Meta’s newest VR headset, the inexpensive Quest 3S, boasts color passthrough cameras and a fast processor for great mixed-reality gaming. Meta also sells the Quest 3 that costs $200 more.
As the name implies, Meta borrowed some of the best features of the Quest 3 for the new model. Whether you’re looking for a new headset or considering exploring VR for the first time, you need to know what’s new, which VR headset is the best, and whether the Quest 3S is worth its bargain price.
After having tested both headsets myself, I’m convinced that the Quest 3S is the best option first-time VR buyers thanks to its price and surprising quality.
What’s new in the Quest 3S?
Meta’s $300 Quest 3S is meant to replace the world’s most popular VR headset, the recently discontinued Quest 2. The Quest 3 is a midrange headset that bridged the gap to the Quest Pro, a well-designed, but overpriced headset that’s also been discontinued.
Whether you use VR for standalone gaming, working out at home, SteamVR, or productivity, the Quest 2 has been a good solution for the last four years. The Quest 3 took things to the next level, but cost 67% more. Meta’s solution is the Quest 3S.
This new budget headset keeps everything that made the Quest 2 great and adds several upgrades that make it a Quest 3 challenger. The Quest 3S excels at mixed reality, hand-tracking, and fast-paced, high-quality graphics for immersive games and 3D videos.
The color passthrough cameras let you see your surroundings without removing the headset. Even better, VR graphics appear around you in 3D so virtual puzzles, zombie hordes, and fitness instructors appear in your room and can interact with your walls and furniture.
The Quest 3S comes with compact Touch Plus controllers that lack the bulky tracking rings of the original Quest and Quest 2. Touch Plus is more accurate, but you don’t even need controllers for some games and apps.
Improved tracking cameras detect your movement, where you’re looking, and the position of your hands and fingers in space. The Quest 3S also has an infrared projector that lets the headset see in near-dark conditions.
The Quest 3S action button is unique. No other Meta headset has it. With the action button, you can toggle between mixed reality and virtual reality with a single tap.
How the Quest 3S and Quest 3 are alike
Meta raised the bar for VR and mixed reality gaming much higher with its latest budget headset. The Quest 3S shares the same processor and memory as the Quest 3, and the cameras and sensors are quite similar. Both headsets run Horizon OS and play the same games and apps.
Developers can now make more compelling games and apps that take advantage of these higher specifications. The Quest 3S and Quest 3 have high-quality color passthrough cameras, crisp high-resolution graphics that run at 120 frames per second (fps), and the new Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 that can handle more demanding tasks without overheating.
The Quest 3S matches the Quest 3’s automatic boundary scanning and has the same AI power to automatically label walls, windows, and furniture. It can also run Meta AI multimodal image processing, so it can answer questions about anything it sees in front of you.
While the Quest 3 has 30% more pixels for crisper graphics, the extra GPU usage demands more power. Meta says the Quest 3S has a 2.5-hour runtime and the Quest 3 lasts for 2.2 hours.
Several Meta accessories work with both headsets to extend runtime and keep the headsets charged. The Elite Strap with Battery adds two hours of gaming and the Compact Charging Dock includes rechargeable batteries with drop-and-go ease for charging the controllers.
How the Quest 3S and Quest 3 are different
There are a few notable differences that make the Quest 3 a worthy upgrade for serious VR enthusiasts. The Quest 3 has better lenses and higher-resolution displays. It’s also slimmer and the only configuration left, the 512 GB model, has four times the storage, allowing more space for AAA games and spatial videos.
To keep costs low, Meta used the same body as the Quest 2 when designing the Quest 3S. The Quest 3 is 40% thinner front to back. That makes a big difference in comfort since it reduces the lever effect of the visor pressing on your cheeks. Millions of people use and enjoy the Quest 2, so the bulk isn’t a deal breaker, but it is noticeable.
The Quest 3S also has the Quest 2’s Fresnel lenses, an older technology similar to the circular ridges of a flat magnifying sheet. VR lenses are essential since they let you focus on a display that’s an inch from your eyes. The downside is how high-contrast scenes and light bleed from your room can make a portion of the ridges visible. This distracting artifact is known as “god rays.”
Meta began using thin, smooth pancake lenses with the Quest Pro and included this advance in the Quest 3. Both higher-priced headsets have great clarity over a wide field of view. There are no artifacts from sharp contrast scenes and they have minimal glare from external light leaks.
The Quest 3S is less expensive, starting at $300 for the 128 GB model and climbing to $400 for the 256 GB. The Quest 3 launched with 128 GB and 512 GB models. The 128 GB version is sold out but now you can get 512 GB at the same $500 price as the 128 GB model.
Quest 3S or Quest 3: Which is right for you?
The Quest 3S and Quest 3 are both fantastic VR headsets. Meta found a nice balance of features and capabilities to give each great value. If you can afford the Quest 3, it’s worth the extra $200 thanks to the additional storage, greater comfort, and improved clarity.
However, the Quest 3S is a huge upgrade over the first two Meta Quest headsets. If you’re a VR enthusiast eager to introduce others to the wonder of immersive technology, the Quest 3S is a low-cost gift that could convince doubtful friends and family.
If you’re new to VR, you won’t find a better starter headset than the Quest 3S. It’s a powerful mixed-reality headset that’s equally adept at standalone VR and PC VR if you have a Windows computer with a fast GPU. Meta has promised to support VR headsets for three years after they stop selling, so it should have a long life and supply plenty of fun for the whole family. The Quest 3 is still a great headset for longer mixed-reality sessions, but the price of the Quest 3S makes it hard to beat.
