Meta Quest 3S review – it's everything the Meta Quest 3 should've been
After being stung by the cost of the Meta Quest 3 last year, I'm glad to say the Meta Quest 3S remedies a key issue.
The Meta Quest 3S provides you with an exceptional level of comfort, high performance and amazing graphics. What else do you need from a VR headset?
After being announced at Meta Connect 2024, we've finally seen the arrival of the Meta Quest 3S. This is another virtual reality headset from Meta, with a focus on both virtual reality and mixed reality. Featuring the same processor as the Meta Quest 3, the Meta Quest 3S is a budget friendly version of its predecessor with lower resolution panels that, in my option, look just as good as the original.
The original Meta Quest 3 picked up just three stars in my full review. I struggled to see how it justified it's high price point, but the Meta Quest 3S has swooped in and solved this issue, costing just £289.99 / $299.99 / AU$435 for the 128GB edition, significantly cheaper than the Meta Quest 3's hefty price tag of £479.99 / $499.99 / AU$799.99 for the 128GB edition.
Meta Quest 3S design and comfort
In terms of design, the Meta Quest 3S has the same white shell featured on the Meta Quest 2 and 3. You get the Y strap, which in my opinion creates a much more comfortable fit when compared to the standard strap features on Meta's older headsets. One frustrating thing about the Y strap, however, is the fact that the Velcro can very easily get stuck to your hair when you're adjusting the headset.
The Meta Quest 3S, like most other all-in-one VR headsets, is a wholly frontloaded headset meaning all of the components are contained in the goggles. This can create a fair amount of pressure on the front of your face, so ensure you've adjusted the straps correctly when putting on the headset.
You get a power button, volume adjust button and brand new quick action button on the outside of the headset. The quick action button is a healthy addition, allowing you to easily swap between VR and MR whenever you need. You also get a USB-C charging port which can also be used to connect your headset to your PC to play via Meta Link.
Removed from the Meta Quest 3S when compared to the Meta Quest 3 is the dial to control the distance between the lenses. Once again, the adjustment process is now replicating the laborious, remove the headset, slide the lenses, put the headset back on that we found with the Meta Quest 2. Meta had to find a way to cut costs somewhere, but this is a bit annoying.
Meta Quest 3S specifications
Specifications wise, you get exactly the same processer featured in the Meta Quest 3, meaning the performance output is the same. However, you have lower resolution lenses to take advantage of said output. When using the Meta Quest 3S, I will say that I barely noticed the lower resolution in both VR and MR, and found my experience to be practically identical to that of the more expensive predecessor.
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 (4nm)
- Display method: dual LCD Fresnel lenses
- Panel resolution: 1832x1920
- Panel refresh rate: 120Hz
- Sensors: depth sensor
- Cameras: external dual RGB passthrough cameras
- Compatibility: standalone, can be connected to PC via Meta Link cable or wirelessly through third-party apps
- Audio input: in-built microphone
- Audio output: speakers
A difference you may notice before putting the headset on is the revert back to Fresnel lenses, the same lens type that was featured in the Meta Quest 2. While the more prestigious Meta Quest 3 had thinner, pancake lenses, it was expected for Meta to cut costs here in order to make the headset more affordable.
Meta Quest 3S performance
When using the Meta Quest 3S, I found was that the virtual reality experience felt pretty much the same, with the resolution difference not really being too noticeable. Of course, it wasn't completely identical, but close enough that you wouldn't really notice unless you were looking for an issue.
The only time I really noticed the resolution change was when playing mixed reality titles in high light levels. However, the pinhole in the Meta Quest 3S which is designed to allow more light to come into the headset when in MR, definitely offsets this issue slightly.
Games look absolutely stunning on the Meta Quest 3S, including the brand new Batman: Arkham Shadow which is the first exclusive we've seen come to the Meta Quest 3 family. Trying out the title on both the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S, I was expecting a pretty big difference in terms of graphics but this wasn't the case at all. And despite the Quest 3S having a smaller battery than the Quest 3 (4,324mAh compared to 5,060mAh), thanks to the slightly lower resolution display, it actually lasts for longer, at around 2.5 hours compared to just over 2 hours with the Quest 3.
When using the Meta Quest 3S for mixed reality experiences, it sufficed pretty well. Of course, a mixed reality headset is never going to look the same as real life, but the Meta Quest 3S did a pretty good job at replicating that. There was no input lag from the external cameras and it felt great to use the headset for both mixed reality games and lifestyle purposes alike. Although, despite the hand tracking being pretty amazing, nothing beats typing on a real keyboard so I don't see myself working on the Meta Quest 3S full time just yet.
Overall thoughts on the Meta Quest 3S
I'm super impressed with the Meta Quest 3S. For those who are yet to upgrade from the Meta Quest 2 or are looking into getting into virtual reality for the first time then the Meta Quest 3S is a fantastic option, and dare I say it, I wish was released alongside its predecessor. While I'm elated the Meta Quest 3S is out now, it would have been nice to have this as a 'light' option or the Meta Quest 3 to be a pro option with both SKUs launching side by side to save those who spent almost £500 upgrading this time last year only for a cheaper alternative to hit the shelves now.
The Meta Quest 3S provides you with stunning visuals, high performance and a comfortable headset to wear for long gaming sessions. What more do you need? If you're yet to make the jump to the Meta Quest 3 family, now is the time to do it.