The Meta Quest 3S is here as a more affordable alternative to the Meta Quest 3. Though cheaper, it packs many of the same features as its counterpart—giving you full access to all the games and apps available for the virtual reality headset. At $299, it could be a smash hit like the Quest 2 was at the same price point.
During Meta Connect 2024, Mark Zuckerberg detailed what the Meta Quest 3S is all about. Like the Quest 3, the Quest 3S delivers high-res VR and mixed reality experiences, advanced hand-tracking, controller support, sharp and colorful passthrough, and more. And though marketed as a gaming headset, the device is also good for productivity since you can have multiple screens open at once.
If you're in the market for a VR headset for both work and play, the Meta Quest 3S should be a great (and much cheaper) alternative to the Apple Vision Pro. If it's as good as expected, it could find a spot in our best VR headsets list.
Here's everything we know about the Meta Quest 3S.
Meta Quest 3S: Quick news
- Starts at $299 and releases on October 15.
- A $399 model with 256GB of storage will also be available.
- Packs the same features as the Meta Quest 3, including hi-res VR and mixed reality, passthrough, hand-tracking, and compatibility with all Quest apps.
- The Quest 3S will let you have multiple open windows for work, similar to the Apple Vision Pro.
- "Portals" feature will let you "step" from one app to another.
- Batman: Arkham Shadow will be bundled with every Meta Quest 3S at launch.
Meta Quest 3S: Price and release date
The Meta Quest 3S releases on October 15 and comes in two flavors.
The entry-level model with 128GB of storage costs $299, which is the same price as the Quest 2 when it launched. If you want more storage, you can opt for the $399 version with 256GB of storage.
Both Meta Quest 3S models cost less than the $499 Meta Quest 3, making the new headset a great alternative for budget-conscious folks.
You can pre-order the Meta Quest 3S right now on Meta's website.
Meta Quest 3S: Design and display
The Meta Quest 3S bears the same basic shape as the Meta Quest 3 but has some tweaks that help distinguish it.
The main difference is that the Quest 3S has front cameras on its lower right and left sides instead of in the middle like the Quest 3. Other than that, the straps (which you can get in either soft or hard variants) and everything else appear almost identical.
Display resolution is 1832 x 1920 (773 PPI) and features a variable refresh rate of 90-120Hz. The headset has a FOV of 96 degrees horizontal and 90 vertical. Meta says the display covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut. The resolution isn't as high as the Quest 3's 2064 x 2208 (1218 PPI) and the FOV is slightly limited, but the headset should still provide an overall solid image quality.
One drawback is that the device is reverting to fresnel lenses. One of the Quest 3’s best upgrades on the Quest 2 was the introduction of “pancake lenses” which help make graphics in your peripheral vision look sharper, making the whole experience more immersive.
Meta Quest 3S: Specs
Specs-wise, the Meta Quest 3S is identical to the Quest 3.
The headset packs the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen2 processor and 8GB of DRAM. Interestingly, this could actually give the Quest 3S an advantage over its better-specced sibling: with a lower native resolution, more demanding games may end up performing better (albeit with less visual fidelity).
Meta Quest 3S has 3-position IPD/IAD adjustment for configuring things for your eyes — which is a a downgrade from the IPD wheel that offered a more granular fine-tuned approach on the Quest 3. That’s no issue if you sit fine with one of the three presets, but could be problematic if you don’t.
We should note that the Meta Quest 3S can only be configured with up to 256GB of storage, whereas the Meta Quest 3 can top out at 512GB.
Meta Quest 3S: Features
The Meta Quest 3S is very much a gaming headset like its counterpart. However, you can also use it for work or for watching videos.
You'll be able to open screens, put them anywhere and have as many as you want. Thanks to the passthrough feature that allows you to see your environment, the windows will appear to hover in front of you. Mark Zuckerberg claims that the headset will feel like a natural extension of your PC.
One interesting feature mentioned during Meta Connect is called "Portals," which will let your avatar seamlessly "step" from one app to another. Speaking of avatars, Meta plans to launch photo-realistic avatars sometime in the future.
On the subject of photo-realism, you'll be able to take photos of your room or any environment and recreate it in VR. If you, for instance, want to revisit a unique spot, you can supposedly do so.
Meta Quest 3S: Outlook
The Meta Quest 3S seems like a great option for those who want a feature-rich but affordable VR headset. Not only is this device ideal for VR gaming, but it's also suitable for work and watching movies. New upcoming features like realistic avatars and seamlessly jumping between apps also make this an enticing product.
We'll update this page with more Meta Quest 3S news as we hear it. Expect a review from us soon!
