Meta Quest 3S expected to hit shelves this year, priced at around $300
According to recent reports, Meta is preparing to launch its new Quest 3S VR headset, which is expected to hit the market this year. What's particularly interesting is that this headset is being touted as an "entry-level" VR headset, which means it's likely to be more affordable than some of its predecessors.
Based on online leaks and promotional images, the Meta Quest 3S headset features a triangular camera/sensor layout on the front, which includes two 4MP RGB cameras, four infrared tracking cameras, and two infrared illumination sensors for depth sensing. The headset also has an operation button for switching visual passthrough or customizing user settings.
Compared to the Quest 3, the Quest 3S is thicker and less curved than the Quest 2. The headset is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, which is the same as the previous generation. The resolution is lower than the Quest 3, at 1832 x 1920 per eye, and it comes with 128/256GB of storage space options.
The headset has a 90/120 Hz refresh rate and uses a Fresnel lens with 3-position pupillary distance adjustment and a spacer for glasses. It also supports the use of Quest 3's Touch Plus controller, although users need to purchase it separately.
Although the exact price of the Meta Quest 3S is not yet confirmed, industry insiders suggest that it will be priced under $300, similar to the Quest 2. For comparison, the Quest 3 currently retails at $465.
In fact, the Meta Quest 3S was listed as one of the supported devices in the Quest app store in June this year. However, Meta has since removed this information, and the Quest 3S is no longer listed.
Industry insiders have revealed that Meta plans to collaborate with Tencent to release a Chinese version of the Quest 3S headset in the fourth quarter of this year. Tencent will provide technical support and help localize and translate content for the Quest store, while Meta will receive most of the device revenue and Tencent will receive most of the content revenue.
According to analysts, since the price of the Quest 2 was lower than its predecessor and the previous generation was discontinued after the release of Quest 2, many users are still using Quest 2 and not upgrading to the more expensive Quest 3. This "entry-level" Quest 3S headset is likely Meta's strategic response to this situation.
If the Quest 3S retains its Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip and mixed reality functions while maintaining a price tag around $300, it is expected to sell significantly better than the Quest 3 and become a top choice for many new users.
