The Meta Quest 3S is a standalone virtual reality (VR) headset released on October 15, 2024, as a budget-friendly option in the third generation of Meta Quest devices. It shares most of its hardware and mixed reality capabilities with the Meta Quest 3 but comes with some compromises to reduce cost. Key features and differences include:

Hardware: Both Quest 3 and 3S use the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset with 8GB RAM and support color passthrough cameras for mixed reality experiences. However, the Quest 3S uses Fresnel lenses (similar to Quest 2) with a narrower 96° horizontal field of view, compared to the Quest 3’s advanced pancake lenses and 110° field of view. The Quest 3S is thicker due to these lenses and lacks a depth sensor present in Quest 3.

Display and Optics: Quest 3S has a lower resolution display (1832×1920 per eye, same as Quest 2) versus Quest 3’s higher resolution. The Fresnel lenses in Quest 3S are less sharp but still provide good clarity. The Quest 3S also has a three-position inter-axial distance adjustment for lens spacing, while Quest 3 offers continuous adjustment.

Storage: Quest 3S is available in 128GB and 256GB models, whereas Quest 3 offers up to 512GB storage.

Controls and Tracking: Both headsets use the same Meta Quest Touch Plus controllers and have similar motion tracking and hand tracking capabilities.

Battery Life: Quest 3S has a smaller battery (4,324mAh) but slightly longer claimed usage time (~2.5 hours) than Quest 3 (5,060mAh, ~2.2 hours), likely due to lower display resolution.

Price and Availability: Quest 3S is priced at $299.99 (128GB) and $399.99 (256GB), making it $200 cheaper than Quest 3. It replaces Quest 2 at its price point and is available with financing options in the UK and US.

Mixed Reality Experience: Both offer 4.5X the resolution and color fidelity compared to Quest 2, with full-color passthrough cameras enabling mixed reality applications.

Meta also plans future VR devices that may diverge from the traditional headset form factor, focusing on lighter, glasses-like designs with tethered processing units, but these are expected around 2026 and are distinct from the Quest 3S line.

In summary, the Meta Quest 3S is a cost-effective VR headset providing most of the core mixed reality experience of the Quest 3, suitable for budget-conscious users who can accept some compromises in optics, field of view, and storage capacity. It is a strong entry-level device for VR gaming and mixed reality applications.

FAQ
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