If you've been curious about diving into VR gaming but the cost has been a barrier, you're in luck. The first actual discount on the Meta Quest 3S for 2025 is here, and you can now save $30 on this wireless VR headset, available for both the 128GB and 256GB models. To make the deal even sweeter, it comes bundled with a copy of the acclaimed *Batman: Arkham Shadow* VR game and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. In IGN's 8/10 review, Dan Stapleton praised the game, stating, "Batman: Arkham Shadow makes most of the Arkham series' defining gameplay work respectably well in VR, and its mystery story pays off."
Free to Play VR Sandbox Game: DigiGods on Meta Quest
DigiGods is a free-to-play, physics-based VR game that offers a sandbox environment where players can create, play, and share. The game prioritizes safety with AI content filtering and human moderators to ensure a positive experience. You can check it out on Meta.
Meta Quest 3S 128GB VR Headset
Originally priced at $299.99, you can now get the Meta Quest 3S for just $269.00 at Amazon, marking a 10% savings. The Quest 3S significantly improves upon the Quest 2 in every aspect, maintaining the same price point. It incorporates many features from the more expensive Quest 3, such as the new Touch controllers, the upgraded SnapDragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 review, Gabriel Moss highlighted its strengths, saying, "Raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and snappy Touch Plus controllers make the Quest 3S a fantastic standalone VR headset that also brings entry-level mixed-reality gaming to the masses for – arguably – the very first time."
What truly distinguishes this deal among other VR offers is that the Meta Quest 3S is designed for completely untethered gameplay. You can enjoy games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without needing a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5 console. It's challenging to find another standalone VR headset at this price point.
How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?
The Quest 3S retails for $200 less than the Quest 3, coming in at 40% cheaper. While some compromises were made to achieve this price, the key differences and similarities are outlined below:
Quest 3S vs. Quest 3 Similarities
Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor
Touch Plus controllers
120Hz refresh rate
Mixed reality passthrough (same cameras, different layout)
Quest 3S vs. Quest 3 Differences
Lower per-eye resolution (1832x1920 vs 2064×2208)
Fresnel lens vs. pancake lens
Lower FOV (96°/90° vs 104°/96°)
Smaller storage capacity (128GB vs 512GB)
Longer battery life (2.5hrs vs 2.2hrs)
Essentially, the Quest 3S is a near-equivalent to the Quest 3 but with downgraded optics. However, because both use the same processor, operating at a lower resolution can reduce the load on the APU, potentially enhancing in-game performance and contributing to the longer battery life.
For the price, the Quest 3S offers better value than the Quest 3 and is a more suitable option for most gamers, particularly if the Quest 3 was beyond your budget. When compared to the Quest 2, the choice becomes even clearer.
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