If you've been eyeing VR gaming but the price has been a barrier, you're in luck! The Meta Quest 3S is now on sale with a tempting $30 discount for 2025, available on both the 128GB and 256GB models. This deal not only slashes the cost but also includes a free copy of the highly-rated *Batman: Arkham Shadow* VR game and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. According to IGN's 8/10 review, Dan Stapleton praised the game, stating, "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 offers a free-to-play, physics-based VR experience where players can create, play, and share in a sandbox environment. With a focus on safety, the game employs AI content filtering and human moderators to maintain a secure and positive atmosphere. Check it out at Meta.
Meta Quest 3S 128GB VR Headset
Originally priced at $299.99, the Quest 3S is now available for $269.00 at Amazon, marking a 10% savings. The Quest 3S surpasses the Quest 2 in every aspect, yet maintains the same price point. It also incorporates many features from the pricier Quest 3, such as the enhanced Touch controllers, upgraded SnapDragon APU, and full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 review, Gabriel Moss highlighted the headset's strengths, noting, "Raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and snappy Touch Plus controllers make the Quest 3S a fantastic standalone VR headset that also brings entry-level mixed-reality gaming to the masses for – arguably – the very first time."
The standout feature of this deal is the ability to play the Quest 3S completely untethered. This means you can enjoy games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without needing a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5. At this price point, you won't find another standalone VR headset that offers such freedom.
How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?
The Quest 3S is priced at $200 less than the $500 Quest 3, a 40% reduction. To achieve this competitive price, certain compromises were necessary. Here's how they compare:
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)
In essence, the Quest 3S is nearly identical to the Quest 3 but with downgraded optics. However, since both use the same processor, the lower resolution can reduce the load on the APU, potentially enhancing in-game performance and contributing to the longer battery life.
For the price, the Quest 3S offers exceptional value compared to the Quest 3, making it a better choice for most gamers, particularly if the Quest 3 was out of your budget. It's also a clear upgrade from the previous generation Quest 2.
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