Speaking on stage at Meta Connect today, CEO Mark Zuckerberg officially introduced Meta’s new headset, the Quest 3S. The headset aims to appeal to both first-timers and Quest and Quest 2 owners looking for their first mixed reality device.
As previous leaks have suggested, Meta will be releasing two different versions of the Quest 3S, with the 128GB model priced at $300 and the 256GB model priced at $400, set to launch on October 15.
You'll be able to buy direct from Meta, as well as its regular retail partners, which include Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart in the US. Here's a breakdown of pricing by region and respective retailers:
Like the Quest 3, the Quest 3S also comes with full-color mixed reality and is powered by the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset.
The only significant difference between the two devices is the inclusion of Fresnel lenses, and while it offers the same visuals as the Quest 2, it has a slightly narrower field of view; it has a 96-degree horizontal field of view and a screen resolution of 1,832×1,920 per eye.
You can check out the full spec list below, but here's the short version: The Quest 3S offers Quest 3 horsepower with Quest 2 visuals, and at a price that will appeal to those hesitant to spend $500 on the Quest 3.
The inclusion of Fresnel lenses (rather than the thinner and lighter pancake lenses of the Quest 3) means it's a little bulkier than the Quest 3.
Meta says it's “20 percent thinner” than the Quest 2 when measured without the facial interfaces. Weighing in at 514g, the Quest 3S is also surprisingly 1g lighter than its older sibling, the Quest 3.
As you might expect, the Quest 3S can play all of the Quest 3's games, including the entire back catalog of Quest games and Quest 3 mixed reality games, as well as upcoming exclusives like Camouflaj's. Batman: Shadow of Arkham, A three-month game subscription service, Meta Quest+, will be included with all new Quest purchases through April 2025.
What's more, the Quest 3S is compatible with a wide range of Quest 3 accessories, including the Elite Strap, Elite Strap with Battery, Quest 3 Carrying Case and Compact Carrying Case, Link cable, Quest 3 Touch Plus controller, Charging Dock and Active Straps.
The only accessories not shared between the two models are facial interfaces, which now include the newly announced Breathable Facial Interface exclusive to the Quest 3S and the open ambient facial interface exclusive to the Quest 3. That means you can probably look forward to a bunch of third-party accessories working on the Quest 3S, but not facial interfaces.
To make room for the Quest 3S, the company is dropping several models from its lineup and lowering the prices of several others. The Quest 2 and Quest Pro are being phased out, along with the 256GB version of the original Quest 3, which is being bumped to $430. The 512GB version of the Quest 3 is also being lowered to $500 from its original launch price of $650.
Quest 3S Features |
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Images |
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| View | 1×LCD |
| Resolution (per eye) | 1,832 × 1,920 (3.5MP) |
| Pixels Per Degree | 20 days |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Optical | Fresnel |
| Field of view | 96ºH × 90ºV |
| Transitional view | Color (18 PPD) |
| Optical Adjustments | Gradual IPD eye relief (via included spacer) |
| IPD Setting Range | 58mm, 63mm, 68mm |
Performance and IO |
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| Processor | Snapdragon XR2 2nd Gen |
| Data warehouse | 8GB |
| To store | 128GB, 256GB |
| Connection | unknown (probably Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth) |
| Connectors | USB-C |
| Entrance | Touch Plus (AA battery 1×) hand tracking, voice |
| Sound | Headband-mounted speakers |
| Microphone | Yes |
| Battery | 2.5 hours (4,324mAh) |
| Weight | 514 grams |
Perception |
|
| Headset tracking | Inside out (no external markings) |
| Supervisory monitoring | Watched with headphones (headset line of sight required) |
| Eye tracking | NO |
| Expression monitoring | NO |
| In-car cameras | 2×RGB, 4×IR 2×IR flood LED |
| Depth sensor | NO |
Price |
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| Suggested Retail Price | $300 (128GB), $400 (256GB) |