New Meta Quest 3S Wireless VR Headset Launches Today for Beginners

This week, Meta has introduced price cuts on both variants of its Quest 3 VR headset. The 128GB model is now $269.99, a $30 discount, while the 256GB version is $349.99 after a $50 instant saving. These offers are available at major retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart. The Meta Quest 3S is widely regarded as the top value proposition in VR gaming. Not only is it priced hundreds of dollars below most competitors (including Meta's own Quest 3), it's also a fully standalone, untethered system requiring no PC or PlayStation 5.

To make the deal even sweeter, every Quest 3S purchase includes a free copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow VR and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. In its IGN 8/10 review, Dan Stapleton stated, "Batman: Arkham Shadow successfully translates much of the Arkham series' signature gameplay into VR, culminating in a compelling mystery narrative."

Meta Quest 3S VR Headset with Batman: Arkham Shadow

Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR Headset

$399.99 save 13% $349.99 at Amazon
$399.99 save 13% $349.00 at Walmart
$399.99 save 13% $349.99 at Target

Meta Quest 3S 128GB VR Headset

$299.99 save 10% $269.00 at Amazon
$299.99 save 10% $269.00 at Walmart
$299.99 save 10% $269.99 at Target

The Quest 3S improves upon the original Quest 2 in every meaningful way—and does so without a price hike. It also inherits key features from the pricier Quest 3, such as the enhanced Touch Plus controllers, the upgraded Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 Quest 3S review, Gabriel Moss wrote, "Its raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and responsive Touch Plus controllers make the Quest 3S an outstanding standalone VR headset that, arguably for the first time, delivers entry-level mixed-reality gaming to a broad audience."

What truly elevates this offer above other VR deals is that the Meta Quest 3S operates completely wirelessly. You can dive into games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without needing a high-end gaming PC or a PlayStation 5. Finding another standalone VR headset at this price point is nearly impossible.

How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?

Even at its standard retail price, the Quest 3S costs $200 less than the $500 Quest 3—a 40% reduction. Naturally, achieving this competitive price involved some trade-offs. The key specification comparisons 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 lenses vs. pancake lenses
Lower field of view (96°/90° vs. 104°/96°)
Smaller base storage capacity (128GB vs. 512GB)
Longer battery life (2.5 hrs vs. 2.2 hrs)

For the price, the Quest 3S represents better overall value than the Quest 3 and is the ideal choice for gamers new to VR who want to explore the medium. It is a significant, unequivocal upgrade over the Quest 2 it replaces.