The Meta Quest 3S has been an exquisite escape from the clunkiness of life caused by the aftermath of Hurricane Helene for me. With the ability to actually soar into one other world by popping a headset on through the day has been extra than simply mood-changing for me, it’s been an essential a part of restoration time to return to regular life once more.
All through this, essentially the most spectacular factor to me is how little of a compromise this feels when in comparison with the $200 dearer Meta Quest 3. Whereas the lenses aren’t as clear, I didn’t discover another actual variations whereas taking part in. Even with that in thoughts, most individuals received’t have the ability to respect the lens distinction until they’ve already used a Quest 3 earlier than, anyway, so it’s a little bit of a moot level.
Whereas the expertise is unbelievably near the Quest 3, I don’t need to write a full evaluate after utilizing it for only a week. As an alternative, I’ve give you 5 takeaways and why this could completely be the VR headset you purchase this 12 months, particularly if you happen to’re a Quest 2 proprietor who’s trying to play video games like Batman Arkham Shadow.
Blended actuality is beautiful
After I first put the headset on, I marveled at how comparable the Meta Quest 3S’s colour combined actuality imaginative and prescient was to that of the Meta Quest 3. It was simple to see the room round me, put my controllers on, and work together with issues within the room — together with petting my kitten who was roaming round.
The perfect combined actuality video games all really feel and play almost identically on the Meta Quest 3S. Turning your front room right into a racket ball court docket in Racket Membership nonetheless feels magical, and distinctive combined reality-only video games like Starship Dwelling nonetheless remodel your current room into one thing new and particular. In reality, I nonetheless had that humorous feeling of one thing lacking within the room each time I ended taking part in Starship Dwelling as a result of the combined actuality high quality was so convincing.
For Meta Quest 2 homeowners upgrading to a Meta Quest 3S, colour combined actuality would be the greatest, most instant distinction. Blended actuality merely doesn’t exist on a Quest 2. Calling the extremely low-res black & white passthrough imaginative and prescient “combined actuality” is solely inaccurate, and it’s this that may deliver that instant “wow” issue to your buy.
The graphics improve will blow you away
I’ve already been in a position to play some Quest 3-exclusive video games on the Meta Quest 3S that I’m not allowed to speak about but, however let me inform you that the graphics on these titles are going to blow you away. It is a 100% full generational improve from the Meta Quest 2, and it’s instantly palpable on most of the greatest upcoming Meta Quest video games.
Whereas some current video games you may need already performed bought spectacular visible upgrades — The Strolling Useless: Saints & Sinners is likely one of the finest examples of spectacular updates to current video games — the brand new video games popping out this 12 months are those that’ll actually blow you away. That’s as a result of it’s not simply in regards to the upgraded particulars, higher textures, improved lighting, and different graphical enhancements. It’s about scale.
The additional RAM and 100% improved processing energy over the Quest 2 imply that video games made for the Quest 3 can really feel larger and extra sturdy. Many Oculus Quest video games from the 2019 and 2020 eras typically felt like cellular video games in a brand new perspective due to their graphical and environmental simplicity. Meta Quest 3 video games really feel straight out of the PS4 period of gaming, and that’s one thing to actually have a good time.
Backwards compatibility with Quest 3 equipment is a recreation changer
From day one, I used to be in a position to make use of almost each single among the finest Meta Quest 3 equipment (hyperlink) that I had available with the Meta Quest 3S. The lone exception is the facial interface, which is a special form and dimension in contrast with the Quest 3. However each different head strap I had, each controller accent — together with fancy golf golf equipment and controller grips — and each battery pack or haptic suggestions vest labored with the Quest 3S with none tinkering.
Which means Quest 3S customers have entry to a whole 12 months’s value of third-party accent work, permitting them to decide on one of the best accent for the job as a substitute of settling with overpriced choices that find yourself disappointing. That is a large change from each different Meta Quest product launch, which frequently noticed solely first-party equipment out there for months at a time.
Should you’re selecting up a Quest 3S, I would advocate two equipment to get a considerably higher expertise. First, seize a BoboVR M3 Professional head strap alternative. Its sensible design helps offload the Quest 3S’s weight out of your face, balancing it higher in your head with comfortable, simply detachable, washable padding. It additionally features a magnetically hot-swappable, rechargeable battery pack that provides hours of playtime to your expertise.
I am additionally testing out KIWI Design’s H4 and K4 head straps, each of which provide significantly better consolation over the inventory strap whereas including an enormous battery for added playtime. KIWI Design prides itself on battery security, which is one thing to think about because it’s strapped to your head!
Subsequent, seize these cheap AMVR controller grips. They exchange the battery cowl in your Quest 3S controllers with one which has a grippy texture and a cushty hand strap. That strap not solely extra evenly distributes the controller’s weight but in addition makes it simpler to throw issues in VR since you may really let go of the controller with out it falling out of your arms.
I personally dislike the inventory facial interface for any Meta Quest headset and infrequently desire ones from AMVR or Kiwi Design, however neither firm has one which works with the Quest 3S but. As soon as I take advantage of one I like, I will add a advice.
The catalog of video games is downright spectacular
We simply overhauled our finest Meta Quest video games record, and let me inform you how troublesome it was to slim down the number of “finest video games” to just some. The Meta Quest platform sports activities hundreds of video games, and whereas loads of 2024 video games have been phenomenal, there are nonetheless loads of classics value taking part in.
New releases like Dimensional Double Shift put a brand new spin on the outdated VR traditional Job Simulator by including in multiplayer and hand monitoring, plus a brand new theme with tons of distinctive interactions. Steel: Hellsinger VR takes the console traditional into VR with a head-banging good unique soundtrack and gameplay that feels straight out of one of the best Doom video games.
NFL PRO ERA 2025 simply upgraded its gameplay and roster to provide the fantasy soccer expertise you’ve got been dreaming of, and Resort RnR Rockstar Simulator permits you to step into the footwear of a rockstar who’s fed up with not getting their means on a regular basis.
In only a week, you’ll play Batman Arkham Shadow, the primary unique recreation within the Arkham franchise in a decade. That, in fact, is a recreation without spending a dime with the Meta Quest 3S, so you do not have to buy the sport individually.
And the upcoming Meta Quest video games record is stacked with different big-name releases we’re certain to like. Alien: Rogue Incursion is the primary made-for-VR recreation within the traditional Ridley Scott sequence. Skydance’s Behemoth brings Shadow of the Colossus-style gameplay to VR, and Metro Awakening is an unique VR entry into the acclaimed Metro 2033 sequence that players have liked for years.
The worst a part of shopping for any new system is having to shell out a bunch of cash to play video games on it. That is the place Meta Quest Plus is available in. It is a subscription service just like one thing like Xbox Recreation Cross, providing you with entry to 22 of one of the best Quest video games instantly.
Every Meta Quest headset comes with a three-month trial of the service, and it is simply $7.99 per 30 days thereafter. This is the way it works. A library of 20 video games is on the market to play instantly, providing you with entry to a frequently rotated, curated record of titles. You do not personal these video games, so you’ll want to play them after they’re out there.
Past that, you may get entry to 2 video games every month you could declare completely in your account. That is 24 video games per 12 months added to your library and accessible as long as you retain a subscription to the service. That is along with the frequently rotated record of 20 video games, that means you may have a lot to play for just some bucks a month.
Now’s the time
Meta completely knocked it out of the park with the Meta Quest 3S. That is the Quest 2 follow-up the VR trade wants as a result of it is available in on the worth individuals need. A $299 headset might be the one most essential factor to get VR into extra arms and on extra heads, and a product nearly as good because the Meta Quest 3S goes to completely blow individuals’s minds this Vacation season.
I don’t hesitate in any respect after I say that is a very powerful VR product ever made. It takes all the teachings Meta realized from the Quest 2 period, provides in all of the enhancements made with Quest 3 {hardware} and the software program expertise over the previous 12 months, and someway melds them completely right into a $299 bundle. It’s an unbelievable feat for the corporate to have achieved, and but, right here it’s for all to get pleasure from.
The VR increase cycle is about to be again in enterprise after a 12 months of decelerate, and the Meta Quest 3S is main the cost.
Do not spend extra! Get the Meta Quest 3S and get one of the best of VR gaming and combined actuality content material with the identical highly effective processor within the Quest 3, the identical controllers with superior haptic suggestions, and a large library of content material to get pleasure from day by day.
