Quest headsets just got an interesting new feature via the new first-party app Meta Quest HDMI Link.
The app allows you to display the screen of almost any device through a UVC capture card, a hardware device that receives HDMI or DisplayPort and outputs a compressed video signal over USB.
Promotional video from Meta.
Capture cards can be used with smartphones, tablets, consoles, tablets, and more. For example, you can use a Lightning to HDMI cable along with a capture card to display your iPhone on a giant virtual screen in your Quest.
While it’s already possible to display your laptop in a Quest wirelessly using Meta Quest Desktop, Horizon Workrooms, or third-party apps like Virtual Desktop, using this new wired method eliminates the need for a Wi-Fi network and should result in lower latency.
Meta says the app supports inputs up to 1080p 60 FPS and recommends setting the capture card to that resolution and frame rate.
UploadVR tests Meta Quest HDMI Link.
However, there is a big caveat to note here. Capture cards cannot display DRM content that uses HDCP. This means you won’t be able to watch downloaded Netflix or Disney+ titles with this setup, for example.
The Meta Quest HDMI Link app is available for free on App Lab. It is a panel app, so you can use it alongside other 2D apps and even in VR apps if you have v69 PTC.
Capture cards start at around $30. UploadVR did a test with a Genki ShadowCast 2, currently available for $50, and found it to work well.
