Last week Meta officially announced their newest VR headset, the Meta Quest 3S. However, from the name it is not initially clear what the 3S is. While one might at first glance think it is the replacement to the 3; in reality it is something entirely different. A cheaper and more affordable version of the Meta Quest 3.
So, what's the difference then? What allows the Meta Quest 3S to be cheaper than the standard 3? Well, it is pretty simple really.
The Meta Quest 3S is basically a Meta Quest 2, with Meta Quest 3 specs and features.
The Specs:
The Quest 3S's specs are as follows.
SoC - Snapdragon XR2 Gen2
DRAM - 8GB
Base storage - 128GB, 256GB
Display resolution - 1832 x 1920 | 773 PPI | 20 PPD
Refresh rate - 72Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz
FOV (degrees) - 96 horizontal / 90 vertical
Optics - Fresnel lens, 3 position IAD adjust
Color gamut - 100% of sRGB
The Differences:
The differences between the Quest 3S and the Quest 3 come from the screen itself, and the cameras. While the new camera functions the same as the Quest 3's camera (allowing for full colors in AR mode), it uses two rather than the Quest 3's three.
Meanwhile, while the Quest 3 has a resolution of 2064 x 2208, the 3S has the Quest 2's 1832 x 1920. This means the Quest 3's screen is slightly sharper, but the Quest 2's resolution had already minimized the screen door effect.
(Note: The screen door effect refers to the gaps between the pixels on a screen. On a typical screen each pixel is so close together that you cannot see this gap, but when viewed up close in VR it can make it look like you are looking through a "screen door." However, screens with a higher resolution contain more pixels, which requires smaller pixels, creates a less noticeable gap between them.)
The final difference is the FOV of 96H/90V compared to the Quest 3's 110H/96V. Again, 96H/90V mirrors the Quest 2's view, and is a bit smaller than what is seen in the Quest 3. When looking through a VR headset many describe it as looking through "goggles." You can only see what is within your field of vision, which means there will be black where you are looking at the inside of the headset rather than a screen. The Quest 2's 96H/90V is already a nice view range, but (as with all VR headsets) does not allow for peripheral vision. The Quest 3's has an expanded range over the 3S, but is not a massive difference overall.
Should you buy a Quest 3 or 3S?
This is really going to depend on the person, and what you want to use it for.
There is no denying that the Quest 3 is the better headset still. It has a higher quality screen with an expanded FOV. If you are someone who wants VR to look as crisp as possible, then the Quest 3 is what you are looking for. On the other hand, if this doesn't bother you, then the Quest 3S is perfect. Again, while the Quest 3 is a noticeable improvement over the Quest 2's specs, it isn't as big of a jump as the Quest 1 was to the Quest 2. The Quest 2, and by extension the 3S, already looks really good; it's just that the Quest 3 looks even better.
The Meta Quest 3S can be pre-ordered now, and will release on October 15th.
The 128 GB model will be $299.99, while the 256 GB model is $399.99.
Meanwhile the Meta Quest 3 received a price drop and will now be $499.99.
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