The Best Meta Quest 3 Apps for Watching Movies: 4XVR, Skybox, or Bigscreen?
Picture this: sinking into your favorite chair, the lights fade, and you’re surrounded by the immersive experience of a cinema. Now, imagine bringing that same excitement to your living room with the Meta Quest 3. With virtual reality, you can create your own personal movie theater right at home.
Choosing the best video player app for your Meta Quest 3 can be tricky because there are a few good options to consider. 4XVR, Skybox, and Bigscreen each offer something different, so it’s important to find the one that fits your needs.
Let’s take a look at which Quest Video App would work best for you.
4XVR
4XVR is a powerful video player that excels in handling a wide variety of formats and offers useful features like USB-C drive support and excellent WebDAV capabilities. If you’re looking for an app that can manage almost any video file with ease, 4XVR is worth considering. However, its higher price and limited cinema background options might be worth noting before you make a decision.
Pros:
- Broad Compatibility: 4XVR stands out for its impressive range of supported video formats. It can handle nearly anything you throw at it, including MVC 3D files, which are often used for 3D Blu-ray rips. This makes it a great choice if you have a diverse media library.
- USB-C Drive Support: If you prefer to keep your files on an external drive, 4XVR has you covered. It supports USB-C drives, so you can easily save and watch your movies directly from an external source.
- Top-Notch WebDAV Support: 4XVR excels with WebDAV, which makes sharing your media really easy. It works better and has more features than other apps, making it a solid choice if you use WebDAV to access your files.
- POV Control: For those who enjoy 180-degree videos, 4XVR offers solid point-of-view controls to enhance your viewing experience.
Cons:
- Price: One downside is the cost. 4XVR is pricier than some other options, and it can be quite a bit more expensive if you don’t catch it on sale.
- Limited Cinema Background Options: While the app does provide some cinema backgrounds, they aren’t as varied or visually impressive as what you might find in Bigscreen. If having a rich, immersive environment is important to you, this might be a consideration.
Skybox
Skybox is a popular choice for VR video playback, offering a range of features that make it a solid pick for many users. It’s particularly appreciated for its ability to connect to network storage and its regular updates that keep things running smoothly.
Pros:
- Network and NAS Support: Skybox supports Samba (SMB), making it easy to stream media directly from network-attached storage (NAS) and other network sources.
- Frequent Updates: The app receives regular updates that keep it polished and improve its performance over time.
- YouTube Integration: It connects with YouTube, so you can watch videos from the platform directly within the app.
Cons:
- Not Free: Skybox is a paid app, so it’s not free to use, which might be a consideration for some users.
- Less Mature WebDAV Support: While it does support WebDAV, its features aren’t as developed or reliable as those found in 4XVR.
Bigscreen
Bigscreen stands out for its social features and immersive cinema environments, making it a popular choice for those who enjoy shared viewing experiences. The free version of the app offers a solid experience, especially for users who want to watch content together in a virtual space.
Pros:
- Social Features: Bigscreen excels in providing a social viewing experience, allowing you to watch movies or shows with friends in a shared virtual environment.
- Varied Cinema Environments: The app offers a selection of customizable cinema backgrounds, enhancing your viewing experience with a more personalized touch.
- DLNA Support: You can use DLNA servers to stream media, giving you flexibility in accessing content from various devices on your network.
Cons:
- Limited Format Support: Compared to 4XVR, Bigscreen struggles with certain high-definition formats and Dolby audio, which may affect playback quality for some users.
Conclusion
- Best for All Formats: 4XVR is highly recommended if you need a player that can handle virtually any file type, including specialized formats like 3D Blu-rays. It’s particularly noted for its reliability and advanced features, though its higher price is a consideration.
- Best for Network Streaming: Skybox is ideal if you want seamless integration with network-attached storage and frequent updates. It’s a solid choice for users who stream content from a NAS.
- Best for Social Viewing: Bigscreen stands out for its social and customizable viewing environments. It’s great for shared experiences but might fall short with some media formats.
Each app has its own strengths, so the best choice really comes down to what matters most for your viewing experience. If you prioritize broad format compatibility and the ability to play advanced file types like 3D Blu-rays, 4XVR might be your go-to option. It’s particularly strong in handling a wide range of video formats and offers robust USB-C drive support, though its higher price might be a consideration.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for seamless network streaming and easy integration with NAS or network storage, Skybox is a solid choice. Its frequent updates and ability to connect to services like YouTube add to its appeal, although you’ll need to consider that it isn’t free and its WebDAV support isn’t as advanced as 4XVR’s.
If social watching and immersive environments are your priorities, Bigscreen excels with its social features and customizable cinema backgrounds. Its free version provides a great experience for shared viewing, and it also supports DLNA servers for flexible media access. However, it does have some limitations in format support and lacks Samba for network file sharing.
Ultimately, the best app for you will depend on what features align with your needs, whether it’s extensive format support, ease of streaming from your network, or a vibrant social viewing experience.
