Here is the Meta Quest 3S. And I'm sure you have lots of questions. Things like... what is the difference between the 3S and Quest 3? Can I use it as a regular PC VR headset? What are the best games?

And if I buy one, would it be the type of thing I'd only use for a couple of weeks before it becomes an expensive shelf ornament?

And what are the key benefits & reasons to own one & are there any downsides?

In this video, I will try to predict as many of the questions you might have about the MetaQuest 3S.

Price/availability

So let's start with how much it is going to cost. There are two versions of the Quest 3S. The 128GB model comes at a very reasonable £289, and the 256GB version comes in at £379. So it's an extra £90 to double the memory.

And it's worth mentioning for £90 more than that you could make the next step up is the Quest 3, which does have 512GB of storage and a few important differences. We'll get to that later.

And you might want to hold fire on choosing between before you see the answers to some of the important questions & answers in this video.

How comfortable is the Quest 3S

So, I've tried quite a few VR headsets. And with standard fittings that it comes with. I'm happy to tell you it's quite cosy.

I don't feel uncomfortable pressure on my nose or cheekbones. Most of the weight is on the forehead and across the top.

There are width adjustments for elasticated fabric straps and velcro adjustments for the top. Once you get those right, The Quest 3S sits firmly over your eye.

Now, with that said, there are alternatives to the fitting. For example, there's a more breathable facial interface. And tons of third-party straps are out there, some of which have extended battery packs.

Battery life ( Vs Quest 3 )

Since the Quest 3S is a standalone device that you can literally use untethered anywhere. You might be wondering about battery life.

So let's get into that. The battery cell size on the Meta Quest 3S is slightly smaller than the MetaQuest 3.

However, due to some hardware differences, the actual runtime with its 4324mAh battery is up to 2 and a half hours on a single charge.

Which is around 15 minutes more than the original Quest 3.

Hardware changes

And that brings me very nicely onto. What are the differences between the Quest 3S & Quest 3?

So, let's start with what's exactly the same. They both use the same Snapdragon XR Gen 2 processors with the same amount of DRAM at 8GB. The refresh rates are precisely the same at 72Hz, 90Hz and up to 120Hz.

There's no eye tracking on the 3 & 3S…however, if that's important to you, the Quest Pro does have eye tracking. Both support hand tracking, so they can be used without the controllers, and both ship with exactly the same Touch Plus controllers.

Which do have haptics and quite powerful vibration feedback.Now, here's where it gets interesting.

What are the hardware differences?

There is a difference in the lenses used on the 3S. The more expensive MetaQuest 3 uses lenses that are more expensive to produce. These are called Pancake lenses & the 3S uses a more classic style Fresnel lens type. And you might be wondering what difference does that make?

First is the weight difference. But even though the Pancake lenses are lighter, the overall weight on the 3S is a couple of grams lighter at 512 grams.

The Fresnel lenses used here mean the field of view in a fixed position will be around 14 degrees less wide & 9 degrees less on the vertical axis. Is this a game-changer? Well, not massively. It means you may need to turn, or lift your head a little more often to see what's around you. However, you could make the case that the broader FOV could create a more immersive experience.

Now, something worth mentioning. Is the difference in IAD the inter-axial distance adjustments? This is the distance between the lenses inside.

The Quest 3 has continuous adjustments, whereas the 3S has three fixed positions. Which are designed to accommodate the majority of head sizes. The middle settings work perfectly for me.

Also, the Pancake lenses used on Quest 3 help reduce light flares and chromatic aberrations. And can accommodate higher resolutions a little bit better.

And on the topic of resolution. This is the most significant difference you need to be aware of and another reason why the 3S is more affordable. The Quest 3S's resolution maxes out close to 4K resolution of 1832 x 1920, with a respectable 773PPi. For context, most flagship smartphones today have around 400 to 450 ppi. And VR headsets must be higher because the displays are close to your face.

The Quest 3’s resolution is significantly higher at 2,064 x 2,208, with a 1218PPi. So, the image will look sharper, and you will have an extra 5 pixels per degree in the virtual space. But if you’re not intending to play graphically intense games. Then you won’t notice a huge difference. Now audio.

Does the 3S have a headphone Jack?

So, this is another difference between the hardware on 3 and the 3S. The original and more expensive 3 does allow for wired headphones.

The significant upside is that the audio latency will be as minimal as possible, and you can use them passively for as long as you want.

But even though there is no headphone jack on the 3S, you can connect Bluetooth headphones & earbuds, so it will be fine for most people. The audio will sound awesome even when connecting over BT for gaming or movies.

It's perfect for when you want to block out the outside world. And if you wondering the built-in sound is very good on the 3S and it does use the same drivers as the 3 ( is that the case? ) Now, on the flip side of that. You might be ask

How good is the passthrough aka mixed reality?

The passthrough sensors are identical to the 3. So, there won't be a huge difference regarding light sensitivity; the resolution difference would be a factor. In lower light setting you will notice some digital noise, in the event of that you can just switch to full VR

But overall, it's an excellent experience in a well-lit room in my opinion! And of course, I’m sure you noticed the sensor array on the front has a different layout. That’s another hardware difference.

Why is the sensor/camera array layout different, are there any additional sensors?

Software & Games

How many games can I play on Quest 3s?

In terms of the App library, Meta says there are literally thousands of titles. And if you're upgrading from Meta Quest 2, you can migrate the games you've already purchased to the 3S.

Although I've not had a chance to test them all, one of the best ones out there is definitely the Assassins Creed Nexus VR.

As it's an actual AAA game, I'm told the playtime to complete it is quite significant & I can tell you from my experience so far that the graphics and gameplay are genuinely awesome.

Also, the Fitness XR app is something special, and I'm shocked at how fun it is.

And, what you're seeing on screen right now are the current best-rated games at the time of this video…but, there is one exclusive Meta Quest game here that's not on the list that I think will be number one…soon. I'll show you that in a minute.

Can you expand your memory?

So, the Meta Quest 3S doesn't have an expandable memory card slot, and you can’t wire in an SSD. With that said, it's important to know a few things. Apps and games will have varying file sizes. For example, Assassins Creed takes up around __GB on the Quest.

Whereas other less graphically demanding games can use as little as ___. So, in regards to how many could you store on the 128GB on average? Based on the average game size, it's around 20 to 30.

So If you go for the base 128GB model, at some point you may need to delete unwanted games and apps and offload any recordings captured on the device. And, of course, do keep in mind you can do some Cloud Gaming on the Quest 3 which takes up almost no space at all.

And if you're a Windows PC user wondering If…

Can I connect it to my PC for VR gaming & productivity?

The quick answer is yes! And there are two ways to do it. You could purchase the official Meta Link cable for the fastest connections, costing you £89 in the UK. It has a fibre optic core that is 16 in length, so that’s why is it so expensive. You could use an alternative high-speed USB C cable, but be mindful of the weight.

And you can also connect wirelessly, which is the cheapest and easiest option. Either way, you must download the Metal Link software to make it work.

And once you've done that, you can play fully-fledged triple AA PC VR games on the Quest 3S by utilising the graphics card on your PC.

And in that use case, the storage on the 3S is not an issue. And… if you really must. You can use it for work.

What if you are not a gamer?

Here are my thoughts on the Meta Quest 3S.

There are many reasons why you'd want to buy the 3S. Number 1 is definitely the value proposition at £289 for the 128GB. It's very reasonably priced. Even if you simply want one for entertainment & social media. In that scenario, it might end up on the shelf occasionally. But the app library is so vast that I think you'll end up coming back more often than not.

And even more so once you see how good the Batman Arkham Shadow game is! And that is the game I alluded to earlier in the video. The best news is that if you purchase the 3S Meta, do throw it in for free with your purchase

On the other hand, If you're not a gamer, don't care much about the social media aspects of the MetaVerse. The productivity use cases here could be a game changer for you, especially if you're a Windows user.

Whether working at a desk or at the beach, you can create three additional virtual windows around your laptop while being aware of your surroundings. And just use hand gestures for those mixed reality elements. So you won't need to carry the remotes around daily. And if you do get one for productivity, it could become a daily tool for work.

Now, there is a third reason, which is the most beneficial reason and keeps you coming back to the Meta Quest 3S daily. If you're buying the 3S for the health and fitness side of things. For this use case, the most affordable 128GB is perfect.

Look, if the gym ain't your thing, or maybe you're worried about people staring at you while you're working out, or you don't want to find yourself in the background of someone's viral Instagram reel or something. The Meta Quest 3S could solve all those problems, and it's like having your own virtual personal trainer.

And at £289, that's an unreal price for such a powerful device.