The Meta Quest 3S has replaced the Quest 2 as Meta’s entry level VR headset, and at a starting price of $299 this could now be the best budget VR headset ever! So should you buy it, and what do you miss out on by not buying the Quest 3?
* Buy From Meta & Get $30 FREE!
Quest 3S Overview
So the Quest 3S has a lot of similarities with the more expensive Quest 3. It has the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, which is double the power of the Quest 2. It has the same amount of RAM. 8GB versus the 6GB that was on the Quest 2. It also has the same ringless touch controllers that you get with the Quest 3, compared to the older ring controllers that came with the Quest 2. It also has the same full color pass-through cameras allowing for full color mixed reality gaming.
So you can play all the games that the Quest 3 can, on the Quest 3S. Mixed reality games like “Starship Home”, Quest 3 exclusive games like “Batman Arkham Shadow” and “Alien Rogue Incursion”, and Quest 3 enhanced games like “The Walking Dead Saints & Sinners” and “Asgard’s Wrath 2”, which give you better graphics, better textures, more lighting effects, compared to it running on a Quest .
Talking of exclusive games. It’s worth mentioning that you get “Batman Arkham Shadow” bundled free with any Meta headset. If you buy it before April 2025.
This is all great news for a headset that can play everything that the Quest 3 can and yet costs $200 less!
There’s always a catch (or two)
However, the Quest 3S also retains some features from the Quest 2 in order to reach that lower price point…
It has a similar physical design to the Quest 2, albeit 20% slimmer, and it’s actually 1g lighter than the Quest 3 at 514g.
The biggest similarity to the Quest 2 though is in its display. The 3S has the same screen resolution of 1832 x 1920 per eye, and the fresnel lenses, as the Quest 2. The Quest 3 on the other hand comes with a higher resolution display and pancake lenses.
It is therefore surprising that the picture on the 3S is clearer and more detailed than on the Quest 2. This is due to the newer Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor in the 3S being able to generate a more detailed picture than the older processor in the Quest 2. So even though you’re seeing an image on a Quest 2 screen, you’re seeing a more detailed image. So for those of you wondering whether this is a step up from the Quest 2, from a picture quality perspective it definitely is, albeit a minor one.
Quest 3S exclusive features
There are even some benefits to owning a Quest 3S over the Quest 3. The battery in the 3S is smaller than the one in the Quest 3. However, as the 3S runs at a lower resolution, the battery lasts longer. 25% longer than the Quest 3 in comparative tests!
The 3S also has infrared illuminators, or IR blasters, on the front of the headset. This allows it to be used in darker rooms than the Quest 3. So if you play in a dimly lit room then the 3S is going to track better than the Quest 3.
It’s not all good news though as there is one thing that the 3S is missing! There is no 3.5mm audio jack on this headset at all! You can still use a wired headset, but you will need to plug an adapter into the USB-C port on the left hand side in order to do so.
Same old story
Now as great as the headset is, the elasticated head strap still isn’t comfortable for long, or if I’m being honest, even short gaming sessions. It just doesn’t keep the headset in place and there’s no support from it either. If I move my head around in games my nose bangs on the inside of the fresnel lenses as a result. So upgrading it should really be on your must-do list.
Some work, some don’t
Which accessories are compatible with the Quest 3S is a little complicated. If you want lens protectors, or prescription lenses, then you need to get Quest 2 ones as the 3S comes with the same fresnel lenses.
On the other hand,tThe arms of the headset, and the controllers, are the same as on the Quest 3. So if you want to upgrade the head strap, or get some controller grips, then you need to get Quest 3 versions of those.
Then,tThe facial interface on the other hand is an entirely different design on the 3S. So you’ll need to get Quest 3S specific facial interfaces.
There’s also no charging pins underneath the 3S. So the 3S won’t work with any Quest 3 charging docks.
The Quest 3S should fit cases made for the Quest 2 as it’s a smaller headset. It might fit in a Quest 3 case but it depends on the case design. For example, it fits in a BOBOVR C2 case. Although the controllers don’t fit well as they were designed for the larger ring controllers. The Quest 3S also just about fits in the BOBOVR C3 case, even with an upgraded head strap on. If you have the elasticated head strap then compact cases, like the Kiwi Design P4 case, are a good option.
Should you buy it?
If you are new to VR, and looking to buy your first VR headset, then the 128GB version of the Quest 3S is a great buy. Especially at only $299. It has the same processing power as the Quest 3, so you can play all the latest games, but at a much cheaper price. All the benefits with not really many compromises.
If you already have a Quest 2 and are wondering whether to upgrade? It’s only really worth it if you want to play Quest 3 exclusive games, such as Batman: Arkham Shadow, that you’ll otherwise miss out on. You actually get that game for free with any Quest headset you buy from Meta at the moment!
