Meta Quest 3: Should You Use a Bluetooth Headphone or a Wired Connection for Better Audio?

The Meta Quest 3 device, which the company released earlier this year, features Bluetooth connections for wireless accessories but reports claim that for wireless earphones, it is laggy.

While the latency is poor and there is an apparent lag on the device's wireless audio, there are still several options for users on what to use with their mixed-reality headset.

Quest 3 was reportedly a promising device from Meta, with it being the most advanced wearable, but initial reviews are not exactly head over heels for it.

Meta Quest 3: Bluetooth Earphones Is Laggy, Latency Is Poor

According to Android Central, the Meta Quest 3 Bluetooth connection for wireless earphones is laggy, with the latency being "really awful," leading to a not-so-enjoyable experience with their games or apps.

That is despite the Quest 3 supporting Bluetooth 5.2 technology, which is supposed to bring a stable and smooth connection to the wearable headset.

It was reported that Quest 3's built-in speakers are enough to deliver the audio experience from the various apps, games, or content available via the headset. It was also made 40 percent louder than Quest 2.

However, some prefer the use of Bluetooth earphones for the immersive audio feel, particularly with active noise canceling (ANC), spatial audio, and other perks of using the wireless wearable.

Quest 3 Earphones: Go Wired or Wireless via Bluetooth?

With Quest 3's Bluetooth audio offering significant latency, it was suggested that users use a 3.5mm cable for the Bluetooth headphones and the headset, available for a direct connection.

Alternatively, if users really prefer wireless, they may opt for an aptX Low Latency support USB-C wireless dongle to connect to the Quest 3 and their wireless audio device to get a better experience.

Meta Quest 3 and What it Has to Offer

The Quest 3 is here, and it is the latest mixed-reality headset from Meta - the company's first take on integrating virtual reality and augmented reality together.

When released last September, Meta said the device featured the most advanced chipset yet, the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset that powers it for all processes. Many reviews for the XR wearable unveil sentiments from its users stating that the device is "cheap" and regarded it as not a mixed-reality device.

While it was said to be "hardly" an XR, it was because its lens is covered and not transparent or made of glass, unlike the Apple Vision Pro, the device which many compared to the Quest 3.

Some consider the Meta Quest 3 good enough to experience mixed reality firsthand, and it is one-seventh of the price of the upcoming wearable from the Cupertino tech giant.

More bad reviews and discoveries are shared by users for the Quest 3, particularly with its wireless connections, with users reportedly noticing a painful latency between audio and video when using wireless or Bluetooth headphones, pushing users to use wired connections.