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Meta Quest 3 Charging Dock

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Meta Quest 3 Charging Dock
Basic Info
VR/AR Virtual Reality
Type Charging accessory
Subtype Charging dock
Platform Meta Quest 3
Creator Meta
Developer Meta
Manufacturer Meta
Announcement Date October 2023
Release Date October 10, 2023
Price US$129.99
Website https://www.meta.com/quest/accessories/quest-3-charging-dock/
Versions Meta Quest 3 Charging Dock
Requires Meta Quest 3 headset; USB-C power adapter (sold separately, 18W minimum, 45W recommended)
Predecessor N/A
Successor N/A
System
Operating System N/A
Chipset N/A
CPU N/A
GPU N/A
Storage
Storage N/A
Memory N/A
SD Card Slot N/A
Display
Display N/A
Resolution N/A
Refresh Rate N/A
Image
Field of View N/A
Horizontal FoV N/A
Vertical FoV N/A
Optics
Optics N/A
Ocularity N/A
IPD Range N/A
Adjustable Diopter N/A
Passthrough N/A
Tracking
Tracking N/A
Base Stations N/A
Eye Tracking N/A
Face Tracking N/A
Hand Tracking N/A
Body Tracking N/A
Rotational Tracking N/A
Positional Tracking N/A
Audio
Audio N/A
Microphone N/A
Camera N/A
Connectivity
Connectivity Wired (USB-C input from power adapter)
Ports USB-C (power input)
WiFi N/A
Bluetooth N/A
Power Mains power via separate USB-C adapter
Battery Capacity Ships with 2 rechargeable lithium-ion controller batteries
Battery Life N/A
Charge Time Headset via contact pins; controllers via inductive charging (up to ~2.5W per controller)
Device
Weight Approximately 427 g
Material Plastic
Headstrap N/A
Haptics N/A
Color White
Sensors N/A
Input N/A
Compliance FCC certified

Property "Requires" (as page type) with input value "Meta Quest 3]] headset; USB-C power adapter (sold separately" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.


The Meta Quest 3 Charging Dock is a first-party charging accessory produced by Meta for the Meta Quest 3 standalone Mixed Reality headset. Sold separately from the headset for US$129.99, it provides a single resting place that simultaneously recharges the Quest 3 headset and both Touch Plus controllers. The headset is charged through three contact pins on the underside of the visor, while the controllers charge wirelessly through inductive battery covers fitted with rechargeable batteries supplied in the box. The dock launched alongside the Quest 3 on October 10, 2023, and is positioned as a convenience product that keeps the headset topped up, kept tidy and ready for use between sessions.[1][2][3]

Background and Release

The existence of a Meta charging dock for the Quest 3 became public before any official announcement when the device appeared in a regulatory filing. In August 2023, ahead of the headset's launch, the accessory surfaced through a United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification, which revealed that it would charge the headset through direct contact and the controllers wirelessly. The same filing indicated wireless charging output of up to roughly 2.5 watts for the controllers.[4]

Meta subsequently confirmed the accessory as part of the Meta Quest 3 lineup, and it became available to purchase from the Meta Store at the headset's launch on October 10, 2023, priced at US$129.99.[3][1] The official charging dock is a competitor to a range of third-party docks released for the platform from accessory makers such as BoboVR and PrismXR, several of which undercut Meta's price.[5][6]

Design

The Meta Quest 3 Charging Dock is a white, plastic stand designed to colour-match the Quest 3. Reviewers have described it as a polished piece of industrial design that looks like an integrated part of the system rather than an aftermarket add-on. The unit weighs approximately 427 grams.[2][1]

The dock has a cradle that holds the headset upright with its lenses facing outward, and two arms or wells on either side that receive the Touch Plus controllers. According to Meta, the headset can be docked while wearing either the standard fabric strap or the optional Elite Strap, and the controllers are placed onto the dock with their lanyards or accessory straps still attached.[3]

Charging System

The Meta Quest 3 Charging Dock uses two different charging methods for the headset and the controllers.[1][2]

The headset charges through three gold-coloured contact pins located on the bottom of the visor. When the Quest 3 is seated in the cradle, these pins meet matching contacts on the dock, allowing the headset to charge through a direct electrical connection rather than through its USB-C port.[1][2]

The Touch Plus controllers charge wirelessly using electromagnetic induction, the same general principle used by wireless smartphone chargers. To enable this, the dock ships with two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that replace the standard AA battery in each controller. The replacement batteries sit inside the controllers behind covers that allow inductive charging, so the controllers can be charged simply by placing them on the dock without removing any batteries each time.[1][2][3]

The dock does not include a power adapter. Meta states that it must be used with a USB-C power adapter of at least 18 watts, and recommends a 45-watt adapter for full-speed charging; the company suggests reusing the charger that comes with the Quest 3. Reviewers noted that the bundled 18-watt Quest 3 charger provides only partial charging speed and that supplies below 18 watts will not power the dock at all. A 2-metre USB-C cable for connecting the dock to a power adapter is included.[3][1][2]

Status indicators

The dock provides both visual and audible feedback. LED indicators glow yellow or orange while a device is charging and turn green once charging is complete, and the dock emits a beep when a headset or controller is placed onto it. Some reviewers criticised the brightness of the green status lights and the lack of an easy way to disable the lights or the beeping sound, which can be intrusive if the headset is kept in a bedroom.[1][2][6]

Compatibility

The Meta Quest 3 Charging Dock is designed specifically for the Meta Quest 3 and, according to Meta, is not compatible with the lower-cost Meta Quest 3S. The two headsets have different visor shapes and charging-pin layouts, so the Quest 3S requires a different docking solution. The dock is also incompatible with earlier headsets such as the original Quest 2, which use different controllers and charging arrangements.[3][4]

Contents

According to Meta's official listing, the retail package contains the following.[3]

Item Notes
Charging dock Main unit, charges headset and both controllers
USB-C power adapter cable 2 metres long; connects dock to a power adapter
Rechargeable controller batteries 2 lithium-ion batteries that replace the controllers' standard AA cells
Quick start guide Setup documentation
Safety and warranty guide Regulatory and warranty documentation

A USB-C power adapter is not included and must be supplied separately.[3]

Specifications

Specification Detail
Manufacturer Meta
Compatible headset Meta Quest 3 (not Meta Quest 3S)
Devices charged Quest 3 headset plus 2 Touch Plus controllers, simultaneously
Headset charging Three contact pins on the underside of the visor
Controller charging Wireless inductive charging via included rechargeable batteries; up to ~2.5W per controller
Included batteries 2 rechargeable lithium-ion controller batteries
Power input USB-C, via separate adapter (18W minimum, 45W recommended)
Cable 2 m USB-C power adapter cable
Status feedback Yellow/orange LED while charging, green when full; audible beep on docking
Colour White
Weight Approximately 427 g
Release date October 10, 2023
Launch price US$129.99

Reception

Reviewers generally praised the Meta Quest 3 Charging Dock's build quality and convenience while questioning its value relative to its price. UploadVR called it "a beautiful piece of industrial design" and described it as "absolutely essential" for keeping a Quest 3 charged and ready, but cautioned that the US$129.99 price is hard to justify for people who use VR only occasionally or who are willing to consider cheaper third-party docks.[1]

A review by MIXED reached a similar conclusion, summarising the dock as money well spent for enthusiasts who use the Quest 3 regularly while noting that the price is its main drawback. The same review highlighted the lack of a way to turn off the bright green status LEDs as a practical annoyance.[2] Coverage of the wider charging-dock market, including a GamesRadar review of a competing PrismXR stand, framed Meta's official dock as the premium option in a category where several third-party alternatives offer comparable functionality, sometimes with extra features such as charging for an external battery pack, at a lower cost.[6][5]

See Also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named uploadvr
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named mixed
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named metastore
  4. 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named rtvr
  5. 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named uploadvr_bobovr
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gamesradar