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Oct 28, 2024

The Best Meta Quest 3 Accessories & Why You’ll Want Them

If you’ve got your hands on a Quest 3, you’ve got everything you need right in the box to start playing some of the best VR games out there. Once you’ve got a few hours under your belt though, you’ll

If you’ve got your hands on a Quest 3, you’ve got everything you need right in the box to start playing some of the best VR games out there. Once you’ve got a few hours under your belt though, you’ll probably notice a few things that definitely need improving, many of which can thankfully be solved with a few key Quest 3 accessories.

Updated – February 29th, 2024

Meta has done it again; like Quest 2, they built an impressive headset… but decided to include a cheap, floppy strap that you’ll very likely want to replace soon after popping out of your first long play session. For many, the stock strap just doesn’t do a good enough job of distributing weight evenly and comfortably on the user’s head. Some users report the stock Quest 3 straps pushes into the top of their ears a bit too, which can be really annoying.

Meta makes its own Quest 3 Elite straps, but at $70 for the basic one and $130 for the one with an extra battery, they just feel too expensive to recommend.

Luckily, respected third-party accessory makers, such as Bobo VR also make more affordable Quest 3 straps:

We like the M3 Mini design because the strap is made to avoid your ears and also pivots, making it easier to put on and take off with minimal readjustment. It also includes an additional rear pad which you can swap to for more grip when playing high intensity games.

The M3 Pro doesn’t just add the battery, it’s a completely different strap design which moves pressure away from your face to your forehead. That makes it easy to use the headset without the facepad, exposing your peripheral view to the real world, which makes for a better mixed reality experience (and usually increases your virtual field-of-view!). Of course when you want to be fully immersed, you can easy put the facepad back on. Like the M3 Mini, the M3 Pro hinge design makes it easier to put on and take off with minimal adjustment, and it includes the additional rear pad for extra grip in high intensity games.

Pro Tip: If you’ve already got a Quest 2 strap you love… and a 3D printer… you may even be able to 3D print your own adapter to make your Quest 2 headstrap compatible with Quest 3.

The stock facial interface on Quest 3 is actually a big improvement over the Quest 2 version. Out of the gate, its fabric weave feels better than having some sort of clammy high-density foam straight on your undoubtably greasy face, although it isn’t nearly as cleanable as, say, a silicone or removable fabric cover.

Silicone covers are great for VR workouts since you can easily wipe them down before or after a session. The benefit here is you can quickly swap out the stock pad when you’re done playing casual games, and swap in the silicone pad for when you’re ready for some Les Mills Body Combat, Supernatural, Beat Saber, Pistol Whip—whatever gets your heart pumping.

We’re partial to the Esimen Quest 3 silicone cover.

At an impressively reasonable $17, you’re not only getting a washable silicone cover to go over your Quest 3 facepad, you’re also getting a light blocker insert for the nose cavity which adds a bit of extra immersion. But wait, there’s more! This package also includes a lens cover which adds some piece of mind for preventing scratches and also to be sure that accidentally leaving your headset near a window doesn’t cause the Sun to scorch your display (a rare but really unfortunate event for any headset owner). And last but not least, you’ve even got a choice of three colors: black, blue, or red.

If you don’t like the feeling of silicone on your face, you can also go the washable fabric route. And there, long-time VR accessory make VR Cover has you, well… covered.

Like the silicone covers, this slips over the headset’s existing facepad. When it’s time for a clean you can pull it right off and give it a good hand wash, then hang it out to dry. And because you’re getting two in one pack, you can always have a clean one ready to go. In addition to the grey color, there’s also a red option to give your headset a unique look.

If you want to spice up the look of your headset, you can also get full facepad replacements from Meta which comes with matching semi-rigid headstraps in Elemental Blue and Blood Orange ($50).

Quest 3 has charging pins at the bottom of the face plate, meaning we’re sure to see a host of third-party charging docks and accessories come to market soon enough.

Meta’s official Quest 3 charging dock works well, but at $130 the price kind of stings.

But there’s always a more affordable option that Meta’s official accessories.

Using the same charging pins on the bottom of the headset, this dock will charge your headset and controllers for half the price of Meta’s official accessory. To make controller charging possible, the package includes two special reachable batteries and replacement battery covers that put contact pins on the outside of the controller for easy drop-in charging.

Whether you’re using a dock or not, make sure to use the USB wall adapter that was included with your Quest 3, otherwise your headset may charge slowly. Not all USB wall chargers are made the same. Older ones, especially, don’t pump out nearly as much power as more recent adapters.

Pro Tip: If you’re really on a budget (or want something convenient but easily portable): a great option is to get a magnetic USB-C connector cable, which allows you to attach and detach a special charging cable to your headset without having to wear out the charging port (similar to a MagSafe port that you see on MacBooks). Many on Amazon can even do fast charging, although getting one with data transfer is hit and miss. Even if you could, you wouldn’t want to use Meta Quest Link with a magnetic cable because of how easily it can detach (see our suggestions for Link cables further down).

Meta’s official Quest 3 carrying case ($70) is certainly a good option to keeping your Quest 3 prim and proper—if you don’t mind the hefty price tag, that is.

We’re fans of the Sarlar Quest 3 case because it’s got enough space to fit the official Quest 3 Elite straps, but still manages to stay quite compact. Just note you’ll need to find a bigger case if you’re using any third-party hard headstrap.

Pro Tip: Quest 3 is smaller and will most definitely fit in the carrying cases originally designed for Quest 2; there are a ton on Amazon, with many hovering under the $25 mark. But if you’ve got an aftermarket headstrap, beware that not all cases may fit.

Whether you’re just looking for a way to charge during gameplay, or you want to connect Quest 3 to your computer via Meta Quest Link to use it as a PC VR headset, you’ll need a USB-C cable long enough to get the job done.

Note: to play PC VR games via Link, you’ll need a VR-ready PC.

By now, you know the drill: ‘Meta first, then the actual option you’ll actually want to buy’. Meta’s Link Cable ($80) is a thin fiber-optic cable that spans 16 feet (5m). It’s a great cable since it’s very thin and fairly light at 7.9oz (224g).

But for an option that’s not only cheaper but in one meaningful way, actually better, check out the INIU 16FT Link Cable ($30). It’s the same length as Meta’s version but it has an extra port to plug into a wall outlet to make sure your headset stays indefinitely charged. While all compatible cables should be able to power the headset indefinitely, not all computers can push the right amount of power out of their USB port, which in many cases means your headset will slowly drain as you play. The INIU cable’s extra port ensures that doesn’t happen.

We know who you are. You’re more of a “low contact” sort of person. You exclusively charge all of your devices wirelessly, only talk to friends through Discord, and prefer courteous bows from across the room over shaking hands. Your ‘hover over public toilets’ game is also suitably on-lock. Well, you’ll be happy to know you can play PC VR games cable-free too thanks to Air Link.

If you’re looking to get the most out of Air Link-ing your headset to a VR-ready PC for a host of PC VR games, you’re going to want a Wi-Fi 6 router. If you haven’t upgraded your router since 2014 or before, you’re almost certainly due for a upgrade to this newer protocols. Not only is a modern router necessary for a great wireless VR experience, the rest of the devices on your home network will thank you.

Assuming you’re looking to upgrade a years old router to make sure you’re in ship-shape for playing VR wirelessly, the Asus RT-AXE7800 gets out pick for a reasonably affordable high performance router that will futureproof you thanks to Wi-Fi 6E.

And to have the best wireless VR experience with Quest 3 you’ll want to make sure your host PC is hard-wired to your router and that you’re using your headset in the same room that your router is in. You might be able to get away with playing one room away, but the further you get from the router, the greater chance for lag and disconnections.

And if you’re playing wirelessly anyway, definitely give Steam Link for Quest a try for an easier connection directly to your SteamVR library.

Did we miss any big ones? What are your favorite Quest 3 accessories? Let us know in the comments below!

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Meta provides 2 year warranty on EU, and have a lengthy record of replacing stuff long after warranty.

Are you at least paid? You know you could be and are missing out if not…

Yes, and I’m not afraid to say it. Valve has been paying me monthly for the past several years. Why? Gaben cut you out of the deal?

They have one thing in common: all of them are overpriced junk. You can get these accessories for half the price from 3rd party developers like BoboVR, KIWI design, VR cover etc.

Was that a response from just reading the article title? The whole article (except for the part about the charging dock) basically says, this is the overpriced official part, and these are what you’d actually want to buy. Bobo, KIWI and VR Cover are all mentioned.

“Meta’s one-year warranty will also likely let you exchange them too if/when they break. Beyond that, you’re at the mercy of Zuckerberg though; Meta doesn’t have a great track record with the build quality of its aftermarket headstraps, and until we put ours through its paces and we’re reasonably convinced it won’t snap in half like the first-party Quest 2 straps were prone to do, well, buyer beware.”

It’s worth noting that the Quest 2 Elite Headstrap has had its warranty coverage for the snapping issue extended indefinitely. If you launch-day strap snaps today, you can still get a free replacement.

Also apparently the snappy part of the strap is thicker on the Quest 3 version.

Like plastic micro transactions. Instead of making the headset comfortable, you can make it that way for even more money increasing the cost of the headset.

But PS VR 2 was expensive./S

The accessories are really overpriced. Wait for a less expensive third party alternative for the charging dock and silicon facepad. There are already really good well padded head straps with batteries available on Amazon for around $60 or less.

They are overpriced, but I’m sort of fine with that. Meta doesn’t even try to make money from their HMDs, and we all benefit from their advanced VR hardware and software at low prices. Making back some money from accessories is acceptable, as long as these aren’t essential and thus hidden update costs, and as long as we can pick alternative solutions from other vendors.

Meta doesn’t prevent other companies from introducing compatible products that compete with their own. Compare that to Apple, who patented their MagSafe magnetic power adapters, didn’t license it to anybody, and even sued a company that bought original Apple power adapters to cut off the MagSafe plug and attach it to a power bank for MacBooks, for patent violation. We’ll soon see if they allow AVP prescription lens inserts from other parties than their partner Zeiss, who will charge USD 300-600 for a pair. Meta plays very fair with the accessories, allowing competition and those that do a little research to get much cheaper alternatives, while providing decent quality for users that prefer to buy original accessories from the HMD manufacturer itself, be it for convenience, quality, service or appearance.

Meta plays very fair with the accessories, allowing competition…

They’d have difficulty preventing competition on physical accessories to be fair.

Not really. All you need is a proprietary snap-on mechanism that can be protected, claiming intellectual property. King C. Gillette invented the double-edged safety razor blade around 1900, when looking for a disposable product that customers would have to buy over and over again, and of course patented it.

But patents run out, so today the Gillette company sells a large number of different multi-blade cartridges with limited compatibility even within their own product lines, all proprietary and protected. And they regularly change them a bit, thereby perpetually stopping competitors from offering compatible blades, even though it’s basically the same plastic hook mechanism. Meanwhile you can still buy the safety razor blades introduced in 1901 from different vendors at much lower prices.

As long as the specific shape of an object with a certain functionality can be protected, locking out the competition is very easy. Just look at Apple’s proprietary lightning connectors that required companies creating compatible accessories to pay for a “Made for iPhone” license. Apple now finally dropped on the iPhone 15, but only after the EU introduced legislation requiring phones to come with a standard connector, currently USB-C.

It didn’t stop unlicensed Chinese Lightning cables etc., but good point.

Apple went beyond just asking manufacturers to get a license, and integrated an authentication chip into every Lightning cable to prevent unauthorized use. Those not willing to pay first had to crack the authorization scheme, which didn’t take long, and unlicensed cables appeared just weeks after Lightning was introduced.

AFAIK the authentication chip had no real function besides protecting Apple’s high prices for cables and adapters, though I’m sure that, according to Apple PR, it protects customers from unsafe accessories that might damage their devices. It didn’t rely on strong cryptography, so they probably expected it to be broken, with its main use being to allow suing (larger/Western) companies for including unlicensed authentication chips, proving they had knowingly tried to circumvent Apple’s licensing. Apple put in quite some effort to make sure they got paid for everything.

He says he’s fine with overpriced because whataboutism. Went directly after Apple.

Apple haven’t released Vision Pro yet to say they will lock out 3rd party accessories. But he uses an old example to downplay them to uplift Facebook overpricing. Can’t make this up. And I don’t even like Apple products.

Apple doesn’t have a lock on iPhone cases for better protection or grip. They don’t have a lock on screen protectors or Bluetooth earbuds. They don’t have a lock on charging cables, docks, etc. But he wants to use his example as “what about Apple.”

Total nonsense.

What he could have done is agree on the prices being more than is necessary

Which part of my comment starting with “They are overpriced” didn’t agree on the prices being higher than necessary? My argument was just that selling at high margins is a legitimate business practice, as long as companies don’t try to suppress competition that could underbid them.

I am an Apple product fan and user, and this is one of the rare cases where I point out that Meta is doing something in a better/more fair way than other large companies. Usually it is reversed, and I refer to Apple to point out the desolate state of the Quest UI and the apparent lack of a coherent UX philosophy at Meta.

I am totally fine with the pricing of Meta Quest3 accessories – I just would not buy them, so if the raise the price by a factor of 10 that is still fine…

ah yes, battle tested less than a week from quest 3 release. you get what you pay for.

In Quest 2’s case for extra money I got extra snapping features. They did replace it but I was without a headstrap for two months waiting for the replacement to arrive.

If you want to get the cheap USD 25 MOJOXR head strap fitting both Quest 2 and 3 linked above, append the /dp/B0B2DVBXGM/ product key to the URL that RoadToVR accidentally cut off, or replace the underscore in amazon_com/MOJOXR-Adjustable-Compatible-Accessories-3rd-Party/dp/B0B2DVBXGM/ But you’ll have to hurry, apparently there are only two left in stock.

Also apparently the snappy part of the strap is thicker on the Quest 3 version, so hopefully that’ll help.

I finally was able to give my quest 3 a good test. Here are thoughts so far about visuals and accessories

I think the fov is to the point where I don’t mind it. With quest 2 I’d always think about how I wish it was bigger.

Can still see a bit of SDE, but it’s not bad enough to mind it.

Clarity accross view is great, but when you look to the left and right you can see the space in between the lenses with one eye. I never noticed this in other headsets. It’s kind of like how you can see your nose irl, but only when you pay attention to it.

Active strap is great the way it connects to the controllers. Attaches to my hand at the perfect spot. Expensive, but worth it.

Silicone gasket is actually pretty nice and you can wipe it off easily for different users. I’ll need to try it longer, but I might just leave this one on.

Elite non battery headstrap. Better than the stock strap… but the front heaviness is an issue. I recommend getting the battery strap to balance the weight. Also the runtime is short without the battery… get a battery headstrap.

Travel case. Very durable and I like how the zipper is oriented so you can hold your quest in there, close it up and leave it a bit open so a charging cable goes right to the charging port. If the zipper was the other way you couldn’t do it easily.

I don’t mean to be too nitpicky but there are some errors in this article — the Quest UI sometimes refers to Link as “Quest Link” or “Meta Quest Link” but never “Meta Link”. The wireless dongle is also not called “Airplay”.

Neither of these are a big deal of course and this is otherwise a great article for new Q3 buyers, just makes the author sound slightly less knowledgeable than they are.

Right on point.Then again, this is the website that considers product a high end only when it costs $800+, making Quest 3 not a high end headset by their definition.

Ah… but you can buy the 512 GB Version, add lenses and charging station and THEN it becomes high end!

LOL – Can’t be more META FANBOY then this – Title ”The Best Meta Quest 3 Accessories & Why You’ll Want Them” and ONLY showcase meta accessories. ahahah – What a joke.

Maybe because, considering it’s only been out for a few weeks, pretty much the only accessories that are out right now are made by Meta? There’s random chinese brands on amazon but they’re all circulating the same 2 designs, and they have pretty much no sales. Untill reliable brands we know, like AMVR or Bobo or Kiwi, make a headstrap this is what we’re gonna use

What the article should have pointed out more clearly is: these are from Meta, not necessarily better than other brand, but comparing with Quest accessories they definitely more (over) expensive, so it is better to keep your money in your wallet until the other brands have accessories for the Quest3.

Quest 3 charge dock does in fact charge the quest 3 elite strap battery just through the dock. You can charge independently with the usb-c port on the bottom of the strap as well.

Thank you, updated this!

one thing that is a recommeded for quest 3 owners is to have 1 tb usb c gen 3.2 flash disk and pair with 4xvr video player app…nonstop entertainment at your headset….

For AirLink, I’d by FAR recommend getting an actual WiFi AP rather than some janky all-in-one plastic antenna monstrosity.

From BoboVR there is also the new BoboVR S3 Pro Super Strap, which is suposed to solve some of the battery problems that the M3 gave. Apparenlty with success in terms of duration. About the noise complaint that the batteries in the M3 received for Quest3, some users have reported also some battery noise, although much less noticeable, while others have reported no noise at all.Another diference is the included fan (which is also well received by some users and at the same time controversial because of its noise, but in any case can be regulated in speed or deactivated).In terms of confort, the comments and reviews that I read tend to say that it’s more comfortable than the M3 (and some say it’s the most comfortable strap out there, but that can only be true for users who are ok with halo-type straps). Personally I’m going to wait for it to be in Amazon (only available at their site at the moment), and then I’ll check if there are more complaints about battery noise before buying.