Meta Quest 3S: everything we know about the leaked cheap VR headset
Based on the leaks and rumors (some of which come from Meta itself) it is all but guaranteed that Meta is working on a cheaper version of the Meta Quest 3 – expected to be called the Meta Quest 3S, but previously rumored as the Quest 3 Lite.
Nothing has been officially announced at the time of writing, but the VR headset has been teased as a more affordable version of the Quest 3. It’ll reportedly boast the same chipset (a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2), won’t be as visually crisp, and it’ll adopt the Quest 2’s bulky outer shell – despite us initially being unconvinced the gadget will look exactly like the rumors.
Meta has also leaked the device itself. The Quest 3S name appeared in its digital software store, and CTO Andrew Bosworth seemingly showed it off by accident on Threads. These leaks aren’t concrete, but as the saying goes: where there’s smoke there’s fire.
With Meta Connect 2024 approaching (it runs from September 25 to September 26), and set to be the venue for the Quest3S reveal, we’ve rounded up the latest news and rumors here.
Meta Quest 3S: Latest news
Ahead of the Quest 3S launch we’ve seen two rival VR headsets drop that are worth your attention. The Pico 4 Ultra is a Quest 3 rival with impressive yet affordable motion trackers for full-body VR, though the software it boasts is a lot less impressive.
Meanwhile the new Vive Focus Vision is a high-end model that’ll support DisplayPort tech later this year to deliver high-quality PCVR experiences alongside standalone VR games and apps.
Meta Quest 3S: Price
As the Meta Quest 3S isn’t yet official – meaning Meta itself hasn’t confirmed (or denied) its existence even if it has leaked it – so we can’t say for certain how much it’ll cost or when it will be released.
But given the 3S is billed as a super-affordable model meant to fully replace the Oculus Quest 2 we hope it’ll launch at around $299 / £299 / AU$479, which is where the Quest 2 started life.
That said, a $399 / £399 / AU$599 might be more realistic, and it would still be cheaper than the $499 / £479 / AU$799 you’d spend on the full-on Meta Quest 3. Though we would be a little disappointed if it cost this much.
Meta Quest 3S: Release date
As for the Quest 3S’ release date, Meta usually likes to release new hardware in October following a Meta Connect keynote. This year’s Connect is scheduled for September 25 to 26, so a reveal there seems plausible with a release following soon after.
We had predicted the Quest 3S would make its debut as part of this year’s Meta Quest Gaming Showcase, however Meta has forgone a showcase. Instead its reveals have been incorporated into other Summer Game fest events which leave it no room to make a hardware announcement before Connect.
Of course, this assumes the Meta Quest 3S even launches at all. Despite leaks suggesting it’s near to release it might need some more time in the oven before it’s done.
The Oculus Quest 2 was briefly at a record low price ($200 / £200) as part of this year’s Amazon Spring Sale following a permanent price cut to $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$439.99, and a couple of months ago it saw another permanent price drop to $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$359.99.
This could be a sign Meta and retailers are trying to shift stock ahead of the last-gen device being phased out before a Quest 3S release.
Meta Quest 3S: Specs and design
Specs-wise, rumors suggest the Meta Quest 3S will boast a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset from Qualcomm, two tracking ring-less controllers, and the same two 4MP RGB passthrough cameras from full-color mixed reality we’ve seen from the Quest 3.
It’ll also borrow some downgrades from the Quest 2. This includes a screen resolution of just 1,832 x 1,920 pixels per eye instead of the Quest 3’s 2,064 × 2,208 pixels; it’ll use a bulky fresnel lens system instead of the Quest 3’s slimmer pancake lenses; and rather than gradual IPD (Inter Pupillary Distance) adjustments we’ll returned to the Quest 2’s three set positions.
Exclusive: Meta Quest 3s (preliminary naming)Project Codenames: Ventura, PantherI have seen multiple devkits and spoken to several people familiar with the device. Here are all the things I have learned and feel comfortable sharing in a single infographic: pic.twitter.com/OFFURqVODSMay 20, 2024
Another leak suggested it’ll have 128GB or 256GB of storage (instead of the 128GB or 512GB in the Quest 3) and confirmed the 1,832 x 1,920 pixel per eye displays. Something seems off about this leak, though, in terms of the assets shared and the included info that could help identify the leaker (which seems like a bad idea for anyone trying to avoid the wrath of Meta’s well-funded legal team).
As such, color us skeptical when it comes to the details highlighted in this post.
Meta Quest 3 Lite may actually be “Meta Quest 3S”u/LuffySanKira on Reddit claims they were shown these graphics in what was likely a Meta User Research Zoom meeting.I can’t verify them, but I CAN verify Meta does feedback sessions like these. pic.twitter.com/DjkZnVMP6bMarch 16, 2024
And in general, until Meta showcases the headset we don’t know for sure if any of these details are accurate.
Meta Quest 3S: Software
Assuming the Meta Quest 3S has the same or similar mixed-reality capabilities as the Meta Quest 3, we expect it’ll have access to all of the same software – which is to say, everything available on the Quest platform’s Store (and many other games and apps available through sideloading via third-party digital storefronts).
If it has significantly worse specs – such as the Quest 2’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 chipset, which seems unlikely – there may be some software that launches in the future that would be exclusive to the full Quest 3. But we expect and the leaks suggest that the Quest 3S would use a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 so, hopefully, this won’t be an issue.
We’ll have to wait and see what Meta announces.
Meta Quest 3S: What we want to see
As for what we want to see from the Meta Quest 3S VR headset – acknowledging that its lower price will necessitate lower specs than the Meta Quest 3 proper – our ideal setup would boast the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset and 8GB of RAM as the Quest 3, though 6GB of RAM like the Quest 2 is, admittedly, a lot more likely.
Storage options would start at 64GB – as frankly, you don’t need a lot of storage space for VR apps, especially if you’re willing to download and delete them as necessary – and the displays would be a lower resolution than the Quest 3. Leak suggested the 1,832 x 1,920 pixels per eye displays are returning, and considering this is what’s used by the Quest 2 it does make some sense.
Pancake lenses seem like an easy win from a design and image-quality perspective (especially if Meta opts for poorer displays) though we might be out of luck here, and mixed-reality passthrough that’s at least as high-quality as the Quest 3 is also a must.
Beyond this, one rogue cost-cutting measure could see Meta scrap or change its Quest 3 controllers. However, given how much developers have emphasized to us the importance of VR handsets having a standard design (and the fact that many Quest titles don’t support hand-tracking) this might be a step too far.
