Meta's new affordable VR headset, the Quest 3S, offers improved features such as color passthrough cameras, fast-graphics processing for mixed-reality gaming, and reduced bulky controllers, making it a suitable pick for the first time VR users.
The Quest 3S is a cheaper alternative to the Quest 3 that has similar specifications and capabilities but expensive by $200.
The Quest 3S's upgraded features include color passthrough cameras that enable 3D views of your surroundings without removing the headset, improved tracking cameras that detect movement and the positioning of hands and fingers in space, and controllers with an action button that toggles between mixed reality and virtual reality with a single tap.
The Quest 3S can run any mixed reality and VR game that the Quest 3 can and shares the same processor and memory with the latter.
Meta introduced Crystal lenses with the Quest Pro that gave it improved clarity over a wide field of view, but both the Quest 3S and Quest 3 have the Quest 2's Fresnel lenses, which can sometimes show artifacts.
While the Quest 3 is great for long mixed-reality sessions and has slimmer and better body design, the Quest 3S's low price and new upgrades make it suitable for anyone looking for a first-time VR headset.
The Quest 3S starts at $300 for the 128 GB version and goes to $400 for the 256 GB model. The Quest 3, on the other hand, debuted with the 128 GB and 512 GB models.
Meta promises to support its VR headsets for three years even after stopping sales, thus giving users a long-lasting experience across the family.
After testing both headsets, the Quest 3S afforded surprisingly high quality and, hence, is an excellent pick for first-time VR users.
Quest 3S is faster, has upgraded controllers, an action button, and excels at mixed reality, making it the more budget-friendly option.