Meta Quest 3S Headset Promises Modern VR for $300

Meta used its Connect 2024 conference to unveil the Quest 3S, its new entry-level VR headset.

The previously leaked Quest 2 replacement is effectively a cut-down version of the standard Quest 3 unveiled in 2022. It still uses the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset and ring controllers, but has a lower 1,832x 1,920 per-eye resolution and? thicker, lower-priced fresnel lenses instead of the 3’s pancake glass.

This still gives you the same level of passthrough video and inside-out body tracking, including hand gestures. You’ll also have compatibility with the full range of Quest games and apps, including spatial apps.

You can also expect an improved virtual desktop with the help of Microsoft, which is upgrading the functionality for Windows 11. Dolby Atmos audio will also be available with the Quest 3S.

The environments themselves are getting an upgrade. In addition to improved avatars and plans for more photorealistic characters, Meta and Verizon have unveiled extremely detailed “Hyperscape” spaces (below). Eventually, they hope users will scan a room with their phone and get a locale that looks much like the real thing, such as an art studio or a recording booth. People can then visit and explore these Hyperscapes.

Meta has set an October 15th release date for the Quest 3S, which will sell for $300 in a 128GB version and $400 for 256GB. Pre-orders are open today. That’s not the lowest price seen for the Quest 2 or other Meta headsets (such as the old $200 Oculus Go), but it makes the technology more accessible than buying the Quest 3, which has dropped from $650 to $500 for a 512GB version.

Accordingly, the company is discontinuing not just the Quest 2, but also 2022’s Quest Pro. They’ll be available until either the end of the year or when stock runs out. Accessories will be available for “a bit longer.” The 128GB Quest 3 is also going away and will cost $430 until it’s sold out.