When I first put on the Meta Quest 3, I had no idea that this lightweight, futuristic gadget would have such powerful fitness benefits, or that it would grow to become a staple in my workout routine.
Until this year, I associated virtual reality with immersive gaming, but it held little appeal for me and I was daunted by the unaffordable price tag of some VR devices on the market. Ta. The cons of VR headsets outweigh the pros.
Next up was the $500 Meta Quest 3, shipping starting October 10th. While the headset's fast processor and high-quality lens resolution were great, what I really wanted to know was whether the headset's slim profile would make it a good alternative at the gym. At least when it comes to coaching cardio. Will apps like Meta Quest and the newly updated FitXR make me stronger and leaner, even on days when I don't want to leave the house?
After using the virtual reality fitness app almost every day for two months, my perception of VR started to improve. From Zumba dance workouts to boxing, the virtual world has opened up new possibilities for fitness. Especially for someone like me who admits to being intimidated by the gym. VR created a way to escape from the real world, but I was connected to my body. It motivated me in a way that TV videos cannot.
I first tried FitXR's Zumba workouts on Meta Quest 3, exhausted that library a few times, and then tried FitXR's boxing and HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts.
Exercise has significantly improved my mood and helped me lose a few kilos, but what excites me the most is the muscle I've gained in my arms after boxing every day. I was able to get the fitness results I wanted this year without loading up on heavy weights or having a full social battery or gym membership.
Aside from the visible changes, the Quest 3's exercise app consistently put me in a high-intensity zone, making my heart beat faster and making me sweat. Intense aerobic exercise is important. A group of researchers from the University of Zaragoza in Aragon, Spain, looked at data from 500,000 adults and found that if you combine at least 150 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per week with 75 minutes of light aerobic exercise, Lifting weights twice was the best training strategy for longevity.
Meta Quest 3 helped achieve these goals and then some. My activity level has visibly improved since I started working out with the Quest 3, according to her Oura Ring, which tracks my heart rate during workouts. It was reassuring to see a high-intensity spike in the Oura app's activity tab, rather than just a medium-low level. -Strength movements.
I often didn't realize how hard I was working out until I took off the headset and felt the aftermath. This is the benefit of doing cardio in VR. The headset allowed me to fully commit to an activity and then look at my heart rate graph in the Oura app and often be surprised to find that I was burning hundreds of calories. I discounted Oura's active burn estimate because it's hard to believe that he burned 449 calories punching the air in his living room. But regardless of exactly how many calories I burned, I felt my heart rate increase. That was enough for me.
The best thing about working out with the Meta Quest 3 is its ease of use, which is clearly an improvement over the cheaper Quest 2. The Quest 2 is bulky and can be uncomfortable during long workout sessions. There's no excuse not to exercise. With the Quest 3 in front of you, exercise becomes a matter of “when” rather than “if.”
I used to have to go out to exercise, but now I can go home and dance around whenever I want. You don't have to go straight to a crowded environment if you don't want to. For those working from home, the Quest 3 is an easy way to get a workout in during your downtime. Fit XRand other VR fitness apps Les Mills and supernaturaloffers easy workouts designed to get your heart pumping in under 10 minutes.
I sometimes run on the treadmill or do yoga, but the best workout I can do consistently is MetaQuest 3. Plus, with FitXR he has a lot of fun trying out MMA-inspired fighting moves. Better than sitting alone on a treadmill thinking (Mark Zuckerberg) can relate).
I'm not the first to use VR to gain muscle definition and lose weight. One YouTuber lost 60 pounds in 10 months by playing games like: thrill of battlea room-scale VR boxing match with a virtual ring.
Another person is missing of the same weight Quest 2 and yet another Lost 63 pounds.
Of course, weight loss isn't just a result of activity. It also depends on your calorie intake, metabolism, and other factors. Metaquest 3 is not a magic weight loss pill. It takes effort, but it's more fun than the cardio you associate with the gym.
There are a few drawbacks to this headset that made me hesitant to purchase it at first.
First, the Quest 3 has a high initial price. The workouts themselves have a low barrier to entry, with plenty of options for beginners and intermediates, but the headset alone costs at least $500 upfront.If you want to train, this is also recommended. silicone facial interface Sweat that accumulates around the headset can also be easily wiped away (the face interface that comes with the headset absorbs sweat). That's an additional $40.
Fitness apps have monthly fees (FitXR) or one-time payments (Les Mills) and can be expensive.
I finally justified the purchase by comparison. Even if he divided the total cost for the year ($648) for the Quest 3, Silicon Interface, and FitXR and imagined he was paying monthly for all three, he would still be paying less per year.Average monthly cost of $106.06 per month new york gym membership.
Another factor to consider is space. I was worried that I wouldn't have enough stuff in my apartment to work with the Quest 3, but it was surprisingly easy to carve out a standing room space and move around within it. I don't have enough free space to try out a roomful of VR exercises yet, but maybe someday I will. Meanwhile, it's easy to dance between the Christmas tree and the coffee table. Don't make excuses.
What about battery life? I didn't want the Quest 3's battery to keep up and lose momentum in the middle of a workout. This was never a problem. I keep my longest workouts around 60 minutes. By the time my Quest 3 needs charging, I need to charge it too.
We know the Apple Vision Pro is scheduled to launch soon, and we're excited to see where Apple takes the $3,500 headset in 2024, but in 2023, Meta will likely launch the relatively inexpensive 500. Dominate the virtual space with Dollar's Quest 3 headset.
Honorable mentions for this year's best gadgets include Nowatch, Withings ScanWatch 2, Fitbit Charge 6, and more. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Quest 3 compares to his new similarly priced AR/VR competitors. Year.
