Logitech has long been one of the biggest makers of computing peripherals, producing everything from keyboards and mice to headphones and webcams to a whole load of other stuff. As such, it’s no surprise the outfit wants to make peripherals for mixed reality, too, which they’re doing now with the Logitech MX Ink.
A stylus accessory for the Meta Quest 2 and 3 headsets, the device gives you a pen controller that will let you draw and write in virtual spaces with a higher precision than you’re likely able to do using traditional VR controllers. This makes it a potentially valuable tool for designers, artists, and creatives who want to integrate mixed reality solutions into their workflows.
The Logitech MX Ink is a stylus accessory for VR and AR that’s designed to bring the same control and precision you get when using drawing tablets and pen accessories on PCs. It’s an official “Made for Meta” accessory, which means it’s designed to seamlessly work with Meta’s VR and AR headsets, complete with the ability to switch between the stylus and the more traditional Meta Quest Controllers without any hitch in the workflow. According to the outfit, the pen controller has 6DoF spatial tracking, ensuring perfect placement for pen and wand articulation, as well as precise manipulation in perfect context with both virtual and physical spaces.
It has a pressure-sensitive nib, much like the pen controllers for PCs and tablets, so you can use it to draw on a physical canvas, much like a regular stylus. Alternatively, there’s a button control for adjusting pressure for those times you’re using pen and brush applications in a 3D space. There are also two additional button controls, which will probably be programmable, depending on application, as well as haptic feedback to provide a tactile feel while you interact with virtual objects in erstwhile empty air.
The Logitech MX Ink can be customized directly via a stylus page in the Meta Settings menu, complete with a built-in tutorial that shows users how to use the device and make any adjustments they might need. From what we can tell, the stylus settings page is generic, which means it’s likely to be used by other brands of pen controllers if somebody else makes them for the platform. According to the outfit, the device can run for up to seven hours between charges, so you can get some serious work done without having to plug this thing in. It charges via a USB-C cable.
The stylus is compatible with a wide selection of apps upon launch, including Adobe Substance Modeler, Elucis, Arkio, Engage, GestureVR, Gravity Sketch, PaintingVR, and ShapesXR. Basically, it’s something that Meta users are going to be able to use for a whole lot of tasks soon as it goes on sale. Optional accessories include a charging dock that uses the pogo pin charging ports on the stylus and a work mat, which, we guess, will be useful for 2D sketching using the pen device.
The Logitech MX Ink will be available in September, priced at $129.99.