The Meta Quest 3 is an excellent VR headset, but still prohibitively expensive at $499 (even if Apple's $3,499 Vision Pro looks like a cheap option).

Thankfully, we hear that Meta is considering lowering the bar for entry with a lower-priced version. Originally nicknamed Quest 3 Lite by leaked sources, the headset appears in the Quest Store's game listings as the Meta Quest 3S.

Just how will Meta cut costs without hurting the experience? Here's what we know so far about the Meta Quest 3S.

Meta Quest 3S has been rumored for some time and therefore could be released at any time, but the smart guess is that it will be announced in late September. Specifically, September 25 and 26, when Meta Connect 2024 is scheduled, are the dates.

As for pricing, if hardware is reduced, it makes sense that the Quest 3S would be cheaper than the $499 Quest 3, but it would be too optimistic to expect it to directly replace the $299 Quest 2. At this point we are assuming $349 to $399, but Meta may yet surprise us.

In March, a leaker created a rendering of the "Quest 3 Lite" headset, which looks like a cross between Quest 3 and Quest 2.

However, this was always a bit suspicious.

More recently, a now-deleted post on Reddit included slides from what was supposedly a Meta User Research Zoom meeting. It was captured for posterity at X by the leaker @Lunayian - they could not confirm the image, but explained that they could confirm that Meta conducts such research sessions, which can be easily captured.

In any case, the image shows the pass-through camera in a cluster of small triangles on either side of the headset, as opposed to the three vertical lines of the current model.

But if the pass-through is not reduced, what will be reduced to make the Quest 3S more affordable?

The above leaks highlight two major tradeoffs: first, Meta uses the same core optical specs as Quest 2, with a resolution of 1,832 x 1,920 per eye and a "fast-switch" LCD panel with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and second, the

However, the company has not yet achieved a market share in the market.

Perhaps the bigger drawback, however, is the stated return to the Fresnel lens; one of the best upgrades Quest 3 made to Quest 2 was the introduction of a "pancake lens" that makes peripheral vision graphics appear clearer and makes the entire experience more immersive It is the introduction of the "pancake lens.

Not only that, but the spec sheet lists a "three-position IPD/IAD adjustment" that allows you to tailor the settings to your eyes.

As noted in the design section, it appears that the pass-through lenses will be retained, and @Lunayian believes these will match the Quest 3 specs of a 4MP color camera, allowing for a true mixed reality experience, as shown below.

It also appears to be powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor as the Quest 3, which will match the Quest 3's graphics performance. Interestingly, the Quest 3S may have an advantage over its higher-spec sibling. The lower native resolution may allow more demanding games to perform better (albeit with lower visual fidelity).

Even as it approaches its fourth birthday, the Meta Quest 2 is still the best VR head you can buy, thanks to its (relatively) affordable price, extensive software library, and ability to work with a gaming PC for exclusive fun like Half-Life One of the best VR headsets you can buy: exclusive fun like Alyx.

For some, the Quest 3 would be great but expensive overkill. If the MSRP is genuinely competitive, the idea of a reduced price version is certainly appealing.

That will be clear at Meta Connect this September.