Whether you’re looking to create an eye catching experience for an event, training new employees with Virtual Reality (VR) training, or showcasing your product to potential investors, choosing a VR headset which fits your needs is not always a clear and easy decision.
The Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S cater to slightly different audiences within the VR space. Balancing price against performance, both devices build on Meta’s expertise in virtual and mixed reality, yet they diverge in key areas that influence user experience and budget considerations. Below, we compare their pros and cons to help you decide.
Features at a glance
While under the hood the processing power of the two headsets is identical as they both make full use of Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, there are a number of differences to consider:
Meta Quest 3
Meta Quest 3S
Superior Visual Fidelity: Dual-display setup with a per-eye resolution of 2064 x 2208 and pancake lenses, providing a clearer, sharper image and a wider field of view (~110°).
Slim Design: It’s 30% slimmer than the Quest 2 and less bulky than the 3S, offering better comfort for extended sessions.
Shorter Battery Life: Despite a larger battery, the advanced visuals reduce runtime to about 2.2 hours*.
Depth Sensor: This addition enhances mixed-reality experiences by enabling better room mapping and object occlusion.
Lens Customisation: With adjustable interpupillary distance (IPD) between 53–75 mm, most users can comfortably find a visually clear setting.
Larger Storage Option: The Quest 3 comes with up to 512GB of storage, ensuring ample space for apps and games.
Higher Price: Starting at £469.99, it’s significantly more expensive than the Quest 3S.
Lower Display Quality: Fresnel lenses and a single display sporting a resolution of 1,832 x 1,920 pixels per eye, result in more visual artifacts and a narrower field of view (~96°)
Heavier Design: While it’s 20% slimmer than the Quest 2, It is larger and less comfortable than the Quest 3, especially for extended use.
Longer Battery Life: The Quest 3S’s simpler hardware extends battery life to about 2.5 hours*.
No Depth Sensor: The lack of this feature slightly diminishes mixed-reality capabilities.
Limited Customisation: The fixed interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment options (three presets – 58, 63, and 68 mm) reduce visual clarity for some users.
Smaller Internal Storage: The Quest 3S has options for both 128GB and 256GB of storage.
Budget-Friendly: Starting at £289.99 (128GB), it’s vastly cheaper than the Quest 3, making it an attractive option.
*Battery life is measured on general usage, and is dependent on various factors such as device settings, usage, age of battery, Bluetooth usage and wireless conditions.
What does this mean for you?
Ultimately there is no wrong answer here, and the decision will depend heavily on your use case. For example, if you’re showcasing new products to potential investors/customers, the improved visual clarity and fidelity of the Quest 3 could be essential; the shorter battery life and increased cost per headset is unlikely to be important here.
If you’re looking to provide VR or MR training for a large number of employees/customers, the reduced cost of the Quest 3S could be a deciding factor; the lower resolution of the display will not be as noticeable to inexperienced VR users, and the extended battery life could be the ideal trade off for training sessions.
Content within your experience could also be an important factor, as while they both have the same processing power, the lower resolution of the Quest 3S provides an easier path to achieving a smooth frame rate for users. Content will be customised to suit your needs, but if you require a large, busy environment the Quest 3S may provide a smoother experience.
Conclusion
If cost is no barrier, the Quest 3 is a superior headset with improved visual quality and comfort. However, in the business space the use case is important and often project budgets need to be considered; in many cases the Quest 3S is entirely suitable, especially when dealing with VR newcomers where visual quality is not the biggest concern.
FAQs
Is the visual quality of the Quest 3S sufficient for business or training applications?
Yes, the Quest 3S’s lower resolution can still provide a smooth frame rate for training and business applications, especially for users new to VR who may not notice the reduced visual fidelity.
Which device is more suitable for extended VR sessions?
The Quest 3 is slimmer and more comfortable for prolonged use. However, the Quest 3S has slightly longer battery life (up to 2.5 hours compared to the Quest 3’s 2.2 hours) due to its simpler hardware.
Which headset is better for mixed reality (MR) experiences?
The Quest 3 is better for MR experiences due to its depth sensor, which enables more accurate room mapping and object occlusion. The Quest 3S lacks this feature, slightly limiting its MR capabilities.
What are the pricing differences between the Quest 3 and Quest 3S?
The Quest 3 starts at £469.99, significantly higher than the Quest 3S, which begins at £289.99 for the 128GB model. This makes the Quest 3S more appealing for budget-conscious buyers.
Can both headsets run the same apps and games?
Yes, both headsets utilize the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, ensuring identical processing power and compatibility with the same app and game library.
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Date
Jan 9, 2025