If you've been eager to dive into VR gaming but have been put off by the cost, you're in luck. The Meta Quest 3S is now on sale for 2025, offering a $30 discount on both the 128GB and 256GB models. This deal makes the wireless VR headset more accessible than ever.
To make this offer even more enticing, it comes bundled with a copy of the acclaimed 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
DigiGods is a free-to-play, physics-based VR game that offers a sandbox environment where players can create, play, and share. The game prioritizes safety, utilizing AI content filtering and human moderators to maintain a secure and positive space. Check it out on Meta.
Meta Quest 3S VR Headset with Batman: Arkham Shadow
Meta Quest 3S 128GB VR Headset
$299.99 save 10%
$269.00 at Amazon
The Quest 3S represents a significant upgrade over the original Quest 2, delivering enhanced features without a price hike. It incorporates many of the advanced elements found in the pricier Quest 3, such as the new Touch Plus controllers, the upgraded Snapdragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 review of the Quest 3S, Gabriel Moss highlighted, "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."
One of the standout features of this deal is that the Meta Quest 3S can be used completely untethered. This means you can enjoy games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without needing a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5 console. You won't find another standalone VR headset at this price point with such capabilities.
How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?
Despite the Quest 3S being priced at $200 less than the $500 Quest 3, it offers significant value. Here's how they compare:
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)
Essentially, the Quest 3S is a near-identical headset to the Quest 3 but with slightly downgraded optics. However, since both use the same processor, running at a lower resolution can ease the load on the APU, potentially improving in-game performance and extending battery life.
Given the price difference, the Quest 3S offers a better value proposition than the Quest 3 and is a more suitable choice for most gamers, especially if the Quest 3 was beyond your budget. Compared to the Quest 2, the decision to upgrade to the Quest 3S is even clearer.
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