Skip to main content

This hidden feature in the Meta Quest Pro could arrive soon

A hidden feature was just discovered in the Meta Quest Pro and it could bring big changes in how you use your VR headset. We already know the Quest Pro’s Touch Controllers are very advanced, possibly the best in the industry. The latest news is that they seem to have a built-in trackpad.

Meta Quest Pro Touch Controller doesn't have a tracking ring.

This will interest Quest 2 owners as well because the Touch Controllers will be compatible with Meta’s budget headset after a software update. They’re bundled with the Quest Pro and a pair sells separately for $300 to expand the tracking speed and accuracy of the Quest 2.

A tweet with a video from Shiny Quagsire revealed this new capability which has not been implemented or mentioned by Meta. A trackpad seems to be present in the thumbrest area. A recent iFixit teardown showed that the thumbrest works as a pressure-sensitive button but didn’t mention a trackpad sensor so it’s unclear how it works.

apparently the Quest Pro controllers have a touchpad, but I can't find literally any documentation on it for some reason aside from "oh, the thumb rest is pressure sensitive" pic.twitter.com/eZzWa7cMxX

— Shiny Quagsire (@ShinyQuagsire) November 8, 2022

As a work-centric VR headset, precise pointer control is important and it seems likely that Meta will enable this feature with a future software update. Currently, a Bluetooth mouse must be paired for the most accurate and effortless pointer control. We reached out to Meta to find out more about the Touch Controller’s thumbrest trackpad and will update you when we know more.

In related news, Meta has developed a Remote Display app that’s in beta testing and doesn’t appear in a search of the Quest App Store. This app places a virtual Mac or PC on your Quest Pro home screen.

A tweet from VR analyst Brad Lynch shows that the Remote Display app can be used from within other VR apps. It’s still in beta and has a bit of lag under the burden of a high-resolution physical monitor connected to your PC while simultaneously recording the screen.

On Quest Pro, you can still bring up the Remote Desktop 2D app inside Quest Standalone apps (VRChat Standalone being shown)

However it comes with more limited functionality and it will timeout your connection once you leave the home menu https://t.co/2J6wGW5i6w pic.twitter.com/FvpudiCTRZ

— Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) November 8, 2022

The Quest Pro is already one of the most versatile and unique VR headsets available and more features and apps are coming soon.

Editors' Recommendations

Alan Truly
Computing Writer
Alan is a Computing Writer living in Nova Scotia, Canada. A tech-enthusiast since his youth, Alan stays current on what is…
The MacBook Air and iPad Pro could soon get a major upgrade
The screen of the MacBook Air M2.

Apple is planning to add OLED panels to a range of popular devices, including the MacBook Air, the 11-inch iPad Pro, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. That’s according to display industry expert Ross Young, who has a strong record of accurate leaks when it comes to Apple.

In a message shared with his paying subscribers on Twitter, Young stated that the new panels were likely to debut in the aforementioned devices in 2024. That would mark the first time both the MacBook Air and the iPad Pro come with OLED displays -- currently only the iPhone and the Apple Watch use OLED technology.

Read more
How this new Quest VR app totally sold me on exercising in virtual reality
Playing a fitness game in VR with the Quest Pro.

Including more variety of movement is important for everyone, but this is particularly critical for people like me, a tech worker that tends to spend a large amount of time behind a computer or fixed in place, interacting with the latest app on my phone.

VR is already good at inviting more movement, particularly when playing fast-action games. Having experienced this with games like Beat Saber and Until You Fall, which involve a large amount of arm movement, I was intrigued by the prospect of exercising with an app specifically designed for fitness, like Supernatural.

Read more
Here’s what I’ve learned after using the Quest Pro for one month
Alan Truly enjoying using a Meta Quest Pro

One month ago, I published my Meta Quest Pro review. Unlike some other reviewers, I was delighted by much of what I experienced with this divisive new product. It was exciting to be on the cusp of something brand new in tech.

But my time with the product didn't end once that review went up. As I discovered through living with the tech daily, there are still many misconceptions out there, as well as some early adopter problems that I've stumbled upon. These are the most pressing ones I've experienced so far.
Discomfort and the red spot

Read more