Now it’s time to pit Meta Quest 3S against Meta Quest 3 to help you understand the differences between the two.
The Meta Quest 3S was announced at Meta Connect 2024, which also saw some updates to Ray-Ban’s Meta smart glasses, as well as a new release of the company’s new AR glasses prototype, Project Orion.
The Quest 3S starts at $299.99, while the Quest 3 will cost you a little more. So the question is, how are they different? Let’s start discussing this issue now.
Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Price and specs
As mentioned, the Quest 3S is cheaper, starting at $299.99. It has the following specifications:
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Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip
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128GB storage space
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8GB memory
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1,832 x 1,920 pixel display resolution
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90Hz and 120Hz update rates
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Fresnel lens
Upgrading to 256GB of storage will cost $399.99. In my experience with the Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3, 128GB was enough and I could play about 60 games and apps and still have some storage left over.
Meta Quest 3, on the other hand, currently starts at $649.99. (As of this writing, the $499.99 128GB model is out of stock.) It has the same chip, storage configuration, and RAM as the Quest 3S, but you get a better display and more refresh rate options ( more info See later).
Meta Quest 3S and 3: Design
The Meta Quest 3S seems bulkier than the Meta Quest 3 – similar to the Quest 2.
The front of the Quest 3S is also different from the Quest 3. While both are mostly white, the Quest 3S’s sensors are arranged in a triangle. However, the Quest 3’s sensors, on the other hand, are arranged in a larger, oval-shaped opening.
Both headphones have the same controls.
Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Display
Compared to the Quest 3S, the Meta Quest 3’s display has a higher screen resolution.
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Quest 3S – 1,832 x 1,920 pixel resolution
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Question 3 – 2,064 x 2,208 pixel resolution
Additionally, Quest 3 has more refresh rate options:
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Quest 3S – 90Hz and 120Hz
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Task 3 – 72Hz, 80Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz
You might be wondering, “Why would anyone run Quest 3 at 72Hz instead of 120Hz?” Well, for those using PCVR, lowering the update rate might allow them to prioritize higher resolutions without taking too much of a hit to performance. Big impact.
It’s also worth noting that the Quest 3S has a Fresnel lens instead of the Quest 3’s pancake lens. Both lenses have their pros and cons, but pancake lenses are generally better, allowing for a lighter and thinner design, less distortion, and better image quality.
Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Features
Both appear to have the same feature set, including augmented reality (AR) with pass-through mode. Passthrough allows you to see the world around you and enjoy an AR experience relying on the 4MP camera.
For the uninitiated, AR is the fusion of digital artifacts with real-world environments. For example, in an AR game, you can hide behind the couch in your living room while avoiding virtual aliens.
Announced at Meta Connect 2024, you can also do spatial computing more easily with Quest 3S and Quest 3.
Spatial computing has always been available on the Quest series (at least going back to the second-generation Quest 2, as I’ve demonstrated the ability to use it on a Windows laptop in 2021.) However, it appears that with a new update, both The experience should be more seamless on the Quest 3 model. You should also have the option to add multiple monitors, which is a new feature.
But we’ll have to test them ourselves to know for sure.
All in all, on both Quest 3S and Quest 3, you can access AR and VR apps and games through the Quest Store, and support PCVR through the Quest Link app. You can also play Xbox Game Pass games on both headsets.
Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Battery
The Quest 3 has a larger battery: 5,060 mAh, to be exact. The Quest 3S, on the other hand, comes with a 4,324-cell battery.
According to our review, Meta Quest 3 lasted 1 hour and 19 minutes with non-stop gameplay.
This means that the Quest 3S is expected to have a shorter run time compared to the Quest 3, which was already short enough.
Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Who is the winner?
Based on battery life, I would choose the Meta Quest 3.
However, in my experience, VR and AR experiences can take a toll on your eyes, so your VR headset turning off after an hour isn’t the worst thing in the world. Your eyes need a break.
On the plus side, the Quest 3S is more economical. If you don’t mind short battery life, the Quest 3S is your best choice.
