Meta is expected to launch a new low-cost virtual reality headset this year to replace the Meta Quest 2, the world’s most popular virtual reality headset. As has become a tradition for many electronics, we already have a good idea of what this new mixed reality headset will look like, its specifications, and more before Meta’s official announcement.
Here’s what we know and suspect about the upcoming “Lite” version of the Quest 3 that Meta is reportedly calling the Quest 3S.
3S Quest Confirmation
We received confirmation of the Quest 3S’s name towards the end of May, which came from Meta himself. The information came from a seemingly accidental Meta App Store page for the VR yoga app Alo Moves XR.
Meta lists supported devices under the control button of all Quest VR games and apps. For a brief time, the Alo Moves XR page listed support for the Meta Quest 3, Quest Pro, and Quest 2, as expected. However, the list started with a VR headset that we’ve never heard of from Meta, the Quest 3S. I managed to take a screenshot with my phone before Meta removed that mention above. Note the underlines under all headsets except the Quest 3S.
Quest 3S price and release date
The most likely release date for the Quest 3S is September 25, 2024 at Meta Connect, or shortly after. However, that’s not expected to happen for another three months.
With the Quest 2 out of stock at Meta and marked down everywhere else, there’s a good reason to launch the Quest 3S early. However, we don’t expect that to happen since there’s no competition at this price point. Meta could also use this opportunity to get a glimpse of how the Quest 3 will sell as the cheaper option.
Meta’s Quest 2 is the only reasonable choice for fast, fun VR gaming in the $300 range, which is why it’s a highly regarded device for the coming months on our list of the best VR headsets.
Pricing hasn’t been confirmed, but we can make some inferences based on the Quest 2’s price. Meta started selling the 128GB Quest 2 for $300 in 2020. In 2022, the price jumped to $400, before the $500 Quest 3 launches in 2023.
Meta recently dropped the price of the Quest 2 to $250, and then continued to drop it to $200. If the price increases before a more expensive product launches, it makes sense that the price reduction signals the arrival of a new low-cost headset. It makes sense to clear out old inventory to make room for the new products.
Based on the Quest 2’s starting price and the Quest 3S’s leaked specs, we’d expect Meta to sell the Quest 3S for $300. That would make Meta’s most affordable headsets competitive with the best budget gaming consoles.
Quest 2 out of stock
Given that all signs point to the Quest 3S being a low-cost version of Meta’s powerful Quest 3 VR headset, it seems likely that it will replace the aging Meta Quest 2.
Quest 2 inventory began to drop around early 2024, with the 256GB models going out of stock on Meta’s online store. More recently, Meta has indicated that all configurations are out of stock.
There are still a few Quest 2 units left at Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers, but most are displaying low stock alerts. Given that the Quest 3 sells for $500, that leaves a gap at the low end that Meta needs to fill soon.
3S Quest Leaked
We’ve only seen one major leak of the Quest 3S, but it revealed so many details that we already have a good idea of its likely capabilities and how it might compare to the Quest 2 it replaces and Meta’s top headset, the Quest 3.
Meta enthusiast Luna shared images from Redditor LuffySanKira on X (formerly Twitter), which were allegedly captured during a Meta user research call. The Reddit post is no longer available. The images appear to be marketing material for a Meta Quest 3S, complete with images and specs.
This leak suggests that the Meta Quest 3S will use the same high-performance chip as the Quest 3, the same Touch Plus controllers, color passthrough cameras for mixed reality, and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Two configurations are common for Quest headsets, and the Quest 3S could have 128GB and 256GB storage options.
To match the Quest 2’s price, the Quest 3S has to make some compromises. Leaked images suggest the Quest 3S will have the same display resolution as the Quest 2 on a single panel, with three positions to offset the lenses based on the spacing between your eyes and the old Fresnel lenses. The Quest 3 has continuous IPD lens adjustment, dual displays, and brighter pancake lenses.
Quest 3S without controllers?
Some speculate that Meta could sell the Quest 3S without controllers, which would further reduce the price. Meta could offer a $200 or $250 Quest 3S as a media consumption device to replace an iPad or even a TV. The virtual screens of a VR headset can fill a room, creating a cinematic experience anywhere.
Since VR is primarily associated with gaming, controllers are required for most games. While the Quest 3S comes without controllers, it’s almost certain that Meta will offer a bundle that includes controllers and sell them separately. Even the work-focused Quest Pro comes with controllers and can play the same VR games as a Quest 2.
Quest 2 Owners Upgrade
While Meta is paving the way for a new device, millions of Quest 2 owners have not upgraded to the Quest 3. The Quest 2 is by far the best-selling VR headset on the market.
That’s why Meta continues to update this popular gaming headset with new system software, new features, and performance improvements.
However, performance tweaks can’t help much, and supporting a four-year-old device is holding back game developers who want to take advantage of the latest and greatest technology.
Meta needs Quest 2 owners to upgrade to a newer, more powerful headset to incentivize developers to create longer VR games with larger, richer environments, higher-resolution graphics, and colorful mixed-reality scenes.
This is already the case with some upcoming VR games like Batman: Shadow of Arkham that require a Meta Quest 3. It won’t even work on the Quest Pro 2022. If the Quest 3S has good mixed reality capabilities and the same processor as the Quest 3, it should work with games that would otherwise be exclusive to the Quest 3.