Meta Quest 3S - Best Budget VR Headset
The Meta Quest 3S offers the core Quest 3 experience at a lower price point, making high-quality VR more accessible while compromising slightly on display quality.
- +Affordable price point
- +Same processor as Quest 3
- +Improved battery life over Quest 3
- -Uses older Fresnel lenses
- -Lower resolution display
- -No headphone jack
The Meta Quest 3S provides an excellent entry point into virtual reality without sacrificing core performance. Sharing the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor as its more expensive sibling, the 3S delivers comparable processing power and access to the entire Meta Quest library. The headset maintains the improved controller tracking and color passthrough capabilities of the Quest 3, though with slightly lower resolution cameras. While it reverts to Fresnel lenses and the Quest 2's display resolution, these compromises help achieve a significantly lower price point while still delivering a quality VR experience.
The 3S actually offers slightly better battery life than the Quest 3, lasting up to 2.5 hours on a single charge. The lack of a headphone jack may inconvenience some users, though Bluetooth audio remains an option. For those prioritizing value over premium optics, the Quest 3S represents the smartest choice in budget VR, especially for first-time buyers or those upgrading from older headsets like the Quest 2.