Jeff is Engadget's Senior Commerce Writer, which means he spends his days composing buying guides, deal roundups, and anything else that helps you more easily figure out which tech is worth your time. He's reviewed consumer electronics for more than a decade, a stretch that includes stints at Ars Technica and Business Insider.
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission.. Meta is aiming it squarely at VR newbies, those upgrading from an older headset and anyone else who's been holding out for a more affordable option — if you're thinking about taking the plunge, here's what to know before you pre-order.is available to pre-order today and will arrive on October 15.
The wireless headset has the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip and 8GB of RAM as the pricier Quest 3, so it can run all the same games, apps and other VR software. It uses the same"for mixed reality apps . Meta says it works with"some, but not all" of the Quest 3's accessories, including the, among others. Battery life is rated at 2.5 hours on average, which is a slight step up from the 2.2 hours advertised for the Quest 3.
The biggest sacrifice involves lens quality. Instead of the excellent pancake lenses used in the Quest 3, the Quest 3S uses fresnel lenses with a lesser resolution and more narrow field of view , similar to those in the Quest 2. If the Quest 2 is any indication, the displays should be good enough to make you feel immersed in VR, especially if you're part of the more casual audience the Quest 3S is going for.
Beyond that, the Quest 3S is thicker than the Quest 3, though Meta says it's still 20 percent slimmer than Quest 2. At roughly 514 grams, it weighs about the same as the Quest 3 as well.over the Quest 2, though the Quest 3 will likely remain a definitive upgrade for those who can afford it. Meta says the device will be available at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target and its own online store. If you order by April 30, 2025, you'll get a digital copy of the upcoming game.
The Quest 3, meanwhile, will now include 512GB of storage at its standard $500, giving it another advantage over its new sibling. Previously, the higher-capacity Quest 3 cost $650, while the base model came with 128GB of space. Meta will now sell that 128GB model for $430, but only while supplies last. If you order a 512GB Quest 3 by April 30, you can get the same
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