ultrawide – Tutor Dasher

Researchers from Meta’s Reality Labs Research group have unveiled their latest work on developing ultra-wide field-of-view VR & MR headsets that maintain a compact goggles-style design. The details were published ahead of the ACM SIGGRAPH 2025 Emerging Technologies conference. The research article highlights two headsets, both achieving a horizontal field-of-view of 180 degrees, a significant improvement over Meta’s current headsets like Quest 3, which offer around 100 degrees of field-of-view. The first headset is a VR device utilizing "high-curvature reflective polarizers" to achieve a wide field of view in a compact form-factor. Image courtesy Reality Labs Research The second headset is an MR (Mixed Reality) device that also uses the same optics but incorporates four passthrough cameras to match the headset’s field-of-view. These cameras collectively provide 80MP of resolution at 60 FPS. Image courtesy Reality Labs Research Comparisons to the Quest 3 reveal the clear advantages of the wider field-of-view, especially in the MR headset where users can see objects and individuals in their surroundings with enhanced peripheral awareness. Image courtesy Reality Labs Research Image courtesy Reality Labs Research Both prototypes likely employ an outside-in tracking system similar to Meta's 'Constellation' used in previous headsets for rapid iteration purposes. While wide field-of-view headsets exist in the market, such as those from Pimax, they often sacrifice compactness for increased field-of-view. A Pimax headset, known for its wide field-of-view. | Photo by Road to VR The Reality Labs researchers claim that their experimental headsets maintain a form-factor comparable to current consumer devices. According to the researchers, these prototype headsets set a new standard for immersive virtual and mixed reality experiences, highlighting the user benefits of wider FOVs for entertainment and telepresence applications. While the experimental headsets showcase promising advancements, it's essential to note that Meta engages in extensive R&D, with many research prototypes never making it to the market. Past examples include varifocal displays on a headset prototype from 2018 that have yet to be incorporated into a consumer device. As Meta continues to explore new technologies, tradeoffs must be considered. Meta CTO Andrew ‘Boz’ Bosworth has previously expressed concerns about the downsides of pursuing wider field-of-view in consumer VR headsets, citing factors such as price, weight, and battery life. However, the latest research may influence future decisions within the company.

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