Quest 3S Hands On - Meta Quest 3 Just Got More Affordable!

Summary

In this video, Mike provides hands-on first impressions of the Meta Quest 3s, a more affordable VR headset compared to the Quest 3. He discusses its similarities to the Quest 2, including its display and lenses, and highlights the new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor for improved performance. Mike also covers the headset's new features, such as a pass-through button and the removal of the headphone jack. He recommends the Quest 3s for newcomers or those upgrading from older models and suggests considering the Quest 3 for its enhanced features if budget allows.

Takeaways

• 🎉 Mike introduces the Meta Quest 3s as a more affordable version of the Meta Quest 3.
• 📅 The Meta Quest 3s is set to release on October 15th with pre-orders open.
• 💰 Two models are available: 128 GB at $299 or £289, and 256 GB at $399 or £379.
• 💸 The 512 GB Meta Quest 3's price is reduced to $499 or £469, making it a competitive deal.
• 🎁 Pre-orders of the Quest 3s or purchases until April will include Batman Arkham Shadow for free.
• 🔍 The Quest 3s uses the same display and Fresnel lenses as the Quest 2, which may limit its visual performance.
• 🚀 Despite the display, the Quest 3s features the newer Snapdragon xr2 Gen 2 processor for improved performance.
• 📸 A new camera layout includes four tracking cameras and two color pass-through cameras for better mixed reality experiences.
• 🎧 The 3.5 mm headphone jack has been removed, suggesting a shift towards built-in speakers or USB-C adapters.
• 💡 New accessories include a breathable facial interface and a controller charging dock for convenience.
• 🌟 Mike recommends the Quest 3 at the reduced price of $499 for those who can afford it, due to its superior features.

Q & A

What is the Meta Quest 3s and how does it differ from the Meta Quest 3?

The Meta Quest 3s is a more affordable version of the Meta Quest 3. It is considered a 'Quest 3 light' and is designed to be a budget option in Meta's lineup, replacing the Quest 2.

When does the Meta Quest 3s release and what are the pre-order details?

Pre-orders for the Meta Quest 3s are open, and it is set to release on October 15th. There are two models available: a 128 GB model at $299 or £289, and a 256 GB model at $399 or £379.

What is the price reduction for the 512 GB Meta Quest 3?

The price of the 512 GB Meta Quest 3 has been reduced from $649 to $499 or £469.

What free game comes with the pre-order of Meta Quest 3s or purchase of a Meta Quest 3?

With the pre-order of a Meta Quest 3s or purchase of a Meta Quest 3 until April next year, customers will receive Batman Arkham Shadow for free when it releases on October 22nd.

What are the main differences between the Meta Quest 3s and the Quest 2 in terms of hardware?

The Meta Quest 3s uses the same display and Fresnel lenses as the Quest 2, which have a lower resolution and are older compared to the Quest 3's pancake lenses. However, it features the newer Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor found in the Quest 3.

What new features does the Meta Quest 3s have in terms of camera layout?

The Meta Quest 3s has a new camera layout with four tracking cameras, two IR illuminators, and two color pass-through cameras. This setup is similar in quality to the Quest 3.

What design changes are present on the Meta Quest 3s?

The Meta Quest 3s has a dedicated pass-through button and has removed the 3.5 mm headphone jack. It also uses the same controllers as the Quest 3.

What new accessories were showcased for the Meta Quest 3s?

New accessories for the Meta Quest 3s include a breathable facial interface with mesh sections, an open-air facial interface for mixed reality, a controller charging dock, and new carry cases.

What is the recommendation for someone who already owns a Meta Quest 3?

For those who already own a Meta Quest 3, the Quest 3s is not recommended as an upgrade since they already have the best available headset.

What is the author's personal recommendation for someone considering a purchase?

The author recommends that if someone has the budget or can save up, they should consider buying the Meta Quest 3 at the reduced price of $499 for its sleeker design, higher resolution displays, and pancake lenses.

How does the author feel about the availability of a more affordable Meta Quest 3 option?

The author is happy about the more affordable Meta Quest 3 option, as it allows more people to enjoy the latest VR and MR content.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Introduction to Meta Quest 3s

The script introduces the Meta Quest 3s, a more affordable version of the Meta Quest 3, with a focus on its budget-friendly appeal. The presenter, Mike, is in California to experience the Quest 3s firsthand. He discusses the naming convention and shares his first impressions after a short demo. Mike highlights three features that make the Quest 3s a worthwhile upgrade from the Quest 2 and compares it to the more expensive Meta Quest 3. He mentions that Meta sponsored his trip but assures viewers that his opinions are his own. The Quest 3s is set to replace the Quest 2 as the budget option in Meta's lineup, with pre-orders open and a release date set for October 15th. Two models are available: a 128 GB version for $299/£289 and a 256 GB version for $399/£379. Meta is also reducing the price of the 512 GB Quest 3. Pre-orders or purchases of a Quest 3s or Quest 3 before April will include a free copy of 'Batman Arkham Shadow' upon its release. Mike played the game at Gamescom and was impressed, suggesting viewers check out his previous video on it. Financing options are available for the new headsets, and Mike provides an affiliate link for those interested. The Quest 3s is $200 cheaper than the Quest 3, and Mike discusses the design and feature trade-offs Meta made to achieve this lower price point.

05:02

🛍️ Overview of Quest 3s Design and Accessories

Mike continues his discussion on the Quest 3s, focusing on its design and new accessories. He notes that the Quest 3s has a similar form factor to the Quest 2, using the same display and lenses, which results in a lower resolution compared to the Quest 3. Despite this, the Quest 3s features the newer Snapdragon xr2 Gen 2 processor, allowing for smooth operation and compatibility with the latest games. Mike comments on the new camera layout, which includes four tracking cameras and two color pass-through cameras, similar in quality to the Quest 3. He also mentions the removal of the 3.5 mm headphone jack, a design choice he finds curious but acknowledges that most users may opt for built-in speakers or adapters. New accessories include a breathable facial interface, an open-air facial interface for more immersive mixed reality experiences, a controller charging dock, and new carry cases. Mike concludes that the Quest 3s is a great budget option for newcomers and those upgrading from older models, but he recommends the Quest 3 for its improved form factor, higher resolution displays, and pancake lenses. He expresses excitement for the more affordable Quest 3 option and encourages viewers to share their thoughts and questions in the comments.

Keywords

💡Meta Quest 3s

Meta Quest 3s refers to a new virtual reality headset developed by Meta (formerly Facebook). It is positioned as an affordable version of the Meta Quest 3, offering a more budget-friendly option for consumers interested in VR technology. In the script, the Meta Quest 3s is described as having a similar form factor to the Quest 2 but with some upgrades and trade-offs to achieve a lower price point.

💡Affordable

The term 'affordable' is used to describe the Meta Quest 3s as a more cost-effective alternative to the higher-end Meta Quest 3. It implies that the device is priced lower to make it accessible to a wider audience. The script mentions the 128 GB model at $299 and the 256 GB model at $399, emphasizing the headset's competitive pricing.

💡VR (Virtual Reality)

VR, or Virtual Reality, is a technology that immerses users in a simulated environment by using a headset and other sensory stimuli. In the context of the video, VR is the core functionality of the Meta Quest 3s, allowing users to engage in immersive gaming and other experiences. The script discusses the headset's capabilities in delivering VR content.

💡Mixed Reality (MR)

Mixed Reality is a term that refers to the merging of real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualizations where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real-time. The script mentions that the Meta Quest 3s has full color pass-through for MR content, indicating its ability to blend the physical world with virtual elements.

💡Snapdragon xr2 Gen 2

Snapdragon xr2 Gen 2 is a processor designed for VR and AR headsets, providing high performance and power efficiency. The script highlights that the Meta Quest 3s includes this processor, which is a significant upgrade from the Quest 2, allowing for smoother operation and the ability to run more advanced games.

💡Resolution

Resolution in the context of VR headsets refers to the number of pixels used to form the image displayed to the user. The script notes that the Meta Quest 3s uses the same display and lenses as the Quest 2, with a resolution of 1832 by 1920 pixels per eye, which impacts the quality of the VR experience.

💡Pancake Lenses

Pancake lenses are a type of lens technology used in VR headsets to reduce the thickness of the device while maintaining image quality. The script contrasts the lenses in the Meta Quest 3 with those in the 3s, stating that the 3s uses older lenses compared to the 'excellent pancake lenses' found in the Quest 3.

💡Batman Arkham Shadow

Batman Arkham Shadow is a VR game that will be available on the Meta Quest platform. The script mentions that pre-ordering the Meta Quest 3s or purchasing a Quest 3 before April will include a free copy of Batman Arkham Shadow, illustrating the game as a significant draw for potential buyers.

💡Financing Options

Financing options refer to the availability of payment plans that allow customers to pay for products in installments over time. The script indicates that Meta is offering financing options for the new headsets, making the purchase more manageable for those who cannot afford the upfront cost.

💡Affiliate Link

An affiliate link is a unique URL that allows the referrer to earn a commission for any sales made through their link. In the script, the presenter mentions an affiliate link in the video description, which supports the channel if viewers use it to make a purchase.

💡Form Factor

Form factor in the context of a VR headset refers to the physical design and dimensions of the device. The script discusses how the Meta Quest 3s has a similar form factor to the Quest 2, suggesting that it may not be as slim or compact as the Quest 3 due to the use of the same display technology.

Highlights

Introduction to the Meta Quest 3s by Mike in California

Meta Quest 3s is an affordable version of the Meta Quest 3

The Quest 3s will replace the Quest 2 as the budget option in Meta's lineup

Pre-orders for the Quest 3s are open, releasing on October 15th

Two models available: 128 GB at $299 and 256 GB at $399

Meta is also reducing the price of the 512 GB Quest 3 to $499

Free Batman Arkham Shadow for pre-orders or purchases until April next year

Mike's positive impression of Batman Arkham Shadow from Gamescom

Quest 3s is $200 cheaper than the Quest 3 due to design sacrifices

Quest 3s uses the same display and lenses as the Quest 2

Quest 3s features the newer Snapdragon xr2 Gen 2 processor

New camera layout with four tracking cameras and two color pass through cameras

Dedicated pass-through button and removal of the 3.5 mm headphone jack

New breathable facial interface and open air facial interface for mixed reality

New controller charging dock and Quest 3s carry cases

Conclusion: Quest 3s is a great budget option with the same processing power as the Quest 3

Recommendation to save for the Quest 3 at the reduced price of $499 for better features

Excitement for the more affordable Quest 3 option for VR and MR content

Transcripts

welcome to the Oasis my name is Mike and

I'm here in California because today I

was invited to get handson with the

brand new meta Quest 3s now I'm not

really sure why they called it the quest

3S to be honest as in my opinion it's

more like a quest 3 light because

essentially this is a more affordable

version of The Meta Quest 3 so in this

video I'll be going over my quest 3s

Hands-On First Impressions based on my

short demo along with giving you three

features where I feel the quest 3s is a

worthwhile upgrade Over The Quest 2 and

of course I'll also be letting you know

how it Stacks up against its more

expensive Big Brother The Meta Quest 3

full disclosure meta sponsored this trip

including flights and accommodation

however my thoughts are entirely my own

and they don't get to preview this video

before it goes live so with that said

The Meta Quest 3s is meta's latest

headset which will be replacing the

Quest 2 as the budget option in meta's

lineup moving forward pre-orders for the

quest 3s are open right now and it'll be

releasing on the 15th of October there's

two Quest 3s models available the 128 GB

model which comes in at

$299 or

£289 British and the 256 GB model which

comes in at

$399 or

£379 British p

meta are also reducing the price of the

512 GB Quest 3 which is the

top-of-the-line model down from

$649 to

$499 or £469 British P which to be

honest is a fantastic deal to make these

deals even sweeter everyone that

pre-orders a quest 3s or buys a quest 3

up until April next year we'll get

Batman Arkham Shadow for free when it

releas on the 22nd of October now I got

to play Batman Arkham Shadow at Gamescom

last month and I was super impressed

with it I did a whole video on it that

you can check out on the channel now if

you're interested in buying one of these

new headsets there's now financing

options available through the meta

website and there's a link in the

description of this video which is my

personal affiliate link if you happen to

use this link it just helps to support

the channel so the base model Quest 3s

is $200 cheaper than the quest 3 now to

make it cheaper meta had to make some

sacrifices and trade-offs so let's go

over the headsets form factor specs and

features the quest 3s has a similar form

factor to The Quest 2 so it's not as

Slim or as compact as the quest 3 now

this is mainly down to the fact that the

quest 3s uses the same display and Fel

lenses that are found in the Quest 2

which is running a resolution of

1832 by 1920 pixels per eye the Fel

lenses found in the quest 3s are a bit

old now to be honest they have a smaller

sweet spot and suffer from more glare

compared to the excellent pancake lenses

found in the quest 3 and this is the

major tradeoff with the quest 3s in my

opinion on the plus side though if you

happen to own prescription lens inserts

for the Quest 2 I've been told they will

be compatible with the quest 3s so while

it doesn't have pancake lens is the

quest 3s does have the newer Snapdragon

xr2 Gen 2 processor that features in the

more expensive Quest 3 this means that

it feels super Snappy to use and it can

play the latest Quest 3 exclusive games

like Batman Arkham Shadow and alien

Rogue incursion having this new

processing power means that developers

can break free from the restrictions of

the Quest 2 platform and start to make

more complex and better-looking

Standalone games

moving forward looking at the front of

the quest Rees we have a brand new

camera layout there's four tracking

cameras two located on the front face

plate at the bottom of the camera arrays

and two tracking cameras on the sides

there's also two IR illuminators on the

far edges and two color pass through

cameras located at the top these color

pass through cameras looked just as good

as the quest 3 in my opinion and this

means that you'll be able to clearly see

your surrounding ings when needed and be

able to play awesome mixed reality games

like Miracle pool 11 table tennis and

Starship home there's a couple of new

interesting design changes on the quest

3s firstly there's a dedicated pass

through button which you can press to

quickly jump between VR and the pass

through mode and secondly a complete

removal of the 3.5 mm headphone jack now

for me this is a strange design choice

because I use the headphone jack on my

head sets all the time and it's not a

particularly expensive component however

meta feel that it's not needed anymore

and that most players will just use the

built-in speakers or use a USBC to 3.5

mm adapter if they want to use wide

headphones but I'm curious to know what

you all think of this in the comments

down below further to this the quest 3s

uses the same great controllers that

ship with the quest 3 alongside the new

headset I also got to check out some

brand new accessories like the new

breathable facial interface which has

these mesh sections on the sides and a

silicon style face cushion I used this

facial interface throughout my demo

session with the quries and I found the

mesh a little distracting when playing

VR games as you do get some light

leakage on the sides but I can see the

benefit of using it for active games and

fitness applications I didn't get to try

this next one out but they also had an

open air facial interface so you can be

more immersed in mixed reality

experiences which looks pretty

interesting and I'm looking forward to

checking it out when the headset

launches next month they also had a new

controller charging dock for both the

quest 3s and the quest 3 that has a

small stand for wirelessly charging the

controllers and a pass through power

cable to charge the headset and finally

they also had a couple of brand new

Quest 3s carry cases so here's my

conclusion firstly if you already own a

quest 3 the quest 3s isn't for you you

already have the best Quest headset

available on the market right now the

meta Quest 3s is positioning itself as

the more affordable option and at

$299 is a fantastic deal for newcomers

and those looking to upgrade from the

original Quest or Quest 2 The Quest 2

was a huge success at this price point

so hopefully we'll see the same Success

With The Quest 3s

the quest 3s does pack the same

processing power as the quest 3 so

you'll be able to play all the upcoming

Quest 3 exclusive titles like Batman

Arkham Shadow for example and it offers

full color pass through for mixed

reality content but as a tradeoff it's

based on a similar form factor as the

Quest 2 and it's stuck with the quest

2's lower resolution display and older

forel lenses ultimately the quest 3s is

a great budget option but but my

personal recommendation based on my

experience with the headset is if you

have the additional budget or you can

wait a little bit longer and save some

extra money then go for the quest 3 at

the new reduced price of

$499 as it's the better all- round

headset with its sleeker form factor

higher resolution displays and its

excellent pancake lenses overall though

I'm just happy we now have a more

affordable Quest 3 option so more people

can jump in and enjoy the latest content

that VR and Mr have to offer now if you

have any questions about the quest re

please feel free to drop them in the

comments down below and please let me

know what you all think does this get

you excited for the quest 3s are you

going to pre-order one and if so what

games are you most excited to play on it

I'd love to know in the comments down

below leave a cheeky little like on this

video if you found it useful make sure

you're subscribed for all my future VR

content and as as always I'll see you

all on the next one cheers