Meta Quest 3S is a standalone virtual reality (VR) headset developed by Reality Labs, a division of Meta Platforms. It was unveiled on September 25, 2024, and released on October 15, 2024, as part of the third generation of the Meta Quest line, serving as a cheaper option for budget VR players.
 | |
| Codename | "Panther"[1] |
|---|---|
| Developer | Reality Labs |
| Manufacturer | Meta Horizon |
| Type | |
| Release date | October 15, 2024 |
| Lifespan | 2024–present |
| Introductory price | US$299 (128 GB) US$399 (256 GB) |
| Operating system | Meta Horizon OS, based on Android source code |
| System on a chip | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 |
| Memory | 8 GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Display | RGB LCD 1832x1920 per eye @ 90-120 Hz |
| Graphics | Adreno 740 @ 896 MHz[2][3][4] |
| Sound | 2 built in speakers |
| Controller input | Touch Plus |
| Camera | 2× 4MP RGB camera 4× 400×400px IR camera |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Online services | Meta Quest Store |
| Mass | 514 Grams |
| Predecessor | Quest 2 |
| Related | Meta Quest 3 |
| Website | www |
As with its predecessors, the Quest 3S is a standalone device running Meta Horizon OS, a derivative of Android Open Source Project (AOSP); VR games and apps can be run natively on the headset, or streamed from a capable computer over USB-C or Wi-Fi. The Quest 3S is intended as an entry-level model complementing 2023's Meta Quest 3, succeeding the Quest 2 at its price point; it shares most of its hardware and mixed reality capabilities with the Quest 3, but with lower-resolution displays and optics inherited from the Quest 2.
Specifications
editThe Quest 3S is designed as an entry-level variant of the Meta Quest 3; it uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 system-on-chip with 8 GB of RAM, color passthrough cameras, and Touch Plus controllers as the Quest 3.[5][6][7] Unlike the Quest 3, it uses Fresnel lenses instead of pancake lenses, and is thus thicker in length. Its displays are lower in resolution than the Quest 3, maintaining the same 1832×1920 per-eye resolution as the Quest 2, and it has a narrower field of view, 96 degrees horizontal compared to the Quest 3's 110°.[8][9] It also lacks a depth sensor, with the Quest 3's three frontal "pills" replaced by two sets of sensors and cameras arranged in triangular patterns. It adds an additional hardware "action button" for toggling the passthrough cameras.[5][6][7]
History
editAccording to a roadmap obtained by The Verge in February 2023, Meta planned to release the Quest 3 in 2023, and another headset codenamed "Ventura" in 2024, which was reportedly described by Oculus VP Mark Rabkin as an "accessible" headset that would "pack the biggest punch we can at the most attractive price point in the VR consumer market". In October 2023, a Bloomberg News writer reported that Meta had been considering releasing a headset without motion controllers to reduce cost, relying primarily on hand tracking instead.[10][11]
In late-May 2024, it was found that several upcoming games on the Meta Quest Store had listed compatibility with an unannounced device called the "Meta Quest 3S", seemingly confirming leaks posted on social media regarding a device by that name.[12][13] A video posted by Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth detailing features in an upcoming Horizon OS update also included an unknown headset that matched the leaks.[14] In September 2024, an update to the Oculus desktop software added internal references and images depicting the Quest 3S, listed under the codename "Panther".[1][15][16]
The Quest 3S was officially unveiled during Meta Connect on September 25, 2024, and made available for pre-order for a release on October 15. It is available in 128 GB and 256 GB models priced at US$299.99 and US$399.99 respectively, replacing the Quest 2 at its price point.[5][6][17] The Quest 3S and 3 are bundled with Batman: Arkham Shadow from its release through April 30, 2025.[18][19]
References
edit- ^ a b Hayden, Scott (September 10, 2024). "Official Quest 3S Image Leaks Ahead of Anticipated Meta Connect Unveiling". Road to VR. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ "vr-compare". www.vr-compare.com.
- ^ "GPU GFLOPS Calculation". azcalculator.com.
- ^ "CPU and GPU levels". meta.com.
- ^ a b c Vanian, Kif Leswing,Jonathan (September 25, 2024). "Meta unveils $299 Quest 3S VR headset, Orion AR glasses prototype". CNBC. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Peters, Jay (September 25, 2024). "Meta's cheaper Quest 3S might just be an upgrade". The Verge. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Heater, Brian (September 25, 2024). "Meta announces $300 Quest 3S, a cheaper take on mixed reality". TechCrunch. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Orland, Kyle (September 25, 2024). "Meta's $300 Quest 3S trades a worse display for a lower price". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ updated, Hamish Hector last (March 24, 2024). "Meta Quest 3S: price, release date, and everything we know about the VR headset". TechRadar. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ Heath, Alex (February 28, 2023). "This is Meta's AR / VR hardware roadmap for the next four years". The Verge. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ^ Davis, Wes (October 8, 2023). "Meta's plans to beat Apple's Vision Pro include cheaper headsets and no controllers". The Verge. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ Roth, Emma (May 31, 2024). ""Quest 3S" could be the name of Meta's more affordable VR headset". The Verge. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ Hamish Hector (May 21, 2024). "Meta Quest 3 Lite leak suggests it'll pack the Quest 3's brain into the Quest 2's body". TechRadar. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ Hector, Hamish (June 6, 2024). "Meta can't stop leaking its next VR headset, as it accidentally shows off the Quest 3S". TechRadar. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ Hector, Hamish (July 2, 2024). "The Meta Quest 2 is sold out everywhere – paving the way for the Meta Quest 3S". TechRadar. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ Hayden, Scott (September 10, 2024). "Official Quest 3S Image Leaks Ahead of Anticipated Meta Connect Unveiling". Road to VR. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
- ^ Porter, Jon (June 1, 2023). "Meta is dropping the price of the Quest 2 back to $299.99". The Verge. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- ^ Romano, Sal (August 20, 2024). "Batman: Arkham Shadow launches in October". Gematsu. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Batman: Arkham Shadow Comes Free as a bundle for both the Quest 3S & Quest 3.However it is only free if you got a quest 3 in October". UploadVR. September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.