It’s time for a Meta Quest 3S vs. Meta Quest 3 face-off to help you understand the differences between the two.
Meta Quest 3S was revealed Meta Connect 2024 alongside some updates to the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses — and the new revelation of Project Orion, the company’s new AR glasses prototype.
The Quest 3S has a starting price of $299.99 while the Quest 3 requires you to shell out a little more. So the question is, how do they differ? We’ll get into this right now.
Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Price and specs
As mentioned, the Quest 3S is cheaper with a starting price of $299.99. This comes with the following specs:
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Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip
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128GB of storage
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8GB of RAM
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1,832 x 1,920-pixel display resolution
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90Hz and 120Hz refresh rate
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Fresnel lens
If you upgrade to 256GB of storage, you’ll have to shell out $399.99. In my experience with the Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3, 128GB was sufficient, netting me about 60 games and apps with some storage left over.
The Meta Quest 3, on the other hand, currently has a starting price $649.99. (As of this writing, the $499.99 version with the 128GB model is out of stock.) It has the same chip, storage configurations, and RAM as the Quest 3S, but you’ll get better displays and more refresh rate options (more on that later).
Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Design
The Meta Quest 3S appears to be bulkier than the Meta Quest 3 — similar to the Quest 2. The pricier Quest 3, on the other hand, has a sleeker appearance.
The front part of the Quest 3S is different from the Quest 3, too. While both have a mostly-white body, the Quest 3S has its sensors arranged in a triangular pattern. However, the Quest 3, on the other hand, has its sensors arranged into larger, oval-shaped openings.
Both headsets have the same controllers.
Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Display
The Meta Quest 3’s displays have a higher screen resolution compared to the Quest 3S.
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Quest 3S – 1,832 x 1,920-pixel resolution
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Quest 3 – 2,064 x 2,208-pixel resolution
Plus, the Quest 3 has a greater range of refresh rate options:
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Quest 3S – 90Hz and 120Hz
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Quest 3 – 72Hz, 80Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz
You may be wondering, “Why would anyone run their Quest 3 at 72Hz as opposed to 120Hz?” Well, for those who use PCVR, reducing the refresh rate may allow them to prioritize a higher resolution without taking too much of a performance hit.
It’s also worth noting that the Quest 3S has fresnel lenses as opposed to the Quest 3’s pancake lenses. Both lenses have their pros and cons, but pancake lenses are generally better, allowing for a lighter and thinner design, less distortion, and better image quality.
Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Features
Both appear to have the same feature set, including augmented reality (AR) with passthrough mode. Passthrough, which lets you see the world around you, relies on a 4MP camera and lets you enjoy AR experiences.
For the uninitiated, AR is a blend of digital artifacts with your real-world environment. For example, in an AR game, you can dodge virtual aliens while diving behind the sofa in your living room.
Announced at Meta Connect 2024, you’ll also have an easier time with spatial computing with Quest 3S and Quest 3.
Spatial computing was always available on the Quest series (at least as far back as the second-generation Quest 2 because I’ve demoed the ability to use it with a Windows laptop in 2021.) However, it appears that, with a new update, the experience should be a lot more seamless with the two Quest 3 models. But we’ll have to test them ourselves to know for sure.
To sum it up, on both the Quest 3S and Quest 3, you’ll have access to AR and VR apps and games via the Quest Store, as well as support for PCVR with the Quest Link app. You can also play Xbox Game Pass games on both headsets.
Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Battery
The Quest 3 has a bigger battery: 5,060 mAh to be exact. The Quest 3S, on the other hand, sports a 4,324 battery.
According to our review, the Meta Quest 3 lasted one hour and 19 minutes with nonstop gameplay.
This means that the Quest 3S is expected to have an even shorter runtime compared to the Quest 3 — and the Quest 3’s runtime is already short enough as it is.
Meta Quest 3S vs. 3: Which is the winner?
Based on battery life, I’d opt for the Meta Quest 3. We won’t know for sure until we review the Quest 3S, but based on the specs, it’s expected to be less power efficient than the Quest 3.
However, in my experience, VR and AR experience take a toll on your eyes, so your VR headset shutting down after an hour isn’t the worst thing in the world. Your eyes need a break.
On the plus side, the Quest 3S is a lot easier on your wallet. If you don’t mind the expectedly poor battery life, the Quest 3S is your best bet.
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