If you've been eager to dive into the world of VR gaming but have been put off by the high entry costs, you're in luck. The Meta Quest 3S is currently available at a reduced price for 2025, offering a $30 discount on both the 128GB and 256GB models. This is the first significant price drop for the Meta Quest 3S, making it an excellent opportunity to get into VR without breaking the bank.
To make this deal even sweeter, the package includes a copy of the highly-rated Batman: Arkham Shadow VR game and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. In IGN's 8/10 review, Dan Stapleton praised the game, stating, "Batman: Arkham Shadow makes most of the Arkham series' defining gameplay work respectably well in VR, and its mystery story pays off."
Free to Play VR Sandbox Game: DigiGods on Meta Quest
For those interested in exploring more VR content, DigiGods is a free-to-play, physics-based VR game available on Meta Quest. It offers a sandbox environment where players can create, play, and share their experiences. The game prioritizes safety, utilizing AI content filtering and human moderators to maintain a positive and secure community. Check it out at Meta.
Meta Quest 3S VR Headset with Batman: Arkham Shadow
Meta Quest 3S 128GB VR Headset
Priced at $299.99 with a 10% discount, bringing it to $269.00 at Amazon, the Meta Quest 3S is an impressive upgrade from the Quest 2. It incorporates many features from the higher-end Quest 3, including the new Touch Plus controllers, the upgraded SnapDragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. IGN's 9/10 review by Gabriel Moss highlights the headset's strengths, stating, "Raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and snappy Touch Plus controllers make the Quest 3S a fantastic standalone VR headset that also brings entry-level mixed-reality gaming to the masses for – arguably – the very first time."
What makes this deal stand out is that the Meta Quest 3S is completely untethered, allowing you to enjoy games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without the need for a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5. You won't find another standalone VR headset at this price point with these capabilities.
How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?
The Quest 3S is priced at $200 less than the Quest 3, which retails at $500. This price difference reflects certain compromises made to achieve a more competitive price point. Here's a breakdown of the similarities and differences:
Quest 3S vs. Quest 3 Similarities
- Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor
- Touch Plus controllers
- 120Hz refresh rate
- Mixed reality passthrough (same cameras, different layout)
Quest 3S vs. Quest 3 Differences
- Lower per-eye resolution (1832x1920 vs 2064×2208)
- Fresnel lens vs. pancake lens
- Lower FOV (96°/90° vs 104°/96°)
- Smaller storage capacity (128GB vs 512GB)
- Longer battery life (2.5hrs vs 2.2hrs)
In summary, the Quest 3S offers nearly the same experience as the Quest 3 but with downgraded optics. However, using the same processor at a lower resolution can theoretically enhance game performance and increase battery life.
Given its price, the Quest 3S offers better value than the Quest 3, making it a more appealing choice for most gamers, especially if the Quest 3 was beyond your budget. Compared to the Quest 2, the decision is even more straightforward.
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