Meta Quest 3S review: The best VR headset for the money

The new Meta Quest 3S (starting at $299) delivers a premium VR experience at an affordable cost. Like the Meta Quest 3, this device has excellent AR capabilities that overlay virtual elements over your surroundings. It also gives you access to the hundreds of games and apps available for the Quest 3. For what it offers, it’s one of the best VR headsets you can buy.

The Quest 3S packs several Quest 3 components, most notably, a Snapdragon XR2 Gen2 processor and 8GB of RAM. Because of that, the new headset has excellent performance when playing video games. And thanks to the variable 90 to 120Hz refresh rate, everything you see runs buttery smooth. Performance-wise, there’s no apparent difference between the Quest 3S and Quest 3.

So what makes the Quest 3S different from the Quest 3? It has the same fresnel lenses as the Meta Quest 2 instead of the Quest 3’s pancake lenses. Because of that, the new headset has a smaller field of view and a lower resolution. It’s also bulkier and heavier than the Quest 3.

While the Meta Quest 3S isn’t as comfortable and its resolution isn’t as sharp, it’s a fantastic low-cost alternative to the Quest 3. If you’re interested in trying VR for the first time but don’t want to buy something like the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro, the Meta Quest 3S is the headset to get. Find out more in my full review.

Meta Quest 3S Review: Is the $299 Price Tag Worth It? - YouTube

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Meta Quest 3S review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? The Meta Quest 3S is a lower-cost Meta headset containing features found in the Meta Quest 3S.
• Who is it for? For folks curious about VR/AR who are intimidated by higher-priced units.
• What does it cost? The Meta Quest 3S starts at $299 for the 128GB model and $399 for the 256GB version. It's available from Amazon and other retailers. A digital copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow comes free with every purchase.
• What do we like? The lower cost, immersive AR, compact design and large app and game library.
• What don’t we like? It can become uncomfortable after a while and the battery life isn’t the best.

Meta Quest 3S review: Specs

Meta Quest 3S review: The ups

The Meta Quest 3S is a relatively compact VR headset that allows you to play games or work in virtual environments. Though it lacks some of the Quest 3’s premium features, it borrows many elements from that device, including color passthrough, speedy performance and the Touch Plus controllers.

Portable design 

The Meta Quest 3S is slightly larger than the Meta Quest 3, but it’s still a compact device at 7.5 x 5.6 x 4.0 inches. Thanks to its light 1.1-pound weight, I had no trouble carrying it around in my backpack. This is great if you want to take this headset with you on a 15-hour flight, for example.

Instead of three front cameras located in the center like the Quest 3, the Quest 3S has its cameras situated on the lower and right-hand sides. The front of the headset is thicker than the Quest 3, giving it a similar appearance to the Quest 2. There is no IPD wheel to let you finely adjust how the headset fits, but adjusting the straps to better accommodate the device to your head isn’t difficult. The new headset also lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, which I'll discuss later on.

The Quest 3S has the same 3-point lens adjustment as the Quest 2, which I found restrictive compared to the two black buttons inside the Quest 3 that allowed for finer precision. Also, if you wear glasses, you’ll likely need to use the included spacer to make wearing the headset more comfortable.

Sharp resolution 

The Meta Quest 3S utilizes fresnel instead of pancake lenses like the Quest 3. That means a lower field of view: 96 horizontal / 90 vertical compared to 110 horizontal / 96 vertical. As said in our initial Meta Quest 3S hands-on article, I also noticed some distortion around the display’s periphery because of the lower field of view. However, since you’re mostly looking at things in front of you, I didn’t notice the distortion unless I purposely gazed at the sides.

The 1,832 x 1,920 on the Quest 3S isn’t as sharp as the 2,064 x 2,208 on the Quest 3. However, I found the resolution sharp enough to let me see everything clearly, even small text on web pages. The variable 90 to 120Hz refresh rate also ensures that things move smoothly across the screen. Yes, you’re basically getting the same viewing experience as the Quest 2, but this didn’t bother me.

Comfortable controllers

The Meta Quest 3S uses the same Touch Plus controllers as the Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro. The controllers are great to hold and using them feels intuitive. When you’re deep in a game, you’re not thinking about how to use the controllers since they effectively become an extension of your hand, which is exactly what you want from any game controller.

TruTouch Haptics lets you feel resistance when using the controllers, which provides better feedback and immersion. The haptics are strong enough that you’re aware of them but not strong enough to become annoying.

Naturally, the controllers are great for navigating through menus or moving screens around. And if you want, you can perform the same functions with just your hands by pinching objects with your forefinger and thumb.

I’ve used many VR controllers over the years and can tell you that Meta’s Touch Plus controllers are the best.

Easy set up 

Like with the Quest 3 and Quest Pro, setting up the Meta Quest 3 is easy. After turning the VR headset on, you’re guided through the process, such as selecting your language and Wi-Fi network. You’ll also have to pair the device with the Meta Horizon app on your phone, which is also relatively straightforward. And yes, you can do all this without taking off your headset thanks to the passthrough view.

Speaking of passthrough, the feature is especially useful when you’re setting up your play or workspace since you’re able to see your surroundings. As before, you’re given two options for operating in VR: Roomscale and Stationary. Roomscale asks you to scan the room so the headset can create a virtual representation of your workspace, while Stationary gives you a circle to work within if you’re sitting. You’ll see a virtual mesh of polygons covering your surroundings during all of this, which is pretty cool-looking.

If you need to, you can use the controllers to make finer adjustments like adding walls or furniture. Again, all of this is super easy.

Solid performance 

Thanks to the Snapdragon XR2 Gen2 processor and 8GB of RAM, the Quest 3S delivers awesome performance. Though I don’t have benchmark testing to back up my anecdotal experience, I found the device very responsive.

In the game Red Matter, which has you exploring one of Saturn’s moons, I was impressed by how smoothly everything ran. Because there was no lag or stuttering, I felt as if I was truly on this extraterrestrial world. Fruit Ninja, which requires fast controller swipes to simulate sword strikes also performs wonderfully.

While you won’t enjoy PS5-like visual experiences, the Quest 3S’ simpler graphics work well enough in VR, and no doubt help the headset deliver smooth performance. While this is certainly a budget headset, you won’t get budget gaming experiences. But if you want to play graphically demanding games, you can also stream games from Xbox Game Pass, which you can download to the headset.

I should note that you'll get a free digital copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow when you buy the Meta Quest 3S. The game drops on October 22, which is why I wasn't able to test it. However, check out our Meta Quest 3S hands-on preview linked above for a quick preview of this VR title.

Robust app and game library 

The Meta Quest 3S has the same robust library as the Quest 3. Out of the box, you get access to hundreds of games and apps. And thanks to the new headset’s excellent performance, you likely won’t experience any difference between it and the Quest 3. I sure didn’t!

I mentioned games, so let’s talk about productivity apps like Virtual Desktop. This $25 app is pricey but is worthwhile if you want to use the headset to create a virtual workspace around you. For instance, you can have multiple screens floating before you to simulate a multi-monitor setup. This is great if you can’t afford multiple monitors or don’t have enough physical space for them.

I also enjoy watching YouTube on the Meta Quest 3S. You can view standard YouTube videos inside a floating screen or have the screen take up almost all of your view as if you were in a movie theater. Meta also has more immersive YouTube videos with a 360-degree view of environments. I especially like the travel videos since they’re a nice (and cheaper) alternative to visiting places in real life.

Meta Quest 3S review: The downs

For its price, the Meta Quest 3S is one of the best VR headsets you can buy. However, it has some flaws that could make you consider getting the Quest 3 instead.

Uncomfortable to wear for long 

While the Quest 3S is a relatively small headset, it’s not the most comfortable to wear for long stretches. It’s heavier than the Quest 3, which means you won’t forget you’re wearing a headset.

I also found that it presses on your face more. While loosening the straps helps alleviate this issue, it can begin sagging because of its weight. This might not be a problem, depending on the shape of your face and head, but it’s worth noting.

Short battery life 

The Quest 3S can become uncomfortable to wear for long periods. However, due to its relatively short battery life, this might not be a major problem.

In my testing, I found that the VR headset’s battery life generally lasts around two hours. You won’t get caught unaware, as you’ll receive a warning message when it’s at 33% battery life. Still, if you need to use the Quest 3S for work or when you’re on a trip, make sure to keep it plugged into a power source.

Meta Quest 3S review: Verdict

The Meta Quest 3S is an excellent alternative to the Quest 3 for those new to VR. Though I wish it was more comfortable to wear and lasted longer on a single charge, its fast performance, immersive spatial audio, robust app library and overall portability make it an enticing budget-friendly product. Like the Quest 2 before it, I expect this device will sell many units during the holidays since it makes a great present for kids.

If you want a more premium VR experience, the Meta Quest 3 is now $499 (down from $649) and packs 512GB of storage. I’d recommend the Apple Vision Pro, but that $3,599 price makes it difficult to justify, despite its excellent features. For everyone else, the Meta Quest 3S is the ideal choice and the best VR headset for the money.