The Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S are special headsets that let us experience both digital and real worlds. They are good for gaming, tech work, exploring new things, and having fun in virtual places. But since both headsets say they have the best features, the question is:
Which one really gives the best virtual reality experience?
In this review, we will look closely at what each headset does well, where they have problems, and how they are different.
Meta Quest 3
What’s in the Box?
- Meta Quest 3 Headset with adjustable pre-installed Standard Facial Interface.
- Power adapter comes with 1-meter USB-C charging and data cable.
- 2 Touch Plus Controllers with wrist straps and 2 AA Batteries.
Specifications
Display: It has a resolution of 2064 x 2208 pixels per eye, which provides sharp and detailed visuals. Its refresh rate is 72Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz, allowing for smooth motion rendering. It can cover a 110-degree field of view, providing an immersive experience.
Processor: It has a chipset, Snapdragon XR2 Gen2. This helps users to play fast-action gaming and delivers more enhanced performance.
Memory and Storage: It has RAM of 8GB, which supports running complex applications. This comes with storage of 512GB, offering download more experiences.
Design: It weighs 515 grams and is designed with proper comfort so users can use it for a long time.
Battery Life: Its battery life differs according to its usage. On average, it offers 2.2-2.9 hours of usage if it is fully charged.
Some Additional Features: It includes a full-color passthrough, providing better mixed reality experiences. Moreover, it has spatial audio integrated within it.
Price: USD 499.99
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
| Full-color passthrough helps to combine real and virtual environments flawlessly. | Its battery life is still not sufficient for long gaming sessions. |
| New ring-free controllers were introduced to enhance immersion and make it more intuitive. | The built-in speakers have spatial audio, but they might not sound as deep and clear as users want. |
| It has a large collection of apps, games, and experiences on the Meta platform. | It lacks eye-tracking technology, which is useful for realism and optimization. |
| Completely wireless, does not need outside computers, easy to carry and use. | It includes very advanced features which makes it very costly making it less accessible for casual users |
Meta Quest 3S
What’s in the Box?
- Meta Quest 3S Headset(128 GB or 256 GB) with Standard Facial Interface (pre-installed) and optional Glasses Spacer.
- Universal Power Adapter with 1-meter USB-C charging and data cable.
- 2 Touch Plus Controllers with wrist straps and 2 AA Batteries.
Specifications
Display: It has a 96-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical FOV and is equipped with Fresnel Lenses with a resolution of 1,832 × 1,920 pixels per eye, supporting a refresh rate of 120Hz.
Performance: It comes with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset and has 8GB of RAM, providing users with a smooth experience.
Audio: It has built-in speakers that support spatial audio(including Dolby Atmos) and integrated microphones for in-game communication.
Battery Life: it has a 4,324 mAh Battery, which provides approximately 2.5 hours of use-age.
Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 and has a USB-C port.
Price: USD 299.99
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
| Meta Quest 3S is a very affordable Mixed Reality(MR) Headset, starting at just USD 299.99. | Although the visuals are not bad, they do not meet current standards and feel like a letdown when compared to Meta Quest 3. |
| It can be used as a standalone Headset, meaning it does not require a connection to a PC or console for use. | The limited battery life(around 2 to 2.5 hours) of the Headset is a letdown. |
| It has access to Horizon Store, which contains thousands of VR/MR games(both standalone & PC VR games supported.) | Doesn’t have a SD card slot, so you are stuck with limited storage. |
| The Headset and the controllers have very good tracking, it very fast and reliable. | The built-in speakers have basic audio quality, and the headset lacks a 3.5mm jack, so you can’t use your high-quality headphones. |
| This Headset has a very user-friendly interface, which makes it a great VR Headset for beginners. | The headset lacks interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment, which may affect visual comfort for some users. |
Final Verdict
The Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S are highly impressive VR, headsets, targeting very different customers. If one seeks a better quality display, larger storage options, a few extra hours in terms of battery life, or better Mixed Reality features, Meta Quest 3 would be a good choice. On the other hand, if you are a beginner in VR and looking for a budget-friendly headset with decent Mixed Reality features, multiple storage options, and reliable performance, then the Meta Quest 3S would be the way to go.
