Meta Quest 3S hands-on preview – a replica of the Meta Quest 3 for a fraction of the cost

The Meta Quest 3S is everything the Meta Quest 3 should have been

After getting hands-on with the Meta Quest 3S, I think Meta's latest entry into the VR space blows its previous edition out of the water.

Just a year after the release of the Meta Quest 3, in comes the brand new Meta Quest 3S, another virtual reality / mixed reality combination headset geared towards both gaming and lifestyle. However, with the latest entry to the VR market from Meta being significantly cheaper than the previous iteration, the question is whether or not the device will still pack a punch.

After being announced at Meta Connect 2024, Meta Quest 3S preorders opened, with the VR headset coming in at 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. The Meta Quest 3S release date is set for October 15, 2024.

The new headset still contains the same chipset and processing power as its more expensive predecessor, making for a very similar experience. I was able to go hands on with the Meta Quest 3S to see if the new virtual reality headset would be able to deliver. After the Meta Quest 3 initially didn't blow me away – it garnered a score of just three stars in my full review – I was super disappointed at what the headset offered considering the price point.

Well, I'm pleased to say that the Meta Quest 3S has remedied this issue completely. When using the headset, I felt like I was getting the same experience I loved with the Meta Quest 3 from before, but without the ridiculous and off-putting price tag.

Meta Quest 3S design

The design of the headset is practically identical to the last, with the same white shell and Y-strap. Putting it on was a painless experience, with the Velcro top strap to adjust height and sliders at the back of the strap to tighten the headset. Once it was on and in place it was super comfortable and I didn't find any issues with my glasses, even without an extra glasses spacer which was a massive relief.

Disappointingly, to adjust the distance of the lenses you need to take the headset off and move them directly inside the headset rather than with a dial on the outside similar to the PSVR 2. You get three settings it can click into, which helps make it easier. However, having to take the headset on and off repeatedly to do this can be frustrating.

On top of all of the buttons and features you get on the Meta Quest 3, the Meta Quest 3S actually features an action button on the base of the goggles, which you can press to immediately switch between virtual reality and mixed reality. I found this to be a super useful feature for when I needed to see what was going on around me but didn't want to take the entire headset off.

Rather than the standard face shield you get on the previous Meta Quest headsets, you actually get a grey mesh face shield. This makes for a fantastic mixed reality experience as light is allowed into the headset. However, it actually ruins some of the immersion for virtual reality games. When playing Batman: Arkham Shadows, I did find myself looking over my shoulder a couple of times thinking someone was behind me in game when it was just lighting coming through the mesh of the headset. This isn't a make or break issue mind you, but just a niggle.

Meta Quest 3S specifications

• 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

Specifications wise, you get the exact same processer as featured in the Meta Quest 3 meaning you'll be able to achieve the same level of performance. However, you'll find that the lenses aren't 4K meaning the resolution isn't quite as high as its predecessor.

Meta Quest 3S performance

Despite this, I feel as if the output of the Meta Quest 3S is practically identical to that of the Meta Quest 3, which is actually a really good thing. Being able to have the same experience for a fraction of the cost of the original headset is a complete win-win in my eyes.

I played Batman Arkham Shadows as well as Beat Saber, and found that the virtual reality experience was exactly the same as booting up my Meta Quest 3 at home. The slight resolution difference was completely unnoticeable, in both VR and MR.

When using the Meta Quest 3S for lifestyle purposes, the mixed reality cameras were super high quality. Obviously no mixed reality headset will ever look exactly the same as real life, but the Meta Quest 3S comes pretty close with its vivid colours and absolutely no input lag from the cameras. The combination of the earlier mentioned mesh face shield as well as a small pinhole on the front of the device allows plenty of light to come into the headset, which creates a true to life mixed reality experience.

So far my time with the Meta Quest 3S has been outstanding. With performance on par with the Meta Quest 3 at a much lower price point, it feels like a no brainer to upgrade to the Meta Quest 3S if you're still sporting a Meta Quest 2 or just looking for an entry level headset. I hope the Meta Quest 3S sticks it out in my full review which will be coming soon.