Meta Quest 3S Leak Reveals Battery Capacity and Missing Port

As someone who has been deeply immersed in the world of VR gaming for years now, I’ve seen my fair share of headsets come and go. The leaked images of the Meta Quest 3S have certainly piqued my interest, but as a long-time user of traditional 3.5mm audio inputs, the lack of this port on the Meta Quest 3S is a bit of a letdown. I can’t help but feel a twinge of humor in the fact that now, to use my beloved headset, I’ll have to adapt to a USB-C one, potentially sacrificing any chances of charging while gaming.

Leaked photos offer a glimpse into the design of the upcoming Meta Quest 3S VR headset, shedding light on its features. Previously, details about Meta’s more affordable version of the Meta Quest 3 have been leaked, but this time we get our first clear and comprehensive images of the device.

Based on the images, it appears that the Meta Quest 3S lacks a port which has been standard on all previous Meta Quest VR headsets.

Another Solution is Needed

As someone who’s accustomed to gaming with a traditional 3.5mm headset, I must say, the leaked images of the Meta Quest 3S have left me a bit disappointed. It appears that this new model won’t include a 3.5mm audio input. Instead, it seems we’ll need to switch to USB-C headsets, which means no more simultaneous charging and gaming – quite a change!

Initially reported by UploadVR, the leaked photos revealed that the battery capacity of the Meta Quest 3S was disclosed. This battery power falls midway between the Quest 2 and the Quest 3, with a capacity of 16.7 Wh, while the Quest 3 boasts an 18.9 Wh battery and the premium Meta Quest Pro, the top-tier device, holds a 20.6 Wh battery.

The batteries of those devices aren’t even close to matching the 35.9Wh battery of Apple Vision Pro, but since they cost significantly less, it’s up to you to decide if that trade-off works for you.

From the leaked photos, it appears that the control systems for the Meta Quest 3S could be similar to the Quest 3’s Touch Plus controllers, yet a majority of its technology seems to align with the Quest 2, which was introduced in 2020.

The camera setup on the visor of the Quest 3S has a unique twist, enhancing its full-color passthrough functionality. While it shares the same chipset as the Quest 3, it employs old-style fresnel lenses and the same panel as the Quest 2, which plays a significant role in reducing the overall cost.

Compared to the Quest 3, it will cost less due to its broader accessibility, however, it won’t offer the same level of quality because it has a lower resolution. It still provides the same content and controllers as the Quest 3, which was launched in October 2023.

Will the Meta Quest 3S be the headset that gets you into VR gaming?

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