If you've been eyeing VR gaming but the price has been a barrier, you're in luck. The Meta Quest 3S is now available with the first discount of 2025, offering a $30 reduction on both the 128GB and 256GB models. This deal not only slashes the cost of entry but also includes a copy of the critically acclaimed *Batman: Arkham Shadow* VR game and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. IGN's Dan Stapleton praised the game, giving it an 8/10 and noting that "Batman: Arkham Shadow makes most of the Arkham series' defining gameplay work respectably well in VR, and its mystery story pays off."
Free to Play VR Sandbox Game: DigiGods on Meta Quest
DigiGods is a free-to-play, physics-based VR game that offers a sandbox environment for players to create, play, and share. With a strong emphasis on safety, the game employs AI content filtering and human moderators to maintain a positive and secure community. Experience it on Meta.
Meta Quest 3S 128GB VR Headset
$299.99 save 10%
$269.00 at Amazon
The Meta Quest 3S represents a significant upgrade from the Quest 2 without increasing the price. It incorporates many features from the more expensive Quest 3, including the advanced Touch controllers, the upgraded Snapdragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 review, Gabriel Moss highlighted the headset's "raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and snappy Touch Plus controllers," making it an outstanding standalone VR headset that introduces entry-level mixed-reality gaming to a broader audience.
What sets this deal apart is the ability to play the Meta Quest 3S completely untethered. Enjoy games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without needing a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5. At this price point, it's unmatched by any other standalone VR headset.
How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?
The Quest 3S retails for $200 less than the $500 Quest 3, which reflects some necessary compromises to achieve its competitive price. Below are the key similarities and differences:
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 lens vs. pancake lens
- Lower FOV (96°/90° vs 104°/96°)
- Smaller storage capacity (128GB vs 512GB)
- Longer battery life (2.5hrs vs 2.2hrs)
Despite the downgraded optics, the Quest 3S benefits from the same processor, which at a lower resolution, may enhance game performance and contribute to its longer battery life.
For its price, the Quest 3S offers superior value compared to the Quest 3 and is a more suitable choice for most gamers, particularly those for whom the Quest 3 was unaffordable. When compared to the Quest 2, the choice becomes even clearer.
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