The Meta Quest 3 is one of our favorite VR headsets and the model we generally recommend to anyone interested in trying the technology. The Meta Quest 3S is a step-down version of the Quest 3 that costs $200 less. Now that the Meta Quest Pro has been discontinued, these are the only two VR headsets in Meta’s lineup. Both have earned an outstanding rating of 4.5 stars and an Editors’ Choice award. I’ve tested both headsets (and many others) and am here to explain how they’re similar, how they differ, and which one is right for you.
Price
This is the most obvious difference between the two. The Quest 3S starts at $299.99, the same price as the Quest 2 at launch, and comes with 128GB of storage, or you can upgrade to 256GB for $399.99.
The Quest 3 is $499.99 and is only available with 512GB of storage.
Winner: Meta Quest 3S
Left to right: Meta Quest 3, Quest 3S (Credit: Will Greenwald)
Design
The Quest 3 and the Quest 3S look almost physically identical, both featuring a white plastic body and a Y-shaped headstrap. You can replace those straps on either headset with the three-point Elite Strap ($69.99) or the Elite Strap With Battery ($129.99), which means the general fit and feel are close to the same across the board.
The Quest 3’s front panel is curved and features three vertical camera/sensor clusters, while the front of the Quest 3S is flatter and features two triangular clusters. However, these differences don’t seem to affect motion tracking or pass-through visibility.
Winner: Tie
Left to right: Meta Quest 3, Quest 3S (Credit: Will Greenwald)
Display
This is where the Quest 3S makes the biggest compromise. It has a resolution of 1,832 by 1,920 per eye for 773 pixels per inch. The Quest 3’s resolution is much higher at 2,064 by 2,208, resulting in 1,218 pixels per inch. The Quest 3 also has a wider field of view at 110 by 96 degrees (horizontal, vertical) compared with 96 by 90 degrees for the Quest 3S. Both have the same 72Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz refresh rate modes.
The lenses are also mechanically different, with the Quest 3S using a Fresnel lens with three-position inter-axial distance (IAD) adjustment like the Quest 2, while the Quest 3 has a pancake lens with continuous IAD adjustment. IAD is the distance between the lenses, which corresponds to pupillary distance (PD) or the distance between your eyes. PD has some wiggle room, and the three positions for the Quest 3S should have at least one comfortable option for the majority of users, but continuous IAD means the Quest 3 can tweak that distance to fit within a millimeter.
The Quest 3S picture is quite good, but it is noticeably more grainy and has a narrower perspective than the Quest 3. The more expensive headset offers a significant step up in visual detail, justifying its equally significant step up in price.
Winner: Meta Quest 3
Cameras
The Quest 3S joins the Quest 3 (and jumps far ahead of the Quest 2) in having color pass-through cameras. They let you see your surroundings in full color, which is very helpful when using augmented reality or mixed reality software or when you simply want to stay aware of your surroundings. Both headsets use the same 4MP cameras, and they work very well even if they don’t have the nearly eye-quality clarity of the Apple Vision Pro ($3,499).
Winner: Tie
Processor
Both headsets are the same here, too, which means Meta doesn’t skimp on the internal Quest 3S hardware to reduce its price. They both use the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor with 8GB of RAM, a capable chip designed for mixed reality headsets.
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Winner: Tie
Meta Quest Touch Controllers (Credit: Will Greenwald)
Motion Tracking and Controls
Motion tracking is the same for both the Quest 3 and the Quest 3S. They use their outward-facing cameras to track the position of the headset and the controllers. Both use the same Meta Quest Touch controllers and offer limited hand-tracking support. They work equally well, though in both cases, you have to keep the controllers in front of the headsets to actively follow their movements.
Winner: Tie
Recommended by Our Editors
Battery Life
The Quest 3S has a smaller battery than the Quest 3 at 4,324mAh to 5,060mAh. That doesn’t mean it dies quicker, though. Likely because of its lower-resolution display, Meta claims the Quest 3S can run for about 2.5 hours on a charge while the Quest 3 lasts about 2.2 hours.
Winner: Meta Quest 3S
Storage
We mentioned it above, but the Quest 3 has half a terabyte of storage, while the Quest 3S comes with either 128GB or 256GB. That means the Quest 3 offers at least twice as much space as its more affordable sibling.
Winner: Meta Quest 3
(Credit: PCMag/Meta)
Software
The ecosystem is the same for both Meta headsets. They use Meta’s VR platform, which has hundreds of apps and games. Both can be tethered to PCs for SteamVR and other PC-based games with the $79.99 Meta Quest Link Cable.
Winner: Tie
The Verdict
In terms of hardware, the Quest 3 is better because of its superior display, which is enough of a difference to justify the fact that it’s $200 more expensive. The Quest 3S is still excellent as its own headset and a fantastic value for the price, with the same performance and capabilities as the Quest 3. Both are Editors’ Choice winners, but the Quest 3S is your bet if you want to experience VR without investing too much, while the Quest 3 is the strongest pick to really embrace the technology and get the best picture.
