Meta Quest 3S VR Headset Review: ‘New frontier in gaming’
The future of gaming is here with Meta’s Quest 3S headset, which is surprsingly affordable.
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Gaming has come a long way since spending my nights playing Nintendo 64 back in my high school years.
Those hours spent on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time feel like a lifetime ago when compared to the immersive virtual reality worlds now at our fingertips.
That’s because VR is no longer the futuristic fantasy you’d see in a Black Mirror episode, rather it’s arrived into the real (and virtual) world. Meta’s VR headsets are leading the charge and the latest addition to the line-up, the Meta Quest 3S, has been out in Australia for a few months now.
Positioned as a budget-friendly alternative to its high-end counterparts, it really puts to bed the assumption that premium VR experiences need to come with a hefty price tag.
From just $449 AUD, the Meta Quest 3S is priced to compete.
Compared to other gaming consoles on the market, the Meta Quest 3S is actually extremely affordable when you consider the Nintendo Switch OLED sits in a similar price point of $449, while the latest and premium PlayStation 5 Pro is just shy of $1200.
Not only does the Quest 3S hold its own from a pricing standpoint, it also offers an entirely unique experience that these traditional gaming platforms simply can’t match, as well as paving the way for the future of immersive VR gaming.
Essentially, it’s really a new frontier that’s only going to get better and better as the technology develops. It feels like we’re stepping closer to a Black Mirrorinspiredfuture, where digital and physical realities blur in ways we’ve only imagined.
But is it the right choice for you and does it deliver? Let’s break it down.
1 MINUTE REVIEW: META QUEST 3S MIXED REALITY HEADSET
Meta Quest 3S 128GB Mixed Reality Headset, from $449 (down from $499) at Amazon Australia
What You Need to Know
The Meta Quest 3S is a budget-friendly, stand-alone VR headset that doesn’t need a PC or console to operate. It offers access to an extensive library of VR games and experiences through the Meta Store (there’s hundreds, and even more on the way).
Designed for comfort, there are adjustable velcro straps and lens settings for a personalised fit. While the headset charges via USB-C, the controllers still rely on AA batteries.
The Meta Store offers a mix of free and premium games, with top-tier titles priced up to $60. New users also get a 30-day free trial to explore the platform before committing to purchases, and there’s a very reasonable refund policy on titles if you find a game is not right for you.
Beyond gaming, the Meta Quest 3S is also capable of handling fitness apps, virtual social spaces and productivity tools, and teases what’s to come with Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for the Metaverse.
The Quest’s hand-tracking capabilities allow for a more natural interaction with the digital environment, enhancing both gameplay and non-gaming experiences. Mixed reality features let you blend your real-world surroundings with virtual elements, making it a step toward the future of augmented reality.
HOW I TESTED THE META QUEST 3S VR HEADSET
I put the Meta Quest 3S through its paces for an entire month, testing out its performance from a gameplay perspective. I have also previously used the Meta Quest 3 headset (a more expensive version, starting at $799) and was able to make some general comparisons in terms of graphics, responsiveness and overall experience.
I tried out a mix of action, simulation and fitness games to see how well the headset adapted to various playstyles. Performance in motion-heavy games like Beat Saber and First Encounters definitely highlights the effectiveness of the Quest 3S’s tracking and responsiveness.
FULL REVIEW: META QUEST 3S VR HEADSET
- Setting Up the Meta Quest 3S
- Display and Headset
- Gameplay Experience
- Battery Life & Charging Port
- Price
- Verdict: Should You Buy the Meta Quest 3S?
- Meta Quest 3S Accessories
SETTING UP THE META QUEST 3S VR HEADSET
Setting up the Meta Quest 3S was easy, but it takes ages. I honestly wasn’t a fan of the long set up time – which was a few hours – and largely down to my internet connection.
After powering on, you’ll need to adjust the velcro straps and lens settings for the best fit. Connecting to Wi-Fi and setting up an account through the Meta Horizon app is mandatory before accessing the Meta Store.
Creating an avatar during set up gives a fun glimpse of how VR is shifting towards a digital-first future, where your presence in virtual spaces will become increasingly personalised.
While intuitive, the entire process including downloading updates takes nearly an hour before gameplay can begin. Compared to the plug-and-play nature of consoles like the PS5 Pro or Nintendo Switch, this might feel tedious for some users. I know it was for me.
Inside the box, you’ll find the white Meta Quest 3S headset, a pre-installed facial interface, a glasses spacer for users who wear reading glasses, two Meta Quest Touch Plus controllers, two AA batteries, two wrist straps, a USB-C power adaptor, and a USB-C charging cable.
While a small detail, I liked that I didn’t have to go out and purchase AA batteries, that’s a good move from Meta to include those from the get go.
One of its standout features of the Meta Quest 3S is its stand-alone functionality, which operates independently to a PC or a dedicated console.
All you need is a solid Wi-Fi connection (for software downloads and updates), and the Meta Horizon app set up on your smartphone, with an expanding library of games and applications in the Meta Store. A caveat though – just ensure you have strong Wi-Fi speeds. I found this slowed me down a little when I was really keen to get things going.
DISPLAY & HEADSET
The display quality of the Meta Quest 3S is impressive for the price you’re paying.
That’s largely down to the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, and while it lacks the OLED resolution of other headsets on the market, its high-resolution LCD screen manages to deliver sharp, crisp and vivid visuals.
Initially, the headset was not great on my eyes, but you’re able to make some minor manual adjustments to change the fit and positioning of the lenses.
At 514 grams, the Quest 3S is pretty comfortable to wear and didn’t leave me with any neck strain or headaches.
GAMEPLAY EXPERIENCE
Across the course of a few weeks I tested out several games, including Batman: Arkham VR, the extremely fun Beat Saber, and First Encounters, which is a Quest 3-exclusive.
These were either a blend of mixed reality games (incorporating the real world environment) or total immersion, and were nothing short of spectacular.
Batman: Arkham VR transported me into Gotham City, allowing me to solve puzzles and physically interact with objects (such as opening doors and turning on a radio). One of the coolest parts of this game was looking down at my arms and seeing them completely covered in tattoos.
Then there’s Beat Saber, which remains one of the most popular games on the console. It has to be seen to be believed. You feel like you’re inside the movie Tron and it’s basically a motion-tracing music game, where you’re put through a series of high-energy, rhythm-based challenges.
Meanwhile, First Encounters is pushing the boundaries of VR storytelling and gaming in the best way. In this game, you literally see a spaceship come down from the ceiling, with little aliens coming out of the walls. Your challenge is to zap as many of them as possible within the time frame.
I also spent some time exploring the Meta Horizon Worlds app, which as the name suggests, is an expansive virtual reality space, and is designed to let you play games collaboratively with friends and other users online.
There’s an endless menu of experiences to try out, but for the purpose of this review, I spent some time dodging ghosts in Haunted High, and completed mini-challenges in another horror-inspired game called Creepy Cabin. Given the immersive nature of the games, there were definitely some moments where I got little scares and shocks.
The “wow factor” with all of these titles is undeniable, and lays the path of what’s to come when it comes to VR gaming, which is only going to get better.
BATTERY LIFE & CHARGING PORT
The Meta Quest 3S features a USB-C charging port for fast, convenient recharging.
Obviously just about everything now uses USB-C so I was pleased I didn’t have to run out to buy another set of new cables. Battery life on the Meta Quest 3S averages around three hours per full charge, which is pretty standard for stand-alone VR headsets.
Personally, I wouldn’t play longer than one to two hours per gaming session using this headset (or with any other gaming product to be honest), but gamers looking for longer stints may find themselves reaching for the charger more frequently.
PRICE
With a starting price of $449, the Meta Quest 3S offers exceptional value compared to other gaming consoles, keeping in mind the Nintendo Switch OLED retails for $479, and at the other end of the spectrum sits the PlayStation 5 Pro at $1199.
Not only is the hardware more affordable, but games on the Meta Store are reasonably priced, with premium titles capping at about $60.
I like that there are a lot of free titles, alongside a free 30-day trial. Plus Meta will offer a refund on games within 14 days if you’ve played less than two hours worth of gameplay, which are all pretty big ticks in my book.
The cost of entry into VR gaming has never been more accessible.
VERDICT: SHOULD YOU BUY THE META QUEST 3S?
If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to step into the world of VR, the Meta Quest 3S is a no-brainer.
While the set up process takes some time and the controllers still require AA batteries, these are minor setbacks in an otherwise impressive package.
Its immersive gameplay, comfortable design, intuitive controls, and solid game library make it an excellent choice for both newcomers and seasoned VR gamers. With hundreds of games to choose from, you’ll never be out of options and for $449, it’s hard to find a better entry point into virtual reality.
META QUEST 3S ACCESSORIES
There’s a wide range of accessories available for the Meta Quest 3S VR headset, to up your gaming to the next level.
Charging Docks
- Meta Quest Compact Charging Dock, $99 at Amazon Australia
- Crspexil Charging Dock for Meta Quest 3S/Quest 3, $75.98 at Amazon Australia
Carry Cases
- Meta Quest Compact Carrying Case — Works with Meta Quest 3/3S, $76.46 at Amazon Australia
- Carrying Case Compatible with Meta Quest 3 /3S, Protector Travel Storage Case, $36.09 at Amazon Australia
- Hard Carrying Case for Meta Quest 3S, $32.99 at Amazon Australia
Cables & Wall Chargers
- Meta Quest Link Cable, $116.03 at Amazon Australia
- BoostCharge Braided USB-C to USB-C Cable 60W, $24.95 at Belkin
- BoostCharge 3 Port USB-C Wall Charger with PPS 67W + USB-C to USB-C Cable, $89.95 at Belkin
- BoostCharge USB-C to USB-C Cable 240W, $34.95 at Belkin
- BoostCharge USB-C PD 3.0 PPS Wall Charger 25W, $29.95 at Belkin
- BoostCharge USB-C to USB-C Cable 100W, $29.95 at Belkin
Controllers
Headstraps
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