Meta Quest 3
Meta Quest 3S
* Buy direct from Meta and get $30 FREE!
How are they similar?
Despite the $200 price difference between the Quest 3 and Quest 3S, they do have a lot in common. Both headsets are upgrades over the older Quest 2 as they both come with the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor and 8GB of RAM. That’s double the processing power, and 2GB more RAM, than the older Quest 2.
image: myTechGear
So as both headsets having the same processor, you’ll also be able to play the Quest 3 enhanced games, like Asgard’s Wrath 2 or Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, giving you more detailed graphics, on both headsets too.
You’ll also be able to play Quest 3 exclusive games, such as Batman: Arkham Shadow, on both these headsets, which is actually free with the purchase of either headset until the end of April 2025.
They also both have full color passthrough cameras so you can play mixed reality games, like Home Invasion, on both these headsets.
And Finally both headsets drop the older ring controllers that came with the Quest 2 and upgrade to the new ringless touch controllers.
How is the Quest 3 better?
So as similar as both headsets are, there are some upgrades only on the Quest 3 that help to justify it’s extra $200 price tag.
The biggest difference lies in the screen and lenses as the screen on the Quest 3 has a 30% higher resolution than the 3S. The newer pancake lenses also provide a better field of view, have a larger sweet spot for easier viewing and also don’t suffer from the God Rays like the older fresnel lenses do.
image: vr-compare.com
image: vr-compare,com
The pancake lenses help to create a headset that is 20% thinner than the Quest 3S, despite them both weighing around 514g. However, as the Quest 3 is slimmer it sits closer to your face so you notice the weight less when you’re wearing it.
images: myTechGear
So whilst the Quest 3S can’t provide as high definition a picture as the Quest 3, it can provide a better image than the Quest 2 despite it having the lenses and screen as the older headset. This is largely thanks to the extra processing power offered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 as it allows the Quest 3S to generate a more detailed image. So what you end up with is looking through poorer eyesight at a more detailed picture. If that makes sense.
image: myTechGear
So the Quest 3S, from a visual standpoint, is an upgrade over the older Quest 2, albeit a minor one. However it can’t match the Quest 3 for visual clarity due to it’s higher resolution screen and pancake lenses that deliver a clearer, and more detailed, image.
Sometimes cheaper is better!
Surpisingly though there are actually some things that the Quest 3S does better than the Quest 3!
For a start it has a smaller battery! Now whilst that does sound like a bad thing, because you’re running a lower resolution screen on the 3S, that smaller battery actually lasts longer. So you’ll get around 25% more battery power on the 3S compared to the Quest 3 in like-for-like testing.
image: myTechGear
The Quest 3S also comes with Infra Red illuminators, or IR blasters. This allows you to play in dimly lit rooms far better than the Quest 3. I also noted that the full color pass through image on the 3S was slightly clearer than the Quest 3, again, in a more dimly lit room.
There is however something that is missing from the Quest 3S that the Quest 3 has. Meta has removed the 3.5mm audio jack from the 3S! You can still use headphones but you’ll have to use a 3.5mm audio jack to USB-C converter plugged into the USB-C port on the left hand side. So that might be a deal-breaker for you.
Accessories make all the difference
There are lots of accessories available for both headsets, and there’s definitely a couple of upgrades I’d recommend for both headsets.
Firstly, both headsets have elasticated head straps. It’s okay to start with, but it doesn’t give your head much support. So I’d recommend replacing those pretty much as soon as you can. Fortunately there’s lots of options out, so whether you want a Halo style head strap, or an Elite style one, that plenty out there to choose from. I’ve reviewed a number of them already so I’d recommend checking those reviews out for some ideas.
image: myTechGear
Secondly, is the facial interface. The default one on both headsets are fairly similar and so I found both to be quite narrow on my face. and they pressed into the side of my temples. I’m also not a fan of the cloth padding as it absorbs sweat and there’s no easy way to wash it. So I replace these pretty much as soon as I can too.
I’ve tried various facial interfaces from various brands. Actually, one on the 3S that worked quite well was the Meta 3S breathable facial interface. So it does let in a ton of light, which might not be ideal, but it’s incredibly breathable. So it’s great for active games and stuff like that.
image: myTechGear
Which should you buy?
So the Quest 3S, in a nutshell, is the Quest 3, just with poor eyesight, and with prices starting at $299 that makes it the ideal headset if you’re looking to get into VR for the first time.
image: myTechGear
However, the Quest 3 is sleeker, it’s got a better screen, better lenses, and it has four times more storage, 512GB, compared to the 128GB on the base model Quest 3S. All for only $499!
Regardless of which one you buy, you will get Batman: Arkham Shadow for free if you purchase a headset before the end of April 2025.
Plus, Meta have an end-of-year offer giving you $60 free to spend in the Quest store on whatever you want, with every headset bought using the links in this article.
