Half-upgraded, half-unchanged
To hit the identical $299 value level as in 2020, Meta made its sort-of next-gen Quest 3S headset emulate the Quest 2’s quirks, ignoring a few of the pricier Quest 3 upgrades like pancake lenses. Regardless of feeling and looking like a Quest 2, the Quest 3S has some refined (and not-so-subtle) perks for long-time VR followers.
For
- Full-color, high-resolution combined actuality
- Subsequent-gen Snapdragon chip with 33% extra RAM
- New material strap design
- Twin flood LEDs for low-light gaming
- Upgraded Contact Plus controllers
In opposition to
- No upgrades to lenses, decision, or FoV
- No extra 3.5mm jack
Not useless but
Regardless that Meta does not promote the Quest 2 anymore, most VR builders nonetheless code their video games for the Quest 2 first — focusing on its thousands and thousands of customers — earlier than upscaling them to the Quest 3S and three. For the reason that Quest 3S makes use of the Quest 2 as its template, you will not discover modifications to the decision, lenses, and core design.
For
- Matches 3S lens, decision, and discipline of view
- Has a 3.5mm jack for headphones
- Nonetheless helps almost all the identical video games
- Big range of equipment
In opposition to
- Final-gen chipset cannot deal with Quest 3 exclusives & enhancements
- Slower loading instances
- Low-res, B&W passthrough
- Older controller design
We’re evaluating the Meta Quest 3S vs. Quest 2 for anybody with the 2020 headset contemplating an improve. Regardless of the upper quantity, the Quest 3S will really feel just about equivalent to Quest 2 homeowners once they first attempt it on. Its upgrades have extra to do with {hardware} than design, however they’re nonetheless vital.
The Quest 2 offered over 20 million items due to its affordability and wire-free design; that holds true with the Quest 3S, which prices the identical ($299), weighs about the identical, nonetheless lacks any tethers, and brings again the identical gaming library — now with enhanced graphics.
Based mostly on our Quest 3S hands-on, we have now an actual sense of what Quest 2 homeowners ought to anticipate from the brand new headset. Let’s break down all the key similarities and variations.
| Class | Meta Quest 3S | Meta Quest 2 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 |
| RAM | 8GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB ($299); 256GB ($399) | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| Show | 1,832 x 1,920 LCD; 773 PPI; 20 PPD | 1,832 x 1,920 LCD; 773 PPI; 20 PPD |
| FOV | 96º H; 90º V | 96º H; 90º V |
| Lens | Fresnel | Fresnel |
| Combined actuality | 4MP RGB (18 PPD) | B&W Mono (4 PPD) |
| Depth sensor | Software program | Software program |
| Slimness (excluding facial interface) | 73.9mm | 93.1mm |
| Weight | 514g | 503g |
| Battery | 4,325mAh | 3,640mAh |
| Controllers | Contact Plus | Contact |
With a view to preserve the Quest 3S at an inexpensive value, Meta held again a few of the Quest 3 upgrades over the Quest 2. Due to that, the Quest 3S and Quest 2 share many traits:
Fresnel lenses: Whereas the Quest 3 upgraded to pancake lenses that make the headset 30% slimmer, the Quest 3S makes use of the identical Fresnel lens, which requires extra empty house between lens and show. It additionally creates a noticeable “candy spot” when utilizing both headset; you are extra more likely to flip your head to go searching a VR world as a result of the periphery seems blurrier than it does with pancake lenses.
IPD lens adjustment: You’ll be able to modify the lenses to any of three interpupillary distances (IPD): 58mm, 63mm, or 68mm. We now have a information on learn how to measure your IPD, which additionally mentions which you could slide the lenses between these settings — round 60.5mm or 65.5mm — in case your IPD does not completely match these presets.
LCD decision: Meta makes use of the identical LCD within the Quest 2 and Quest 3S, each sharing 1,832 x 1,920 pixels per eye, which equals 773 pixels per inch or about 20 pixels per diploma. In the event you evaluate the Quest 3 vs. Quest 2 for visuals, the newer headset hits 2,064 x 2,208, or about 25 PPD, giving a big increase.
Subject of view: Each the Quest 3S and Quest 2 have a 96º horizontal view and 90º vertical view; they fall in need of the Quest 3 (110º horizontal; 96º vertical).
Wi-fi, modular design: That is stating the apparent, nevertheless it’s honest to level out that each the Quest 3S and Quest 2 work solely on battery energy, in contrast to most different VR headsets just like the Valve Index, PSVR 2, or Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. Additionally, Meta designs the Quest as a way to detach the strap or facial interface while not having to unscrew something or void your guarantee. This lets you set up a greater accent with little or no issue.
Regardless that each headsets use Fresnel lenses, Meta discovered a solution to make the Quest 3S 20% slimmer than the Quest 2, or about 19mm / 0.75in. thinner. Meta additionally made the Quest 3S look flatter, with a more durable line alongside the entrance edge the place the Quest 2 is extra curved.
By way of weight, the Quest 2 weighs 11 grams much less, or about 0.4 ounces. You are not going to note the distinction; both manner, you are going to need an Elite Strap to steadiness the load higher.
The obvious design distinction is the digital camera array; we’ll discuss combined actuality subsequent, however strictly from an aesthetic perspective, the Quest 3S places its digital camera entrance and heart in a enjoyable triangular sample, whereas the Quest 2 digital camera sensors are smaller, remoted recesses.
Frustratingly, Meta selected to drop the three.5mm headphone jack from the Quest 2 and three within the 3S; your solely choices are to make use of the built-in audio system or wi-fi earbuds with a USB-C receiver that permits for charging passthrough in case you might have a battery pack. And on that word, the Quest 3S has its USB-C charging port in the proper arm, whereas the Quest 2 port is immediately on the headset physique.
Each headsets have a default material strap, and our Quest 3S tester stated that it “felt equivalent” to the Quest 2 by way of consolation and assist. That stated, there’s one distinction: the Quest 2 strap had a single broad prime strap with velcro, whereas the Quest 3S prime strap branches off in a Y form to cup either side of your head, theoretically stopping it from sliding to at least one aspect as simply.
Both headset nets you about 2.5 hours of battery life in excellent situations (in response to Meta), however we anticipate your Quest 2 capability has dipped naturally over the past 4 years. The older headset has 684mAh much less capability, however the Quest 3S makes use of extra battery life due to issues like the brand new cameras, LEDs, and additional RAM. Regardless, anybody who purchased a Quest 2 battery pack will in all probability need one for the Quest 3S.
As for controller design, the Quest 3S makes use of the identical next-gen Contact Plus controllers because the Quest 3. They are not that totally different from the Quest 2 by way of monitoring accuracy, however they now not want the enormous monitoring rings they usually have improved TruTouch Haptics for video games.
The largest Meta Quest 3S improve is in efficiency. It makes use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, whereas the Quest 2 makes use of the XR2 Gen 1. It additionally has 8GB of RAM as a substitute of 6GB.
Virtually talking, the Quest 2 and Quest 3S share many of the similar tons of of Quest video games. Nonetheless, on the Quest 3S, lots of your outdated Quest 2 titles get graphical enhancements; builders can patch video games so as to add 4K textures, increased refresh charges, dynamic lighting and shadows, and lowered fog, in addition to different modifications on the developer’s discretion.
Not all Quest 2 video games get Quest 3 and 3S patches — we all know of about 100 video games with them — however even with no particular patch, you will see lowered loading instances for video games and apps.
Additionally, there are some upcoming Quest video games which might be unique to the Quest 3S & 3 as a result of the Quest 2’s CPU cannot deal with them. AAA titles like Alien: Rogue Incursion and Batman: Arkham Shadow will give Quest 2 homeowners FOMO until they improve, and we may see extra Quest 3 exclusives because the Quest 2’s chip turns into more and more out of date and extra customers swap to newer headsets.
Extra generally, you will see Quest 3 video games that do not work on Quest 2 as a result of they require full shade combined actuality, comparable to Laser Dance, Hey Dot, Residing Room, and Starship Dwelling. This additionally applies to software program options like Meta AI with Imaginative and prescient, because it requires high-res passthrough.
On that subject, the Quest 2 and Quest 3S share the identical variety of customary VGA sensors for inside-out monitoring, however on the subject of passthrough the Quest 2 makes use of a black-and-white digital camera with lower than 1MP decision, displaying simply 4 PPD in ugly, blurry grey once you’re trying out your environment.
The Meta Quest 3S obtained the identical 4MP cameras because the Quest 3, delivering 18 pixels per diploma in full shade. Whereas combined actuality mode had some points within the yr because the Quest 3 launched, the v64 replace improved shade and backbone and the v66 replace eliminated warping round arms and objects. The Quest 3S advantages from all these tweaks straight out of the gate, so that you needn’t take off the headset as typically because the Quest 2 to test in with household or stroll round the home.
Meta says that these twin 4MP cameras allow depth monitoring through software program. The Quest 3 has an precise {hardware} depth sensor, however the Quest 2 wasn’t designed to trace depth the identical manner, so this could theoretically make the Quest 3S higher for hand monitoring — although we propose ready for our full evaluation for affirmation.
One other attention-grabbing Quest 3S addition is 2 flood LEDs “for illumination and extra dependable hand interactions throughout environments and lighting situations.” In concept, this might allow you to play video games in dimly-lit rooms with no concern that the headset will fail to trace your actions; we may take a look at this within the normally-lit Meta demo house, so you will have to attend for our evaluation to see how properly this works.
The Meta Quest 3S is objectively higher than the Quest 2; the one query is whether or not the upgrades are sufficient so that you can spend one other $299 (or $399 for doubled storage).
Meta does not promote the Quest 2 anymore; you might be able to discover one used for reasonable, however the lack of mixed-reality {hardware} is a significant detrimental in our books. It makes utilizing a headset a lot much less isolating, so you are not always taking it on and off in the event you’re a mother or father or pet proprietor having to place out fires.
Whereas the Quest 2 nonetheless has new video games coming in daily, their variations look dated, run at a decrease refresh fee, and take longer to load. The Quest 3S nonetheless has the identical decision and lenses, true, however even in the event you’re solely seeing a candy spot, it’s going to nonetheless look and run higher than earlier than.
In the event you’re unsure whether or not the Quest 3S does sufficient for you as a Quest 2 proprietor, it’s possible you’ll wish to learn our Quest 3S vs. Quest 3 information as a substitute and select whether or not it is value the additional price for a higher-res, crisper, and wider view.
Half-upgraded, half-unchanged
Select the Meta Quest 3S to maintain entry to the latest Quest titles, particularly these with mixed-reality modes or high-end graphics. Maintain your Quest 2 in the event you’re an occasional VR participant who’s completely satisfied together with your present expertise, or select the Quest 3 as a substitute, in the event you want higher decision.
Not useless but
You should buy a used Quest 2 if it is particularly low-cost, nevertheless it is smart to decide on the Quest 3S if you need it to last more. Nonetheless, it was a well-liked VR headset for a motive, which is why the Quest 3S largely saved its design. The principle motive to decide on the Quest 3S as a substitute is full shade combined actuality.
