The Meta Quest 3S is here and promises to offer a similar experience to the Meta Quest 3 at a lower price It should be

While we have not yet had a hands-on (or head-on) with the Meta Quest 3S, Meta has revealed that the headset is nearly identical to the premium-priced Meta Quest 3

The main differences between the Meta Quest 3S and the Meta Quest 3 are

The biggest difference between Meta's mixed reality headsets is the price This factor alone will allow people to decide which one is best for them

The Meta Quest 3S, which will be available on October 15, comes in two models The entry-level model starts at $299 and comes with 128GB of storage; for $399, you can get the larger model with 256GB of storage

The Meta Quest 3 started at $499 for the 128GB model and $649 for the 512GB model However, the company is now selling the 512GB model for $499; the 128GB model is currently out of stock, and the new 512GB model may possibly be the only Meta Quest 3 model available

The $499 512GB Meta Quest 3 is certainly tempting, but those on a budget may opt for the more affordable Quest 3S

The Quest 3S is not that dissimilar to the Quest 3, but there are some differences worth noting

The new headset's front camera is located on the lower left and right sides, rather than in the center as in the Quest 3 More importantly, the headset lacks an IPD wheel to fine-tune the headset's fit; a 35mm headphone jack is also missing; and the headphone jack is not located in the center of the headset, as is the case with the Quest 3

While the overall design is not radically different from the Quest 3, the Quest 3S may be more uncomfortable for some people because of the inability to fine-tune the fit of the headset The three-point lens adjustment of the Quest 2 may also be a limitation However, to be sure of the fit, one would need to test it for oneself

Speaking of lenses, the Meta Quest 3S returns to the Fresnel lens; the Quest 3's “pancake lens” helps make peripheral vision graphics appear sharper, making the entire experience more immersive This device, like the Meta Quest 2, has a Fresnel lens, so the viewing experience is expected to be much the same

On the topic of visuals, the Quest 3S has a resolution of 1,832 x 1,920 with a variable refresh rate of 90 to 120 Hz The FOV (viewing angle) is 96 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically This is in contrast to the Meta Quest 3, which has a resolution of 2,064 x 2,208 and a higher FOV

All of this means that the Quest 3S provides a nearly identical viewing experience to the Quest 2, as both devices have the same lens and resolution

The Meta Quest 3S includes many of the design elements of the Quest 2, but also has the features of the Quest 3, especially the latter's processor; even if the viewing experience is reduced compared to the Quest 3, the Quest 3S definitely has a lower native resolution, so performance may be improved Therefore, along with the lower price, it may be a natural choice to get the new headset

However, if you want more storage and better headset adjustment, Meta Quest 3 is the way to go Whichever you choose, you will have access to almost the same apps and games In that sense, you can get a solid mixed reality experience with either the Quest 3S or the Quest 3