Summary
- Ad may have mistakenly leaked a cheaper Meta Quest 3S model with superior benefits over Quest 2 at $299.99.
- Meta Quest 3S may bridge gap between Quest 2 and 3 with better processing power but same display.
- Launch of Meta Quest 3S aims to attract more users to VR with lower price point.
It appears that an Amazon ad on Peacock has mistakenly leaked the existence of a significantly less expensive Meta Quest headset. An attentive viewer caught an ad for a new Meta Quest model that seems like it wasn't intended to air just yet.
Numerous rumors have been swirling for months regarding the existence of a lower-price model of the Meta Quest line of virtual reality headsets. The rumors have indicated that this model will essentially replace the Meta Quest 2, providing some superior benefits over that iteration while launching at a surprisingly affordable price.
Rumor: Meta Quest 3S Won't Include a Feature Every Other Quest Has
A new leak regarding the upcoming Meta Quest 3S virtual reality headset indicates that it's missing a feature every other Quest includes.
Reddit user Vast_Front259 spotted an Amazon ad that was played during a Peacock show that advertises the new Meta Quest model as being available for just $299.99 USD. The brief ad shows a man using the current Meta Quest 3 headset for work, and then cuts to an end screen that displays two distinct models of the Meta Quest side-by-side. In the fine print beneath, one can see that the ad's disclaimer indicates that only the "Meta Quest 3S" 128GB model is available for $299.99. The render of the product seen on the left matches the numerous leaks and Meta CEO VR headset sighting that happened earlier in 2024.
What to Expect From the Meta Quest 3S
Until Meta officially reveals the specifications for the Meta Quest 3S, which will likely happen during the Meta Connect event on September 25, VR fans should take this information with a grain of salt, as it's all from leaks. However, numerous reliable leakers have indicated that the Meta Quest 3S will be something of a mid-step betwen the Meta Quest 2 and 3. It will have superior processing power to the Meta Quest 2, making its performance more in line with the Meta Quest 3. However, the product will use the same style of lenses and display as the Meta Quest 2, so the visuals won't be as crisp as they are on the higher-priced standard Meta Quest 3.
Fans seem to be very excited about the prospect of this Meta Quest launch. While many have already been enjoying the higher-spec Meta Quest 3 or Meta Quest Pro, this is seen as an attempt to get more users to try VR for the first time. The price point is likely going to mean selling the units at a loss for Meta, but the headsets have never really been profitable for the company. It recoups some of its losses through the purchase of software on its marketplace, but has also seen large expenses in its VR development. However, with Batman: Arkham Shadow arriving this fall and numerous other highly-praised VR games like Resident Evil 4 already available, the gamble may well pay off for Meta.
Meta Quest 3
- Brand
- Meta
- Resolution (per eye)
- 2064x2208
- Display Type
- LCD
- Storage
- 128 GB, 512 GB
- Connectivity
- WiFi 6E, USB Type-C
The Meta Quest 3 is the latest and greatest mixed-reality headset that brings a host of improvements compared to the previous generation. The Quest 3 has higher resolution displays per eye with support for 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rates.
It uses a more powerful 2nd generation Snapdragon XR2 processor that is capable of running games like Asgard's Wrath 2 natively. It comes with a full-color passthrough, improved controllers, and a slimmer form factor.
- Battery Life
- 2-3 hours
- Tracking Technology
- Direct Touch hand tracking
- Audio
- Stereo speakers
- Weight
- 515 grams
- Refresh rate
- 90Hz, 120Hz (experimental)
- Processor
- Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2
- RAM
- 8GB