Meta Quest 3S is the latest iteration in the Meta Quest series that first launched in 2019 as the Oculus QuestVR headset. Even though it is not a performance upgrade over the Meta Quest 3, the intention is to make VR and mixed-reality even more accessible. It carries some improvements over the previous generation, but also takes a couple steps backwards to keep the price down. The Meta Quest 3S is available for pre-order right now and will be available for purchase soon.
So, what’s new, and what’s old with the latest Meta VR and mixed-reality headset? Here’s everything you need to know:
Meta Quest 3S: Design and Aesthetics
Meta Quest 3S
Meta Quest 3S is the budget alternative to the Meta Quest 3, one that still offers high-end performance. Supporting virtual and mixed reality, the headset comes with a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, 8GB RAM, HD resolution (1832x1920 pixels per eye), and roughly 2.5 hours of battery life.
While the overall form factor is quite similar to theprevious generation Meta Quest 3, the design of the cameras at the front has been changed. There are now three individual circular lenses for each eye, instead of three strips across the front of the headset. These are cameras that enable pass-through video so you may have the headset on, but still look at your surroundings.
The head strap design has been slightly changed as well, but the overall weight remains about the same. The controllers are the same as well, but it has a smaller battery than the Meta Quest 3.
Pancake vs Fresnel Lenses
Before checking out what’s different with the Quest 3S, it’s important to understand the basic differences between Pancake and Fresnel Lenses.
Pancake lenses and Fresnel lenses have a few differences that make one more appealing and VR headset friendly than the other. Pancake lenses have better visual clarity and fewer distortions. With these types of lenses, optical artifacts such as god rays and edge blurring are minimized, thus improving immersion. This also allows users to wear a VR headset for longer because more of the field of view is in focus and there are fewer artifacts that break the virtual reality experience.
Meta Quest 3S vs Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 2
Meta Quest 3
The Meta Quest 3 is the latest and greatest mixed-reality headset that brings a host of improvements compared to the previous generation. The Quest 3 has higher resolution displays per eye with support for 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rates.It uses a more powerful 2nd generation Snapdragon XR2 processor that is capable of running games like Asgard’s Wrath 2 natively. It comes with a full-color passthrough, improved controllers, and a slimmer form factor.
Meta Quest 2 128GB
The Meta Quest 2 is a virtual reality headset created by the Facebook parent company Meta. It is a portable device with a wireless headset and two controllers. This version of the headset comes with 128 GB of internal storage for apps and games.
In terms of processing power, the Meta Quest 3S carries the same processor as the more expensive Meta Quest 3 with the Snapdragon XR2 Gen2 and the same amount of RAM at 8GB. The Quest 3S comes in 128GB and 256GB models, while the Quest 3 is available with 128GB and 512GB storage. The older Quest 2, on the other hand, used the Snapdragon XR2 Gen1 CPU and 6GB of RAM.
The main component of a VR headset is arguably the lenses, and that’s where the Quest 3S went backwards. The Quest 3 uses Pancake lenses that enable a wider field of view and higher resolution, but the Quest 3S and the Quest 2 feature Fresnel lenses with a 96-degree field-of-view (FOV) and a lower 1832x1920 resolution per eye. In comparison, the Quest 3 has a 2064x2208 resolution and 110-degree FOV. The newer headset does match the Quest 3 in terms of refresh rate though, and can do up to 120Hz.
Another improvement that the Quest 3S gets over the Quest 2 is better controller tracking with computer vision and machine learning. Since it uses the same controllers as the Quest 3, it has better haptics and an improved design compared to the Quest 2. When it comes to pass-through, the Quest 3S can do color pass-through, while the Quest 2 can not.
The battery life is where the Quest 3S sees major improvement over the Quest 2, as it gets a 4324mAh battery that is said to last up to 2.5 hours, which is more than the Quest 3, even though the battery capacity is still lower than the Quest 3.
Meta Quest 3S: Controllers
Another feature that carries forward to the Quest 3S from the Quest 3 is theTouch Plus controllers. They do not have the ring that was present on the Quest 2, and it has improved haptics as well. They are still powered by AA batteries, which makes it easier to get back to gaming when the battery is running low.
Meta Quest 3S: Price and Availability
The Meta Quest 3S comes in a single white color, just like previous Quest VR headsets. It is currently on pre-order and available in two storage options: 128GB and 256GB viaAmazon,Newegg,Best Buy, and other retailers. The 128GB storage model is priced at $299, while the 256GB model costs $399. It will go on sale starting October 15. Compared to the Quest 3, the 128GB model costs $499 and the 512GB version is priced at $649.
Along with the headset, Meta also unveiled a new VR game titledBatman: Arkham Shadowthat utilizes the full potential of the Quest 3S. The game is available for free with both models of the headset and will continue to be bundled with it till June 25, 2025.
The Quest 3S offers the same mixed-reality experience as the Quest 3, albeit for cheaper. It does make some compromises, but those seem to be in all the right places.
One thing to note is that Meta has discontinued the Quest 2 and the Quest Pro headsets following the launch of the Quest 3S. This suggests the company could be working on a replacement for the high-performance Quest Pro, as it has already replaced its entry-level offering.
FAQ
Q: How much will Meta Quest 3S cost?
The Meta Quest 3S starts at $299 for the 128GB model and costs $399 for the 256GB model.
Q: Is Meta Quest 3S better than 3?
The Meta Quest 3S is a toned-down version of the Meta Quest 3 but it is an upgrade over the Quest 2.
