Meta Quest 3S drops to $296.79 at Amazon after price hike
Amazon is selling the 128GB Meta Quest 3S for $296.79, putting it near its 2024 launch price after Meta raised the headset to $349.99.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Amazon has listed the 128GB Meta Quest 3S for $296.79, The Verge reported, bringing Meta’s lower-cost VR headset back near its original launch price. The discount stands out because the Quest 3S debuted in 2024 at $299.99 before Meta raised the price this year to $349.99, according to The Verge.
The Verge described the Amazon listing as about $53 off the current price, or 15% below the newer $349.99 level. The same 128GB model was listed at $350 at Best Buy, according to The Verge’s deal roundup.
The Quest 3S is Meta’s entry-level standalone VR headset, The Verge reported. It can run without a wired connection during use, though it still needs charging, and it supports games and apps from Meta’s Quest store.
What the Quest 3S offers
According to The Verge, the headset sits between the older Quest 2 and the more expensive Quest 3. The publication said the Quest 3S uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor as the Quest 3, along with the same controllers and cameras with color passthrough video.
The Verge said the 3S keeps fresnel lenses, the type used in the Quest 2 generation, while the Quest 3 uses thinner pancake lenses. The Quest 3 also offers higher image quality, helped by its optics and higher resolution per eye, according to The Verge.
The Quest 3S display resolution is 1832 by 1920 pixels per eye, The Verge reported. In its review summary, The Verge said the headset is faster and more comfortable than the Quest 2, although its screen resolution has not improved over that older model.
Games and PC streaming
The Verge said the Quest 3S can play a broad selection of Quest store titles, including Batman: Arkham Shadow. The publication also cited Supernatural as part of the headset’s software appeal, with the note that the fitness app is expected to relaunch.
Users can also stream Steam games wirelessly from a PC to the headset, The Verge reported. The publication said that approach can add latency, a trade-off for avoiding a wired connection.
How the deal compares
The current Amazon price does not match the lowest levels previously seen for the Quest 3S, according to The Verge. The publication said the headset had fallen to $249 around Black Friday.
Even so, The Verge said the Amazon offer is among the better current prices for a new unit after Meta’s price increase. For buyers comparing Meta’s headsets, The Verge framed the Quest 3S as the cheaper option that keeps several Quest 3 internals while giving up the pricier model’s better lenses and sharper image.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.