The Meta Quest 3 is still the most approachable, budget-friendly VR headset out there, but it requires you purchase a few things to get the most out of it. If you want to use it wirelessly with a PC, one of the best things you can do is buy a dedicated wireless router.
The Meta Quest 3 Is Better Wireless
The Meta Quest 3 is capable of wirelessly connecting to your Windows PC using Meta’s own software, Air Link. In most cases, that is a big upgrade over using a wired connection, since you can move about freely without worrying about yanking out a cable or snagging it with your arm as you p
You can just use your home’s Wi-Fi network to connect the Quest 3 to your PC, but that has issues. Obstacles between your router, your PC, and your Quest 3result in weaker signalsand other demands on the network can result in fluctuating performance, which will make your VR experience noticeably worse.
The solution? Get a wireless router to connect directly to your PC.
A Dedicated VR Wireless Router Is Worth it for VR
Rather than use your home’s Wi-Fi network to connect your PC to your Quest, you should get a dedicated wireless router instead.
Unlike the normal residential Wi-Fi setup, a router that has been dedicated to VR only connects two devices: your PC and your Quest. If you can, the router you’re using for your Quest 3 should be connected via an Ethernet cable to your PC, sinceEthernet cables are more resistant to interferencethat could affect your latency or bandwidth.
It is a night and day difference, especially if you can put the router somewhere where it has line-of-sight on your VR headset.
Which Router Should You Pick?
Meta’s own Air Link software basically works with any router out there, but Air Link is still pretty clunky.
Virtual Desktop is a much more popular solution among PC gamers given its simplicity and reliability. Virtual Desktop has been extensively tested by the community and the developers, and one of the more reliable options is TP-Link’s Archer AXE75, which is a whopping 47% off on a Prime Day sale.
TP-Link AXE5400 Tri-Band Router (Wi-Fi 6E)
If you want a great Wi-Fi 6e router, but don’t want to spend a whole lot of money, check out this one from TP-Link.It also makes a fantastic dedicated router if you use Virtual Desktop.
I’ve been using the AXE75 with my Quest 3 for about a year now with no significant issues. I plugged everything in, logged into the router from my PC, put it into Bridge Mode, and was using my Quest 3 wirelessly in less than 10 minutes from the time I opened the box.
If you’re looking for something a bit less expensive—and a bit more specialized—PrismXR’s Puppis S1 is also discounted on Amazon.
Puppis S1
PrismXR’s Puppis S1 is a router purpose-built for use with wireless VR headsets. It includes full support for the Meta Quest 2, 3, 3s, and Pro, and has support for the Pico 4 and the 4 Ultra.It relies on a single USB-C cable to connect to your PC.
The Meta Quest 3 has a few other peripherals you might want to consider, too.
The prescription lenses were a huge improvement over wearing glasses with it, and an extra battery pack goes a long way too.
