Meta Quest 3S: A Modern VR Experience for Just $300
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Meta’s latest VR headset, the Quest 3S, is here, and it's making virtual reality more affordable for everyone. Unveiled at the Connect 2024 conference, the Quest 3S comes with a price tag of just $300, which is quite exciting for anyone looking to dive into modern VR without breaking the bank.
This new headset is essentially a more budget-friendly version of the Quest 3, which was first introduced back in 2022. While it doesn't come with all the high-end bells and whistles, it still packs a punch. Powered by the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset and featuring the familiar ring controllers, the Quest 3S maintains solid performance while trimming down on a few features to hit that lower price point.
One of the compromises is in the display quality. The Quest 3S features a slightly lower resolution of 1,832 x 1,920 per eye compared to its predecessor, and it swaps out the sleek pancake lenses for thicker, more affordable Fresnel lenses. But even with these changes, you still get a fantastic VR experience—complete with passthrough video, inside-out body tracking, and even hand gesture controls. The headset remains compatible with all Quest apps and games, so whether you’re a gamer, creator, or just exploring new virtual worlds, you won’t miss out.
One exciting improvement that’s sure to make a lot of users happy is the enhanced virtual desktop. Thanks to Meta’s partnership with Microsoft, using the Quest 3S with Windows 11 is smoother and more powerful than ever. And to top it off, you can expect Dolby Atmos audio to elevate your VR experience with immersive sound.
Meta didn’t stop there. They also introduced Hyperscape spaces, an intriguing new concept developed in collaboration with Verizon. These are incredibly detailed virtual environments that users can explore, and they’re getting more realistic with every update. Imagine scanning a real-life room—like an art studio or recording booth—with your phone, and then being able to explore it in VR. This is where things are headed, and it’s exciting to think about what’s next.
The Quest 3S is set to release on October 15, with two storage options: a 128GB version for $300 and a 256GB version for $400. Pre-orders are already open, and while it may not be the absolute cheapest VR headset Meta has ever released (remember the $200 Oculus Go?), it’s definitely a more accessible option compared to the Quest 3, which recently dropped to $500 for the 512GB version.
As part of this shift, Meta is saying goodbye to the Quest 2 and the Quest Pro, both of which will be available until the end of the year (or until stock runs out). If you’re thinking of upgrading, accessories for these models will still be around for a bit longer, but don’t wait too long—they’re not coming back once they’re gone.
The Quest 3S is proof that Meta is serious about making high-quality VR available to more people, and with this new price point, it’s hard not to feel excited about where virtual reality is headed.
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