Meta Quest 3S: All You Need to Know

As a seasoned VR enthusiast who has dabbled in both the Meta Quest 2 and the Meta Quest 3, I must say the latest addition to the Meta family – the Meta Quest 3S – has certainly piqued my interest. It’s like they’ve taken the best bits from the previous generations, given it a fresh lick of paint, and served it up at an irresistible price point.

The new model in the Meta Quest series, known as the Meta Quest 3S, was initially introduced in 2019 as the Oculus Quest VR headset. Although it doesn’t boast a performance upgrade compared to the Meta Quest 3, its aim is to make virtual reality and mixed-reality experiences more accessible for all. It does incorporate some advancements over its predecessor, but also makes a few concessions in terms of features to keep costs low. You can now pre-order the Meta Quest 3S, with general availability coming soon.

To put it simply, let’s take a look at the fresh features and familiar aspects of the newest Meta VR and mixed-reality headgear. Here’s all the essential info:

Meta Quest 3S: Design and Aesthetics

In comparison to its predecessor, Meta Quest 3’s overall structure remains quite alike; however, a notable change is in the camera design upfront. Instead of three continuous strips, there are now separate circular lenses for each eye. These cameras facilitate pass-through video functionality, allowing you to wear the headset while still observing your immediate surroundings.

The new head strap design is tweaked, yet retains similar overall weight. Similarly, the controllers remain unchanged, but it comes with a smaller battery compared to the Meta Quest 3.

Pancake vs Fresnel Lenses

Prior to delving into the unique aspects of the Quest 3S, let’s first grasp the fundamental distinctions between Pancake and Fresnel Lenses.

In comparison to Fresnel lenses, pancake lenses offer distinct advantages that make them more suitable and user-friendly for Virtual Reality (VR) headsets. Pancake lenses provide superior visual sharpness and less distortion, which in turn reduces optical artifacts like god rays and edge blurring. This enhancement contributes to a more immersive VR experience by minimizing visual disturbances. Furthermore, due to these improvements, users can wear the VR headset for extended periods without being bothered by out-of-focus areas or distractions caused by artifacts that disrupt the virtual reality illusion.

Meta Quest 3S vs Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 2

Regarding its processing capabilities, the Meta Quest 3S sports the same high-end processor as the pricier Meta Quest 3 – both feature the Snapdragon XR2 Gen2 chipset and 8GB of RAM. The Quest 3S is offered in two storage variants: 128GB and 256GB, whereas the Quest 3 comes with 128GB and 512GB options. In contrast, the previous model, Meta Quest 2, ran on the Snapdragon XR2 Gen1 CPU and had 6GB of RAM.

The main component of a VR headset is arguably the lenses, and that’s where the Quest 3S went backwards. The Quest 3 uses Pancake lenses that enable a wider field of view and higher resolution, but the Quest 3S and the Quest 2 feature Fresnel lenses with a 96-degree field-of-view (FOV) and a lower 1832×1920 resolution per eye. In comparison, the Quest 3 has a 2064×2208 resolution and 110-degree FOV. The newer headset does match the Quest 3 in terms of refresh rate though, and can do up to 120Hz.

As a thrilled enthusiast, I must say that one of the standout enhancements in the Quest 3S, compared to the Quest 2, is its superior controller tracking, made possible by computer vision and machine learning. Since it employs the same controllers as the Quest 3, it boasts improved haptics and a more refined design than the Quest 2. In the realm of pass-through capabilities, the Quest 3S offers color pass-through, which the Quest 2 sadly lacks.

The battery capacity of the Quest 3S has significantly increased compared to the Quest 2, now offering a 4324mAh battery that reportedly lasts for approximately 2.5 hours. Remarkably, this surpasses the battery life of the Quest 3, despite the fact that its battery capacity remains lower than the Quest 3’s.

Meta Quest 3S: Controllers

One feature continuing from the Quest 3 to the Quest 3S is the Touch Plus controllers. Unlike the Quest 2, these lack a ring and have enhanced haptic feedback instead. Notably, they still use AA batteries, making it convenient to resume gaming quickly when power runs low.

Meta Quest 3S: Price and Availability

The Meta Quest 3S comes in a single white color, just like previous Quest VR headsets. It is currently on pre-order and available in two storage options: 128GB and 256GB via Amazon, Newegg, Best Buy, and other retailers. The 128GB storage model is priced at $299, while the 256GB model costs $399. It will go on sale starting October 15. Compared to the Quest 3, the 128GB model costs $499 and the 512GB version is priced at $649.

Alongside the release of the headset, Meta introduced a fresh VR game called “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” which maximizes the capabilities of the Quest 3S. This game is offered for free with both versions of the headset and will be included until April 30, 2025.

The Quest 3S delivers a comparable mixed-reality adventure to the Quest 3 at a more affordable price point. However, it does involve certain trade-offs, which appear to be strategically placed.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that Meta seems to have stopped producing the Quest 2 and Quest Pro headsets after introducing the Quest 3S. This could mean they’re working on an upgrade for the top-tier Quest Pro model, since they’ve already replaced their entry-level one.

FAQ

Q: How much will Meta Quest 3S cost?

The Meta Quest 3S starts at $299 for the 128GB model and costs $399 for the 256GB model.

Q: Is Meta Quest 3S better than 3?

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got some exciting news! The Meta Quest 3S isn’t just a minor tweak from the Meta Quest 3, it’s more like a step up from the Quest 2 I currently own. It’s like they’ve taken the best of both worlds and combined them into something even better for me as a gamer.

2024-10-09 22:04