Tag: VR

Meta sent me their new Meta Quest 3s headset, a more budget-friendly version of Meta’s popular Quest 3 that was released last year. You can see my full video review here.

The Quest 3s is fully self-contained, meaning it doesn’t require any external hardware to run its software. Like its more expensive sibling, it supports mixed reality, blending virtual elements with the real world using an impressive pass-through feature.

At $299 for 128GB of storage (compensated affiliate link), it’s $200 cheaper than the regular Quest 3. But the 3S shares the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor and 8GB of RAM, making it capable of running the same software at the same level of detail. It even comes with the same controllers, which are comfortable and run on AA batteries. Meta has also made sure that accessories, such as the Elite strap from the Quest 3, are compatible with this model.

However, the key difference is in the display. The Quest 3s has a lower resolution than the regular Quest 3, similar to what we saw with the Quest 2. Specifically, it has an 1823 x 1920 resolution per eye, while the Quest 3 has a higher 2064 x 2208 resolution.

The Quest 3s uses Fresnel lenses vs. the pancake lens on the 3, and the field of view is slightly narrower. While the 3s offers a 96-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical view, the Quest 3 goes wider at 110 degrees horizontally and 96 degrees vertically. But when you’re in the middle of a VR game, it’s not something you’ll constantly notice.

For those who haven’t used VR before, this probably won’t be a big issue. But if you’re a more experienced user, the difference in image quality might stand out. That said, the experience is still solid, especially considering the price.

For those who wear glasses, Meta includes a spacer to make the fit more comfortable. Meta also offers prescription lenses that screw into the headset, which could be worth considering if you need correction.

The Meta Quest 3s has a fixed interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment system, offering three preset positions for users to align the lenses with their eyes. The IPD range on the 3s is 58mm to 68mm, which covers most people. However, the regular Quest 3 features a dial that allows for more fine-tuned control over the lens spacing, extending the IPD range to 71mm. If your eyes fall outside the typical range, the adjustable IPD on the Quest 3 might offer a more comfortable experience.

The 3S has a similar onboard stereo speaker system as the Quest 3 – but the 3S lacks a headphone jack for attaching higher quality audio options.

Setting up the headset is straightforward. As soon as you put it on, you’re immersed in mixed reality, where the real world is visible through the headset. I ran a free game called “First Encounters,” which showcases the mixed reality capabilities by mapping out the space you’re in and integrating objects like furniture and walls into the gameplay. It’s an easy way to get acquainted with what mixed reality can do.

On the performance side, I tested several games, and they all ran smoothly, whether they were built for the Quest 1, Quest 2, or Quest 3. Titles that benefit from higher graphical fidelity of the Quest 3 platform will look better on the regular Quest 3 due to its sharper display, but the 3s still holds its own. Like the Quest 3 the 3S also works with PC VR using Meta’s Airlink for wireless connections, via a direct cable connection, or using apps like Steam Link and Virtual Desktop.

Meta says battery life averages around two and a half hours, which feels accurate based on my experience. If you need more battery life, there are add-ons like straps with built-in batteries. You can also connect the headset to your PC for gaming, either via USB-C or wirelessly through options like AirLink or Steam Link. However, if PC gaming is your main focus, you might lean toward the regular Quest 3 for better visual clarity.

The Meta Quest 3s offers a solid entry into VR and mixed reality at an affordable price point. While it might not have the premium display quality of the Quest 3, it’s an excellent choice for casual users or anyone new to VR. With a growing library of games and experiences in the Meta app store in addition to PC VR titles, there’s plenty to explore.

The Meta Quest 3 VR headset, the successor to the popular Quest 2 is now available and is the subject of my latest review. You can find a Quest 3 headset here (compensated affiliate link).

In terms of design, the Quest 3 is notably more compact than its predecessor. The balance of the device has been improved, which could potentially offer users a more comfortable experience during extended use. The display quality has seen significant enhancements, with 30% more resolution than the prior edition. Each eye now gets a 2064×2208 image.

The device comes in two storage variants: 128 GB and 512 GB. The choice between the two will largely depend on the user’s app library. Most games at the moment max out around 10 gigabytes or so with many much smaller than that. Unfortunately Meta does not include an SD card slot so if you want more storage you’re going to pay a much higher price tag.

One of the standout features of the Quest 3 is its mixed reality capabilities. When I first donned the headset I was presented not with a virtual image but a 3D camera view of my environment. Although it was not at the same resolution of my actual eyes, I did not experience any disorientation and was able to walk around the room naturally.

The Quest 3’s Mixed Reality sensors can map out the user’s environment, identify potential obstacles, and set boundaries for safer use when using virtual reality games.

There are also games and apps that run in a mixed environment. Meta includes a pack-in title called “First Encounters” where the player’s environment is blended with a virtual one as little creatures invade the room and portions of it get destroyed to reveal a virtual scene of an alien planet.

But there’s not much yet that supports the Meta Quest 3 directly. Although the headset has a more powerful processor along with these new mixed reality features, the Quest 3 launched without many games enhanced for it. In fact Meta doesn’t even offer a means of filtering their store by Quest 3-only titles.

The controllers for the Quest 3 have been redesigned and are now smaller and more ergonomic. The also lack the plastic ring found on the prior iterations which should make them less prone to damage. Additionally, the Quest 3, like its predecessors, offers hand tracking, allowing users to interact with the virtual environment without the need for physical controllers at all. But not all apps and games support this feature.

For media consumption, the Quest 3 offers various environments, from virtual theaters to computer desktop replications. YouTube and Netflix have their own apps for consuming content on their platforms. But with battery life a short 2 hours or so, it may be hard to get through an entire movie.

The Quest 3 can also connect to a more powerful PC via a USB-C cable or over its Wi-Fi “Airlink” feature and run more robust PC titles. In my initial testing this feature was not working properly, but after I published my video it began working after a software update. The added resolution makes a big difference. Half Life Alyx, a real VR masterpiece, looks spectacular on the Quest’s new display.

The Meta Quest 3 is an amazingly engineered piece of technology, especially considering the hardware limitations its designers have to work with. Unfortunately consumers have yet to adopt VR tech at the levels they have with game consoles like the Playstation and Xbox. While the new Quest brings several enhancements over its predecessor Meta has longed struggled getting consumers to actually use the headsets after purchasing them.

Still when people are looking for a fun VR headset the Quest line are the only ones I recommend. They’re simple to use, completely self contained, but also have the capacity to work well with a PC too.