My Meta Quest 3S review is here, and this VR headset is positioned as a more affordable alternative to the Meta Quest 3. Though it's cheaper, it packs many of the same great features if you're comparin the Quest 3 vs. Quest 3S — including giving you full access to all the best Quest games and apps available for the virtual reality headset. At $299, it could be a smash hit, and a big winner for holiday gifts. But is it smarter to just get the Quest 3? The question is, should you buy or skip the Meta Quest 3S?
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00:00Should you buy or skip the MetaQuest 3S, you're actually getting a really great VR experience,
00:06especially if you're coming off something older like the Quest 2 or, God forbid, the Quest 1.
00:12If you've had your eye on a Quest 3 for a while but didn't want to spend $499,
00:17you can now buy the 3S, get basically the same experience except for a few things which we'll get into,
00:22and save yourself $200 that you can spend towards extra games or apps.
00:26The MetaQuest 3 starts at $299 for the 128GB model.
00:31If you need more room for your games and apps, you could opt for the $399 model with 256GB of storage.
00:37For comparison, the MetaQuest 3 now starts at $499 and features 512GB.
00:42So with the Quest 3S, you're saving up to $200 and a minimum of $100.
00:46For $299, the Quest 3S is perfect for folks who are curious to try VR or are intimidated by the high cost of other headsets.
00:53So even though this is a budget headset, you're not getting a budget experience.
00:57This headset is also great if you have kids and want to gift them an excellent VR AR headset.
01:02The Quest 3S delivers the same great AR experience as the Quest 3, albeit slightly less sharp.
01:08As far as the actual experience of playing games and going through apps,
01:12you're not getting a compromised experience at all.
01:14Like, yes, the resolution isn't as high, but it's not, like, bad.
01:19Menus hover over your environment,
01:20allowing you to work or navigate through apps without completely blocking out the real world around you.
01:26It's easy to move the menu and windows either with the controller or with pinching and holding.
01:31AR is particularly useful for productivity in desktop apps like Immerse, which Paul has demonstrated before.
01:37So even though you have a boundary that you set up, like, if I step out of the area,
01:42then, like, the real world kind of comes in, which is good, like, if somebody kind of steps through,
01:46if somebody needs to get my attention.
01:48Yeah, like that.
01:49Again, AR is a great way to work and play while keeping you aware of your surroundings.
01:54It's one of this headset's best and most useful features.
01:57Like, right now, I really feel like I'm on this alien planet and everything's coming in nice and clear.
02:16The colors are popping.
02:17And it also moves a lot smoother than I remember VR used to move.
02:21It used to be a little bit clunkier before.
02:23You truly feel like you're in an alien world.
02:25What's the name of the game that I was about to read?
02:27Hold on a second.
02:28Then there's Fruit Ninja and Synth Riders, which demonstrate the responsiveness of the controls.
02:33Tony.
02:34Hold on.
02:36Can't hear you.
02:38How do I pause this thing?
02:40Oh, I'm stuck in it until I'm done.
02:42Eh.
02:44Is it too loud?
02:45Yeah.
02:46Okay.
02:46We've been trying to tell you to turn it down.
02:48I can't because my hands are tied up.
02:50Even as someone who prefers gaming in front of a TV instead of a headset, I'm impressed by the unique gaming experiences on Quest 3S.
02:57If you kind of miss the Wii days, there's actually a good way to revisit that because, you know, the whole stereotype is like, oh, gamers just sit around all day not being healthy.
03:07But there's a good way of burning off some calories and have fun doing it.
03:11Even though you won't get PS-like experiences in terms of graphics, performance is generally excellent.
03:16No matter what game or app I use, everything ran buttery smooth thanks to the variable refresh rate.
03:22I'm also glad the Quest 3S uses the same Snapdragon chip as the Quest 3.
03:26While this is a budget headset, you won't get a budget experience.
03:30The games have come a long way.
03:32Not that they looked terrible before, but this is a lot better, especially with, like, how smooth everything moves.
03:37The frame rate and all that, like, this is pretty cool.
03:41One other big advantage is you can play high-end PC games wirelessly or wired through SteamVR, for instance.
03:48With a subscription, you can stream from Xbox Game Pass and play games like NBA 2K on a massive virtual screen.
03:55While the Quest 3S is a relatively compact headset, it's not the most comfortable to wear for long stretches.
04:00It's heavier than the Quest 3, which means you won't forget you're wearing a headset.
04:04Only thing that really stands out as being not premium is the feel of the headset.
04:09I've used the regular MetaQuest 3, and that feels a lot more comfortable to wear because of the pancake lenses.
04:16I also find that it presses on your face a little bit more.
04:19While loosening the straps helps alleviate this issue, it can begin sagging because of its weight.
04:24This might not be a problem depending on the shape of your face and head, but it's worth noting.
04:28That said, you won't be able to keep the headset on for long anyway because the battery life is generally around 2 hours.
04:34However, those 2 hours might not be the most comfortable.
04:38The Quest 3S has a lower resolution than the Quest 3, because of that, images aren't as sharp or defined as in the previous model.
04:44That's not to say that games are absolutely blurry.
04:46Far from it, but if you're used to the Quest 3's higher resolution, the Quest 3's lower resolution won't be pleasing to your eyes.
04:53This isn't a problem I have, but many people get dizzy when using VR headsets.
04:57If you're such a person, the Quest 3 might not be for you since it doesn't offer a radically different viewing experience from other VR headsets on the market.
05:05Even if the $299 price is enticing, you'll want to skip this device if VR tends to make you dizzy or nauseous.
05:13The MetaQuest 3S is a fantastic entry-level headset that delivers a relatively premium-level experience at an affordable price.
05:20Though it's not as comfortable to wear as the Quest 3S and has a lower resolution, it delivers the same fantastic AR experience and can run every MetaQuest game.
05:29Because of that, it's ideal for those who want to see what VR is all about.
05:33To learn more, make sure you go to tomsguide.com to read my full review.
05:36And for everything else, Tom's Guide, make sure you follow us all over social.
05:39Once again, I was Tony Polanco, and I'll see you next time.
05:42Later.
05:42Later.