I’ve been singing the Meta Quest 3’s praises to anyone who’ll listen. It’s the headset that turned me into a VR athlete, and arguably the first device to make virtual reality feel truly pick‑up‑and‑play, thanks to its excellent ease of use and stellar library of games. But while the Quest 3 is far cheaper than an Apple Vision Pro, its $500 price point often earns raised eyebrows from folks I recommend it to.
Enter the Meta Quest 3S — a $300 alternative that brings almost everything I love about the flagship headset to a more accessible price. After spending many hours with it strapped to my face, here’s what I found.
What We Liked
Familiar, Comfortable Design — With a Smart Upgrade
The Quest 3S looks and feels much like the Quest 3, with a few cosmetic changes. It’s slightly longer and flatter, evoking the Quest 2’s silhouette, and sports attractive honeycomb‑style front camera arrays for a cleaner finish. It even weighs one gram less, making lengthy gaming or workout sessions surprisingly comfortable.
Both headsets share the same Touch Plus controllers, which are lighter, more ergonomic than the Quest 2’s, and feature excellent haptic feedback. The 3S also supports almost all Quest 3 accessories, so I had no problem using my Kuject adjustable head strap for better comfort and my Kiwi controller grips for sweaty Supernatural workouts.
The biggest surprise? A physical action button that instantly toggles between mixed reality and full VR. On the Quest 2 and 3, you double‑tap the side of the headset — a method that works most of the time, but occasionally fails. The click of a button is more reliable, and I found myself using it constantly to jump back into the real world mid‑session.
Smooth Setup and Snappy Performance
I’ve often likened the Quest family to the Nintendo Switch of VR — easy to pick up and start using. The Quest 3S maintains this reputation, with quick setup, a friendly interface, and full compatibility with your existing Meta account (no Facebook login required). After scanning my living room, all my apps were ready to go, and every title ran just as smoothly as on the flagship model.
Whether I was zipping through Gotham in Batman: Arkham Shadow, sweating in Supernatural, or rhythm‑blasting in Pistol Whip, the experience was fluid. Mixed reality passthrough remained clear and vibrant — perfect for checking on my dog without taking off the headset.
The 3S uses the same Snapdragon VR2 processor as the Quest 3, with equivalent speed and even slightly longer battery life (2.5 hours vs. 2.2). For my quick workout sessions, I only needed to recharge a few times a week.
The Best VR Game Library — Now Cheaper
Hardware is only half the story; Meta’s standalone library is the best in VR, and the Quest 3S has full access to it. Staples like Beat Saber and Pistol Whip are evergreen arcade gems, Resident Evil 4 VR delivers console‑quality thrills, and Vader Immortal satisfies every lightsaber fantasy.
Bundled with the headset is Batman: Arkham Shadow, translating the beloved Arkham combat and traversal into an immersive first‑person adventure. It’s a fantastic freebie and one of several Quest 3‑exclusive titles that future‑proof the 3S.
If you own a gaming PC, the headset can connect wirelessly or via USB‑C for VR hits like Half‑Life: Alyx. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate owners can stream Halo Infinite or Forza Motorsport to a massive virtual screen right inside the headset.
What We Didn’t Like Noticeable Visual Downgrade
Here’s the trade‑off for saving $200: a lower display resolution (1832×1920 vs. 2064×2208 on Quest 3) and a narrower field of view. Side‑by‑side, text in menus looks less crisp, and vivid in‑game environments lose a touch of sharpness.
If you’ve never used a Quest 3 — or you’re upgrading from a Quest 2 — the downgrade might not be obvious. But image quality enthusiasts will likely prefer the flagship’s superior clarity.
Limited Storage Options
The $300 model ships with 128GB of storage — fine for most users, but it can fill quickly, especially with large triple‑A titles. A $400 version bumps capacity to 256GB, but at that point the $500 Quest 3 (now with 512GB as standard) becomes the more compelling buy.
Bottom Line
The Meta Quest 3S is exactly what the VR market needs — a capable, comfortable, and fun headset at a price that invites newcomers. It delivers nearly identical performance to the Quest 3, has the same expansive game library, and even improves usability with its action button.
If razor‑sharp visuals and ample storage are must‑haves, the $500 Quest 3 remains worth the spend. But for first‑time VR explorers or Quest 2 owners looking to upgrade without breaking the bank, the Quest 3S is a tremendous value — and arguably the most fun $300 you can spend on gaming right now.
