Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 3S
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Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 3S compares the Meta Quest 3, a standalone virtual and mixed reality headset from Meta Platforms released in October 2023, with the Meta Quest 3S, a lower-priced standalone headset from Meta released in October 2024. Both use the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip with 8 GB of memory, run Meta Horizon OS and ship with the same Touch Plus controllers, so they run the same Quest software.[1][2] The main hardware differences are in the optics and display: Quest 3 has pancake lenses, 2064 x 2208 pixels per eye and a manufacturer-stated field of view of 110° horizontal by 96° vertical, while Quest 3S has Fresnel lenses, 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye and 96° by 90°.[3] Quest 3 also has a depth sensor, continuous lens-spacing adjustment and a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which Quest 3S lacks; Quest 3S adds two infrared flood illuminators and a physical Action Button.[1][4] As of October 2026, Meta's US store lists Quest 3S at US$349.99 (128 GB) and US$449.99 (256 GB), and Quest 3 at US$599.99 (512 GB), prices that took effect on 19 April 2026.[3][5]
Specifications at a glance
| Specification | Meta Quest 3 | Meta Quest 3S |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Meta Platforms | Meta Platforms |
| Announced | 1 June 2023[6] | 25 September 2024, at Meta Connect 2024[7] |
| Released | 10 October 2023[8] | 15 October 2024[9] |
| Status (October 2026) | On sale (512 GB only)[3] | On sale (128 GB and 256 GB)[3] |
| US launch price | US$499.99 (128 GB), US$649.99 (512 GB)[8] | US$299.99 (128 GB), US$399.99 (256 GB)[2] |
| US price since 19 April 2026 | US$599.99 (512 GB) | US$349.99 (128 GB), US$449.99 (256 GB)[5] |
| Type | Standalone VR headset with color passthrough | Standalone VR headset with color passthrough[1] |
| Chip | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2[1] |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB[1] |
| Storage options (current) | 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB[3] |
| Display | Two LCD panels | One LCD panel[4] |
| Resolution per eye | 2064 x 2208 | 1832 x 1920[1] |
| Pixel density (Meta figures) | 1218 PPI, 25 PPD | 773 PPI, 20 PPD[3] |
| Refresh rates listed by Meta | 72, 90, 120 Hz; up to 207 Hz through standard APIs on Horizon OS v2.7 or later, 240 Hz in developer mode with display scaling | 72, 90, 120 Hz; no rates above 120 Hz[3][10] |
| Field of view (manufacturer figure) | 110° horizontal, 96° vertical | 96° horizontal, 90° vertical[1] |
| Lenses | Pancake | Fresnel[3] |
| Lens spacing (IPD) adjustment | Continuous; supported IPDs of 53-75 mm | Three presets: 58, 63 and 68 mm[1][11][4] |
| Eye relief for glasses | Built-in stepped adjustment | Included spacer[4] |
| Passthrough | Color stereoscopic, 4 MP cameras (18 PPD), with depth sensor | Color stereoscopic, 4 MP cameras (18 PPD), no depth sensor[1] |
| Cameras and emitters | 2 RGB, 4 IR tracking cameras, depth sensor | 2 RGB, 4 IR tracking cameras, 2 IR flood LEDs[4] |
| Tracking | Head and hand tracking, inside-out | Head and hand tracking, inside-out[1] |
| Eye tracking | No | No[4] |
| Controllers | Touch Plus (AA battery, about 30 hours per Meta), included | Touch Plus (AA battery, about 30 hours per Meta), included[1] |
| Audio | 2 speakers, 3.5 mm jack | 2 speakers, no 3.5 mm jack[1] |
| Passthrough toggle | Double-tap on the side of the headset | Dedicated Action Button[9] |
| Proximity sensor | Yes | No[12] |
| Weight (as reported) | 515 g | 514 g[9][4] |
| Battery capacity (press figures) | 5,060 mAh (Road to VR); 4,879 mAh (Tech Advisor) | 4,324 mAh[4][13] |
| Battery life (Meta developer comparison, 2026) | About 2 hours | About 2.5 hours[1] |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2[1] |
| Ports | USB-C, plus contact pads for the optional charging dock | USB-C[4] |
| Operating system | Meta Horizon OS (Android 14) | Meta Horizon OS (Android 14)[1] |
| PC VR | Meta Quest Link (cable or Air Link) | Meta Quest Link (cable or Air Link)[1] |
| Minimum room-scale play area | 6.5 x 6.5 ft | 6.5 x 6.5 ft[1] |
Display and optics
The optical system is where the two headsets differ most. Quest 3 uses two LCD panels behind pancake lenses, and Meta's June 2023 announcement describes a 40% slimmer optic profile than Meta Quest 2, measured without the foam facial interface.[6][4] Quest 3S uses a single LCD panel behind Fresnel lenses. Road to VR's review describes these as the same lenses as Quest 2, with added glare and a small sweet spot, and says Quest 3S has the same display resolution as Quest 2.[12] Because Quest 3S renders with the newer chip, Road to VR found a modest sharpness gain over Quest 2 even so.[12]
Meta lists 25 pixels per degree for Quest 3 and 20 for Quest 3S, and 1218 against 773 pixels per inch.[3] The field of view figures in the table are Meta's own specifications; Road to VR's comparison of the two describes the Quest 3's field of view as slightly wider and its sweet spot as larger.[14]
Lens spacing works differently on each model. Quest 3 has a continuous adjustment, and UploadVR and Road to VR list supported interpupillary distances of 53-75 mm.[11][4] Quest 3S has three preset positions. Meta's help page for Quest headsets with three lens positions maps an IPD of 61 mm or smaller to the 58 mm setting, 61 to 66 mm to the 63 mm setting, and 66 mm or larger to the 68 mm setting.[15] MIXED advised buyers to try a Quest 3S first, writing that an eye distance "exactly in the middle of two values" can produce a blurry image.[16] For glasses wearers, Quest 3 has a built-in eye-relief adjustment, while Quest 3S includes a spacer.[4][9]
Both headsets list 72, 90 and 120 Hz refresh rates for consumers, and Meta's developer documentation also lists 80, 96 and 100 Hz modes for both.[3][10] From Horizon OS v2.7 (September 2026), Quest 3 apps can request 144, 180, 200 and 207 Hz through the standard APIs, and developer mode allows up to 240 Hz with display scaling. Meta states that Quest 3S "uses a different display panel that does not support rates above 120 Hz."[10][17]
Performance and hardware
Meta describes Quest 3S as having "the same power and performance as Quest 3": both use the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 and 8 GB of RAM.[2] Road to VR's review found that Quest 3S runs the same games at the same graphics settings, with Quest 3 still producing the sharper image.[12] Tech Advisor's comparison called performance across the two "as close to identical as possible."[13]
Storage is the other hardware split. Quest 3 launched in 128 GB and 512 GB versions; UploadVR reported that the 128 GB model was discontinued at the same time as the September 2024 price cut, and Meta now sells Quest 3 only with 512 GB.[8][18][3] Quest 3S is sold with 128 GB or 256 GB.[3]
Tracking and input
Both headsets use inside-out tracking with two color cameras and four infrared tracking cameras, and both support controller-free hand tracking.[1][4] Quest 3S adds two infrared flood LEDs.[4] In UploadVR's October 2024 test, Quest 3 could not initialize head or hand tracking in total darkness, while Quest 3S kept tracking hands, and its head tracking worked near walls with some minor jitter. In low light the difference was more subtle, but hand tracking on Quest 3S initialized faster and handled fast motion better.[19]
Both ship with Touch Plus controllers, which Meta lists with TruTouch haptics, one voice coil motor and AA batteries rated for about 30 hours.[1] Neither headset has eye tracking.[4] To switch between virtual reality and passthrough, Quest 3S has a dedicated Action Button on the underside, while Quest 3 uses a double tap on the side of the headset.[9][12]
Mixed reality and passthrough
Meta lists the same passthrough cameras for both: color stereoscopic, 4 MP, 18 pixels per degree.[1] Quest 3 adds a depth sensor. UploadVR reported that Quest 3S has no depth projector, which Quest 3 uses to improve room meshing during mixed reality setup.[9] Meta's 2024 Quest 3S announcement said the cheaper headset has "the same mixed reality capabilities and fast performance as Meta Quest 3."[7]
Software and content
Both headsets run Meta Horizon OS, which Meta's developer comparison lists as based on Android 14, and both use the Meta Horizon Store; MIXED described the catalog of supported games and software features as identical.[1][16] Meta's developer blog for the Quest 3S launch said the shared chip and memory mean Quest 3S has the same compatibility as Quest 3.[2] Meta's Quest 3S announcement named Batman: Arkham Shadow among upcoming Quest 3 and 3S exclusives.[7]
Software updates mostly apply to both. Horizon OS v2.7 (September 2026) added a Gamepad Mode that emulates Xbox gamepad inputs on Touch Plus controllers for Quest 3 and Quest 3S; the extended refresh rates from the same update are exclusive to Quest 3.[17] Both can run PC VR software through Meta Quest Link over a cable or through Air Link.[1]
Comfort, weight and battery
The two headsets weigh almost the same: UploadVR and Road to VR list 515 g for Quest 3 and 514 g for Quest 3S.[9][4] MIXED described the Quest 3 design as slimmer and less front-heavy, and called it more comfortable.[16] Tech Advisor wrote that the two weigh nearly the same and feel alike on the face.[13] Road to VR found the soft strap supplied with Quest 3S uncomfortable for long sessions and noted that its attachment point is largely identical to Quest 3's, so most Quest 3 third-party straps fit it.[12]
Road to VR and Tech Advisor both report a larger battery in Quest 3. Road to VR's 2024 table lists 5,060 mAh and 2.2 hours for Quest 3, against 4,324 mAh and 2.5 hours for Quest 3S; Tech Advisor gives 4,879 mAh for Quest 3. Meta's developer comparison does not list battery capacity.[4][13][1] Meta's 2026 developer comparison gives about 2 hours for Quest 3 and about 2.5 hours for Quest 3S.[1] In Tech Advisor's own use, both lasted about two hours.[13] Quest 3S lacks the pogo-pin contacts used by the Quest 3 Charging Dock, so it does not work with that dock; Meta released a separate Compact Charging Dock for it.[9] Quest 3S also lacks a proximity sensor, so the display does not switch on and off automatically when the headset is put on or removed.[12]
Price and availability
Quest 3 went on sale on 10 October 2023 at US$499.99 for 128 GB and US$649.99 for 512 GB.[8] When Meta announced Quest 3S on 25 September 2024, it cut the 512 GB Quest 3 from US$649.99 to US$499.99.[7] Quest 3S launched on 15 October 2024 at US$299.99 for 128 GB and US$399.99 for 256 GB, with preorders opening at the announcement in the 23 countries where Meta then sold headsets.[2][9]
On 16 April 2026, Meta announced price increases effective 19 April 2026, citing a global rise in memory chip prices. The increase also applied to refurbished units; accessory prices did not change.[5]
| Region | Meta Quest 3 (512 GB) | Meta Quest 3S (128 GB) | Meta Quest 3S (256 GB) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States, before 19 April 2026 | US$499.99 | US$299.99 | US$399.99 | [7][2] |
| United States, from 19 April 2026 | US$599.99 | US$349.99 | US$449.99 | [5] |
| United Kingdom, from 19 April 2026 | £549.99 | £319.99 | £409.99 | [20] |
| Euro prices, from 19 April 2026 | €619.99 | €359.99 | €469.99 | [20] |
| Germany, before and after 19 April 2026 | €550 to €620 | €330 to €360 | €440 to €470 | [21] |
Meta's US comparison page still listed these US prices on 14 October 2026.[3] Retailer discounts and bundles can differ from list prices. On 24 June 2025, Meta and Microsoft released a limited Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition at US$399.99, with a 128 GB headset in Xbox colors, an Xbox Wireless Controller, the Elite Strap and three-month Meta Horizon+ and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate memberships, sold through meta.com and Best Buy in the US and Argos and EE in the UK.[22]
Reviews comparing the two
In its October 2024 buying guide, Road to VR recommended Quest 3S to people new to VR, calling it "the most affordable option to find out if you're someone who will use VR for the long term." It recommended Quest 3 to previous PC VR, PSVR or Quest 2 owners, writing that for Quest 2 owners "Quest 3S isn't going to look that much better."[14]
MIXED's comparison treated performance and mixed reality as equivalent and wrote that "Quest 3 features the best lenses currently available for VR headsets." It suggested the 128 GB Quest 3S for buyers who want the lowest price and Quest 3 for tech enthusiasts willing to spend more.[16]
Tech Advisor's November 2024 comparison concluded that "clarity and immersion are collectively weaker on the 3S," but that for most buyers "the cheaper Meta Quest 3S will be the better value VR headset purchase."[13] All three were published before the April 2026 price increase.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 "Compare devices". Meta Horizon OS Developers. Meta. 2026-09-30. https://developers.meta.com/horizon/resources/compare-devices/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Start Building with Meta Quest 3 and 3S". Meta Horizon OS Developers. Meta. 2024-10-15. https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/start-building-meta-quest-3s-3-launch-spatial-sdk-2D-mixed-reality/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 "Compare Headsets Quest 3S vs. Quest 3". Meta Store. Meta. https://www.meta.com/quest/compare/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 Scott Hayden (2024-09-25). "Quest 3S vs Quest 3 vs Quest 2 Compared with Detailed Specs". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/quest-3s-quest-3-quest-2-specs-compared/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "An Update on Meta Quest Pricing". Meta Quest Blog. Meta. 2026-04-16. https://www.meta.com/blog/update-meta-quest-pricing/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Meta Quest 3 Coming This Fall + Lower Prices for Quest 2". Meta Newsroom. Meta. 2023-06-01. https://about.fb.com/news/2023/06/meta-quest-3-coming-this-fall/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 "Introducing Meta Quest 3S, Our Most Affordable Mixed Reality Headset". Meta Newsroom. Meta. 2024-09-25. https://about.fb.com/news/2024/09/meta-quest-3s-our-most-affordable-mixed-reality-headset/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Meet Meta Quest 3, Our Mixed Reality Headset Starting at $499.99". Meta Newsroom. Meta. 2023-09-27. https://about.fb.com/news/2023/09/meet-meta-quest-3-mixed-reality-headset/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 David Heaney (2024-09-25). "Quest 3S Is Official: XR2 Gen 2 Chipset, Mixed Reality And Fresnel Lenses For $300". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/meta-quest-3s-officially-announced/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Set Display Refresh Rates". Meta Horizon OS Developers. Meta. 2026-10-01. https://developers.meta.com/horizon/documentation/unreal/unreal-change-display-refresh-rate/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 David Heaney (2023-09-27). "Quest 3 Full Specs - Compared With Quest 2, Quest Pro, Pico 4 & Apple Vision Pro". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/quest-3-specs/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Ben Lang (2024-10-17). "Quest 3S Review - Value That Can't Be Beat, With the Same Rough Edges as Its Siblings". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/meta-quest-3s-review-value-that-cant-be-beat/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Alex Walker-Todd (2024-11-19). "Meta Quest 3S vs Meta Quest 3: Which Headset is Best?". Tech Advisor. https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2490328/meta-quest-3s-vs-meta-quest-3-review.html. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Ben Lang (2024-10-11). "Quest 3S or Quest 3, Which to Buy? Our No-nonsense Recommendation". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/quest-3s-vs-quest-3-compare-how-to-decide-which-to-buy/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ "Learn about IPD and lens spacing on Meta Quest". Quest Help. Meta. https://www.meta.com/help/quest/261777072346131/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Tomislav Bezmalinovic (2024-10-15). "Should you buy Quest 3S or Quest 3? Here's what you need to know". MIXED. https://mixed-news.com/en/buy-quest-3s-or-quest-3/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Luna (2026-09-01). "Quest 3 Gets Up To 240 Hz Refresh Rate & Gamepad Emulation". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/qhorizon-os-2-7-adds-gamepad-emulation-and-207-hz-display-mode-240-hz-in-dev-mode/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ David Heaney (2026-04-16). "Meta Is Increasing The Price Of Quest 3 & Quest 3S". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/meta-quest-3-quest-3s-price-hike-memory-crisis/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ David Heaney (2024-10-15). "Quest 3S Has Better Low-Light Head & Hand Tracking Than Quest 3". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/quest3s-hand-tracking-better-than-quest-3/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Laurent Giret (2026-04-16). "Meta is Raising the Prices of its Quest 3 and Quest 3S Headsets". Thurrott. https://www.thurrott.com/?p=335010. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ Tomislav Bezmalinović (2026-04-17). "Meta increases prices for Meta Quest". heise online. https://www.heise.de/en/news/Meta-increases-prices-for-Meta-Quest-11261319.html. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ Lori Wright (2025-06-24). "Unveiling the Limited Edition Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition". Xbox Wire. Microsoft. https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2025/06/24/meta-quest-3s-xbox-edition/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.