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Meta’s Connect conference kicked off today with the announcement of a product that surprises no one. After numerous leaks, Meta has revealed the new budget-oriented Meta Quest 3S. This VR headset looks like a chunkier version of the Quest 3, and Meta says it’s just as fast. However, it’s substantially less expensive, and you can pre-order one today.
The new headset has all the same software features as the Quest 3, and even most of the internals are identical. The Quest 3S has 8GB of RAM and the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip. The Quest 3 brought a significant graphical upgrade over the Quest 2, so all the games designed for that device will work just as well on the Quest 3S.
This headset comes with the same Touch Plus controllers as the Quest 3, and it runs a bit longer on a charge compared with the more expensive unit. However, you’ll still run out of juice after 2.5 hours—or less, depending on what you’re running. Like the Quest 3, this headset emphasizes passthrough video and augmented reality experiences. Although, Meta didn’t use the word “Metaverse” even once. The 3S has the same stereoscopic cameras as the more expensive Quest, but they’re arranged differently on the front.
The biggest downgrade is in the visuals. The Quest 3S is physically larger because it uses the Fresnel lenses seen in the Quest 2 and earlier. The Quest 3 switched to more compact pancake lenses. That makes the 3S a bit heavier, and it sticks out farther when strapped to your face. The displays also take a step down from the 4K+ displays in the Quest 3. The 3S has the same 1,832 by 1,920 per-eye resolution as the Quest 2. The 3S also has a narrower field of view.
Meta says that the Quest 3S will benefit from the latest software enhancements like the Quest 3. The company says it has “drastically improved” the contrast and color of passthrough video, and latency is down by 15%. It also has the airplane-friendly Travel Mode released for Quest 3 earlier this year, and Meta promises to add optimizations for train travel and offline video support.
The Quest 3S looks like a compelling option for people interested in VR but can’t justify the $499.99 Quest 3. The Quest 3S starts at a comparatively reasonable $299.99 with 128GB of storage. A 256GB upgrade is $399.99. Meta says the device will ship on Oct. 15. If you buy the Quest 3 or 3S before April 30, 2025, Meta will throw in a copy of the forthcoming game Batman: Arkham Shadow and three months of Meta Quest+. You can also pay monthly for a bundle including the Quest 3S, Quest+, and Meta Warranty Plus for $20 per month. That works out to $480 over two years.