#metaquest3s
Meta just released their new VR / MR headsets: Meta Quest 3s.
But what’s new compared to the Meta Quest 3? Here we will cover compared headset specs, controllers, performance and more.
QUICK ANSWER:
- If you don’t have a Meta headset yet: Buy the Meta Quest 3s, because is cheaper and the performance is more or less similar to the Quest 3
- If you already have a Meta Quest 3: Wait for the next headset release, as the difference with the Quest 3 doesn’t yet justify a new purchase. The next headset will likely to be even better than the Quest 3s.
- If you already have a Meta Quest 2: Buy the Meta Quest 3s, because is cheaper, the performance is more or less similar to the Quest 3, and the Quest 2 will be discontinued soon.
PRICE
- The Quest 3S starts at $299.99
- The Quest 3 starts at $499.99
DESIGN
The Quest 3 and the Quest 3S look almost physically identical. The major difference is the number of cameras at the front of the headset, and their position. There are three vertical camera/sensor clusters on the Meta Quest 3, instead the Meta Quest 3s features two triangular clusters.
COMFORT
Quest3s let you adjust the headset easier than Quest 3 through the Dual Strap Headband.
AUDIO JACK
A feature that a lot of people seems to have missed is that the Quet 3s won’t have the Audio Jack anymore, but it will rely on enhanced 3D audio through built in speakers. The Quest 3, instead, have the Audio Jack, But how loud it is if the Quest 3s won’t allow headphones? You can always conect wireless headphones, e.g. bluetooth headphones.
CONTROLLERS
Quest 3s and Quest 3 share the same controllers.
LENSES
One of the major difference between Quest 3s and Quest 3 is the type of lenses used.:
- Quest 3s has Fresnel Lenses
- Quest 3 has Pancake Lenses
Pancake lenses not only take less space, working the headset 40% thinner, but it can also reduce the glare.
Also, a detail that is often missed in other Technical Reviews of Quest 3s VS Quest 3, is that single LCD panel and Fresnel lenses means that you’ll have a smaller FOV.
IDP
There are different IDP settings: Quest 3s let you change the distance of your lenses in 3 different levels (like the Quest 2), instead Quest 3 let you define the distance much more specifically through a slider built into it.
GRAPHICS
One of the most important differences: Quest 3s is making use of a slightly lower resolution (see the exact resolution in the video below) compared to the Quest 3.
CPU
Quest 3s is rocking the exact same chipset as Quest 3m which is known as the Snapdragon XR2 generation 2, and allows faster and smoother experiences, and detailed game rendering.
RAM
Quest 3s and Quest 3 both have 8GB of RAM.
GAMES
Red matter, Bone Lab, Bone Works, Richies’s Plank experience, Half Life Alyx
CABLE CONNECTIVITY
Both the Quest 3s and Quest 3 can be linked to your computer through a USB-C cable, or used in standalone mode (no cable).
BATTERY
Quest 3s as a slightly longer battery life than the Quest 3
TECH SPECS
More details are summarized below, in just few seconds:
If you are wondering what are Pancake Lenses, haptics, IDP and other terms you can learn more in the links below.
