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Meta has recently announced their newest VR headset—the Meta Quest 3S. The headset was designed to provide a similar experience to the Meta Quest 3 but at a more affordable price.
On that note, this article will review the capabilities of the Quest 3S and see how it compares with the Meta Quest 3.
The Meta Quest 3S has a smaller display resolution of 1832 x 1920 compared to the Quest 3’s 2,064 x 2,208, which translates to a slightly lower image quality on the 3S. With a smaller FOV (field of view) than the Quest 3 (96 horizontal/90 vertical vs 110 horizontal/96 vertical), the 3S won’t feel as immersive; however, for the casual user, the lower FOV will not be noticed.
While the 3S has 90 Hz and 120 Hz refresh rate settings, it lacks the additional 72 Hz and 80 Hz settings of the Quest 3. The benefit of having lower refresh rate settings is that it allows the user to lower the refresh rate on more demanding apps in favor of a better resolution. Lastly, the 3S has a Fresnel lens compared to the Quest 3’s pancake lens. Fresnel lenses tend to have more distortion to them compared to pancake lenses which will result in lower image quality.
While the Meta Quest 3S has the same VR and AR capabilities as the Quest 3 such as eye and hand tracking, it features a new design with two sets of three cameras on the front of the mask in a triangular pattern. Unlike the Quest 3, the 3S does not come with an audio jack; however, it will still utilize the same controllers as the Quest 3.
The 3S is capable of using the same applications as the Quest 3, albeit with lower visuals. Additionally, the 3S will be available with a Quest for Business bundle option which provides the subscription at a lower cost if bought with the 3S. This will allow businesses to access the MDM (mobile device manager) feature which will allow the admin to remotely and securely configure other devices.
The Meta Quest 3S is priced at €329.99, which is €150 less than the Quest 3. While the Quest 3 used to have a 128 GB option, it will now only be produced with 512 GB, leaving the 3S as the clear budget option at 128 GB. For an additional €110, the 3S can be upgraded to have 256 GB. Additionally, the 3S comes with a 3-year extended warranty.
While the Meta Quest 3S does not offer the same viewing experience as the Quest 3, it still offers all the same applications along with the same VR and AR capabilities. As such, it is the perfect budget option for those wanting to get into VR. The headset will be released on October 15 and is available for pre-order.
Tyler Hilgeman is a writer for VR Expert who is fascinated with VR technology and what it can become. He got his start in the industry writing about the Apple Vision Pro before it had a name and has since written numerous reviews, comparison articles, and news pieces about emerging headsets.
