Meta Faces User Backlash Over Quest 3 Microphone Performance

On January 24th, the much-anticipated Quest 3 virtual reality headset hit the market, only to encounter criticism over the quality of its microphone. Users have expressed frustration with poor audio pickup, including disruptive noises such as popping sounds, which have negatively impacted gaming and social experiences. In response to these concerns, Meta has announced plans for a software update aimed at addressing these issues.

Mark Rabkin, Vice President of Meta’s VR division, revealed on Twitter that future updates would include optimizations to noise reduction algorithms to mitigate popping and scratching sounds, enhancing voice clarity and naturalness. However, Rabkin also cautioned users about the potential impact of third-party silicone cases, which might obstruct hidden microphones near the front panel’s bottom vent, degrading sound quality.

The microphone has emerged as a significant weak point for the Quest 3, with users reporting similar issues on both the Quest 3 and Quest Pro models, contrasting with the Quest 2. Despite Meta’s commitment to resolving these problems through updates since the Quest 3’s launch in October 2023, a specific timeline for these updates has yet to be announced.

Given Meta’s emphasis on VR social experiences, the presence of such issues in the Quest 3 has come as a surprise to many users, highlighting the importance of microphone quality in immersive virtual environments.