Quest headsets now have an interesting new feature, introducing the brand-new Meta Quest HDMI Link first-party app.
Using a UVC capture card, a hardware device that takes in HDMI or DisplayPort and sends a compressed video signal over USB, the app lets you see the screen of almost any device.
Smartphones, tablets, consoles, and other devices are compatible with capture cards. You could, for example, use a capture card and a Lightning to HDMI cable in your Quest to view your iPhone on a huge virtual screen.
Even though Meta Quest Desktop, Horizon Workrooms, or third-party apps like Virtual Desktop already make it possible to wirelessly view your laptop in a Quest, this new wired method doesn’t require a Wi-Fi network and should have lower latency.
Meta advises setting the capture card to that resolution and frame rate because the app supports inputs up to 1080p at 60 frames per second.
However, there is a significant caveat to be noted here. HDCP-enabled content with DRM will not be displayed by capture cards. As a result, you won’t be able to watch downloaded content from Netflix or Disney+, for example.
The Meta Quest HDMI Link app is free on App Lab. Because it is a panel app, if you have v69 PTC, you can use it alongside other 2D apps and even inside VR apps.
Capture cards are available starting from around $30. UploadVR conducted tests with a Genki ShadowCast 2, which costs $50, and discovered that it works well.