Meta has announced a new virtual reality headset, and it’s called the Quest 3S. As rumored, this is a lower-cost variant of the Meta Quest 3, which we consider the best VR headset for most people, and the entry-level replacement for the popular but aging Quest 2. Meta is aiming it squarely at VR newbies, those upgrading from an older headset and anyone else who’s been holding out for a more affordable option — if you’re thinking about taking the plunge, here’s what to know before you pre-order.
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The Meta Quest 3S is available to pre-order today and will arrive on October 15. It starts at $300 for a model with 128GB of storage, which matches the Quest 2’s initial starting price and undercuts the Quest 3 by $200. A model with 256GB of storage space is also available for $400.
The new headset has the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip and 8GB of RAM as the pricier Quest 3, so it can run all the same games, apps and other VR software. (Presumably, this will make it easier for VR developers to push forward with apps that aren’t beholden to the older Quest 2 hardware.) It uses the same “Touch Plus” controllers, and it still supports full-color passthrough for mixed reality (or “augmented reality”) apps. Meta says it works with “some, but not all” of the Quest 3’s accessories, including the Elite Strap with Battery, Link cable and official carrying case, among others. Battery life is rated at 2.5 hours on average, which is a slight step up from the 2.2 hours advertised for the Quest 3.
The biggest sacrifice involves lens quality. Instead of the excellent pancake lenses used in the Quest 3, the Quest 3S uses fresnel lenses similar to those in the Quest 2, with the same lesser resolution (1,832 x 1,920 pixels per eye) and more narrow field of view (90-96 degrees). If the Quest 2 is any indication, this display should be good enough to make you feel immersed in VR, especially if you’re part of the more casual audience the Quest 3S is going for. But if you can pay extra, the Quest 3 should continue to provide an altogether clearer image with fewer visual artifacts.
Beyond that, the Quest 3S is thicker than the Quest 3, though Meta says it’s still 20 percent slimmer than Quest 2. At roughly 514 grams, it weighs about the same as the Quest 3 as well.
All told, the Quest 3S looks to be a fairly straightforward upgrade over the Quest 2, though the Quest 3 should remain a definitive upgrade for those who can afford it. Meta says the device will be available at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target and its own online store. If you order by April 30, 2025, you’ll get a digital copy of the upcoming game Batman: Arkham Shadow (which releases on October 22) and a three-month trial to Meta’s Quest+ subscription service thrown in.
To make way for the new headset, Meta has discontinued the Quest 2 and more expensive Quest Pro. The company says both headsets will remain available either through the end of the year or until stock runs out. It plans to sell official accessories for the two “for a bit longer,” however.
The Quest 3, meanwhile, will now include 512GB of storage at its standard $500, giving it another advantage over its new sibling. Previously, the higher-capacity Quest 3 cost $650, while the base model came with 128GB of space. Meta will now sell that 128GB model for $430, but only while supplies last. If you order a 512GB Quest 3 by April 30, you can get the same Batman: Arkham Shadow bundle included with the Quest 3S.
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