Unlike the Meta Quest 3, the Quest 3S doesn't have a 3.5mm audio port. In other words, you won't be able to connect wired earbuds to the Quest 3S, but it's not necessary. The audio that emanates from the Quest 3S is crisp and sharp, and it gets sufficiently loud, too.

I reviewed Meta's Quest 3S, a budget VR headset with mixed reality and AI, to test its quality and value as an upgrade or a first headset.

The Meta Quest 3S contains many of the Quest 3’s signature features, including color passthrough, speedy performance, a compact design, and a robust app library — all for $299. Though it’s not as comfortable to wear and its battery life isn't the best, its low starting price makes it an enticing product for those curious about VR.

The Meta Quest 3S, an affordable alternative to Mark Zuckerberg’s class-leading Meta Quest 3 headset is now hitting stores, offering a superb entry point to the world of virtual, augmented and mixed reality experiences, without the burden of a gigantic price tag attached.

The 3S is the latest ‘mixed reality’ headset from Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook. It costs £289.99, the cheapest Quest yet, but Meta insists it has very similar specs and performance to the £469.99 Meta Quest 3 that launched in October 2023.

We finally got confirmation last week that the Meta Quest 3S is real, and it's arriving this year. As a few rumors hinted though, it does mean that Meta is discontinuing some of its existing headsets to make room for a more affordable model.

It's by far the best value in VR. But the question is, should you upgrade to it or go with Meta's even better model?

Looking at the Meta Quest 3S it’s easy to get the sense that it’s just the 128GB Samsung Galaxy S24 to the Meta Quest 3’s 512GB Samsung Galaxy S24; because it sort of is. In many fundamental ways the two devices are identical.

If you crave peace and limited distractions, consider investing in the Meta Quest 3S to achieve fitness goals in the privacy of your home.