if it’s worthwhile to.
