Meta’s latest mixed reality headset, the Quest 3S, is set to launch soon, with the biggest surprise being its price. Priced at just $300, the Quest 3S offers nearly all the capabilities of the $500 Meta Quest 3. Preorders are now open, and Meta plans to release the headset on October 15.
Meta Connect 2024
The announcement came during Meta Connect, the company’s annual developer conference. In his keynote speech, CEO Mark Zuckerberg outlined the new features in Meta’s AR and VR devices, along with updates to its artificial intelligence offerings.
Like the Quest 3, the Quest 3S runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 platform and includes full-color passthrough, allowing users to see their surroundings without removing the headset.
A new button on the headset makes it easy to switch between virtual reality and the real world. It supports most Quest 3 accessories, though not all, and runs Meta’s Horizon OS, offering a desktop-like experience for navigating between apps, browsing, watching movies, or playing games, like Wordle.
MUST READ: Elon Musk’s Controversial Change To X’s Block Feature Raises Eyebrows
What Is The Cost Of Meta Quest 3S Headset?
The base model of the Quest 3S has 128 GB of storage, with an option to upgrade to 256 GB for an additional $100, bringing the total price to $400. Meta is also reducing the price of the older 512 GB Quest 3 from $650 to $450 and phasing out production of the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro.
These lower prices and less emphasis on premium models are part of Meta’s strategy to appeal to a broader audience of VR enthusiasts. Meta appears to be responding to the lukewarm reception of Apple’s Vision Pro headset by focusing on more affordable, accessible devices. While Meta may introduce higher-end headsets with advanced features in the future, for now, the direction of premium VR models remains uncertain.
Ahead of the announcement, Meta offered a 40-minute demo of the Quest 3S at its Silicon Valley headquarters. One of the demo experiences was Batman: Arkham Shadow, a game included with the Quest 3S for buyers who purchase before April 2025. In the game, players can immerse themselves in a Batman-style adventure, crouching through sewers as the Dark Knight.
However, the overall experience of the Meta Quest 3S feels much like other mixed reality headsets—ambitious yet occasionally blurry and disorienting. The headset is lightweight and comfortable but can become uncomfortable with prolonged use.
While the apps are fun, many are still better experienced on traditional devices. Meta’s Horizon Worlds, the company’s virtual meeting space, might be ideal for streaming concerts, but the different virtual environments still feel disconnected and somewhat haphazard, like stepping into a random subreddit.
