The latest virtual reality headset from Meta, the budget-friendly Quest 3S, features color passthrough cameras and a fast processor for amazing mixed reality gaming. Meta also sells the Quest 3 for an additional $200 cost.
As the name suggests, Meta borrowed some of the best features of the Quest 3 for the new model. Whether you are looking for a new headset or thinking of exploring virtual reality 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 discounted price.
After testing both headsets myself, I am convinced that the Quest 3S is the best option for first-time virtual reality buyers due to its price and amazing quality.
What’s New in Quest 3S?
Meta’s Quest 3S, priced at $300, aims to replace the world’s most famous VR headset, the recently discontinued Quest 2. Quest 3 is a mid-range headset that aims to fill the gap with Quest Pro, a well-designed but expensive headset that has also been discontinued.
Whether you use virtual reality for indie games, home workouts, SteamVR, or productivity, Quest 2 has been a good solution over the past four years. Quest 3 takes things to the next level, but it costs 67% more. Meta’s solution is the Quest 3S.
The budget-friendly new headset maintains everything that made Quest 2 great and adds many upgrades that make it competitive with Quest 3. Quest 3S excels in mixed reality, hand tracking, fast-paced high-quality graphics for immersive games and 3D videos.
The color passthrough cameras allow you to see your surroundings without removing the headset. And better yet, virtual reality graphics appear around you in three dimensions, so virtual puzzles, zombie hordes, and fitness trainers appear in your room and interact with your walls and furniture.
Quest 3S comes with built-in Touch Plus controllers that lack the bulky tracking rings found in the original Quest and Quest 2. Touch Plus is more precise, but you don’t even need controllers for some games and applications.
The enhanced tracking cameras track your movement, where you are looking, and the position of your hands and fingers in space. Quest 3S also has an infrared ray display that allows the headset to see in low-light conditions.
The Quest 3S action button is unique. No other Meta headset has it. With the action button, you can switch between mixed reality and virtual reality with just one click.
How Quest 3S and Quest 3 Are Similar
Meta has elevated virtual reality and mixed reality gaming to a much higher level with the latest budget-friendly headsets. Both Quest 3S and Quest 3 share the same processor and memory, and identical cameras and sensors. They both run on the Horizon OS operating system and play the same games and applications.
Developers can now create more compelling games and applications that take advantage of these higher specifications. Both Quest 3S and Quest 3 feature high-quality color passthrough cameras, clear high-definition graphics running at 120 frames per second (fps), and the new Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor that can handle demanding tasks without overheating.
Quest 3S matches the auto-boundary scan in Quest 3 and features the same artificial intelligence power for automatically categorizing walls, windows, and furniture. It can also run Meta AI’s multi-media image processing, so it can answer questions about anything it sees in front of you.
While Quest 3 has 30% more pixel density for sharper graphics, the additional use of a graphics processing unit requires more power. Meta says that Quest 3S has a runtime of 2.5 hours while Quest 3 lasts for 2.2 hours.
Many Meta accessories work with both headsets to extend runtime and keep the headsets charged. The Elite strap with battery adds two hours of playtime, and the built-in charging base includes rechargeable batteries for easy transport and mobility to charge the controllers.
How Quest 3S and Quest 3 Differ
There are some noticeable differences that make Quest 3 a worthwhile upgrade for serious virtual reality enthusiasts. Quest 3 has better lenses and higher-resolution screens. It is also smaller in size and the only remaining configuration, the 512GB model, has four times more storage space, providing more room for AAA games and spatial videos.
To keep costs low, Meta used the same Quest 2 structure when designing Quest 3S. Quest 3 is 40% thinner from front to back. This makes a significant difference in comfort as it reduces the pressure of the brow lift pressing on your cheeks. Millions of people use and enjoy Quest 2, so the majority of it is not a deal-breaker, but it is noticeable.
Quest 3S also features the Fresnel lenses from Quest 2, an old technology that resembles the circular edges of a flat magnifying glass. Virtual reality lenses are necessary as they allow you to focus on a screen inches away from your eyes. The downside is how high-contrast scenes and light emitted from your room can make part of the hills visible. This artifact is known as “god rays”.
Meta started using thin and smooth lenses with Quest Pro and included this advancement in Quest 3. Both high-priced headsets have significantly clearer wide field of view. There are no sharp contrast artifacts visible, and they have minimal glare from external light leakage.
Quest 3S is more affordable, starting at $300 for the 128GB model and going up to $400 for the 256GB model. Quest 3 was released in 128GB and 512GB models. The 128GB version was sold out, but you can now get the 512GB model for the same price as the 128GB model, which is $500.
Quest 3S or Quest 3: Which Is Right for You?
Quest 3S and Quest 3 are both great virtual reality headsets. Meta has found a good balance of features and capabilities to give each of them great value. If you can afford Quest 3, it’s worth the $200 extra cost thanks to the additional storage space, increased comfort, and improved clarity.
However, Quest 3S is a significant upgrade compared to Meta’s first two Quest headsets. If you are a fan of virtual reality and eager to introduce others to the wonders of immersive technology, Quest 3S is a low-cost gift that can convince skeptical friends and family.
If you are new to the world of virtual reality, you won’t find a better headset than Quest 3S. It is a powerful mixed reality headset that has the same level of skill in standalone virtual reality and PC virtual reality if you have a Windows computer with a fast graphics processor. Meta has promised to support VR headsets for three years after they stop selling them, so it should provide long-lasting fun and entertainment for the whole family. Quest 3 is still a great headset for longer mixed reality sessions, but the price of Quest 3S makes it hard to beat.
