Written by 
The Meta Quest 3S is out now, and it’s proving popular with gamers who are looking for a much cheaper way to get into VR than the base Quest 3 or alternative headsets like the Pimax Crystal or Valve Index.
The Meta Quest 3 is among the best VR headsets that money can buy, but unfortunately, they’re still quite pricey, even with the newly announced price cut. This is why the reveal of the Meta Quest 3S was so welcome, and it’s already proving to be a very attractive alternative.
Meta Quest 3S release date
The Meta Quest 3S was released on October 15, 2024 worldwide.
Much like with the Meta Quest 3, the turnaround between reveal and release was very short for the Quest 3S. The headset itself was leaked many times in the year leading up to the release, and many of these details ended up being correct.
Meta Quest 3S price and models
The Meta Quest 3S costs $299.99 (£289.99) for the 128GB model and $399.99 (£379) for the 256GB model.
Alongside the reveal of the Quest 3S, it was also announced that the 512GB model of the Quest 3 would be getting a substantial price drop from $649.99 to $499.99 (£469.99) effective immediately. You can order the Meta Quest 3S from Best Buy in North America and Currys in the UK.
The Meta Quest 2, Quest Pro, and Quest 3 128GB models have all been discontinued, meaning each of these headsets could be available for a great price soon as stock will need to be sold through.
Meta Quest 3S specs
Here are the Meta Quest 3S specs:
| Quest 3S | Quest 3 | |
| Processor | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Resolution per-eye | 1,832 x 1,920 | 2,064 x 2,208 |
| Max Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| FOV | 96-degree horizontal, 90-degree vertical | 110-degree horizontal, 96-degree vertical |
| IPD | three fixed options, 58mm, 63mm, 68mm, spacer included | 53mm-75mm, built-in spacer |
| Storage | 128GB or 256GB | 128GB or 512GB |
| Battery Life | 2 and a half hours approx. | 2 hours approx. |
| Weight | 514g | 515g |
There are clear compromises made across the headset, my main concern being the fixed IPD settings given that it could lead to blurred edges for some users. However, it’s still the same Snapdragon processor powering both headsets, meaning that there should be no issue with the 3S running Quest 3 games, it will just do it at a lower resolution while consuming less power.
The drop in visual quality will be hard to discern until I get my hands on a headset, but I can’t see it being negatively impactful and anyone who would much prefer to save their money and pass up the higher fidelity of the Quest 3 should feel comfortable in doing so.
Meta Quest 3S promos and freebies
With the purchase of a brand new Meta Quest 3S headset, you will get a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow for free and a three-month Meta Quest+ subscription.
The free copy of Arkham Shadow extends to new purchases of new Meta Quest 3 512GB models, where you will also receive a six-month Meta Quest+ subscription.
If you’re wondering what experience to tackle next in VR, check out the best VR games, or more specifically, the best Meta Quest 3 games, for some inspiration.