Half-upgraded, half-unchanged
To hit the identical $299 worth level as in 2020, Meta made its sort-of next-gen Quest 3S headset emulate the Quest 2’s quirks, ignoring a number of the pricier Quest 3 upgrades like pancake lenses. Regardless of feeling and looking like a Quest 2, the Quest 3S has some delicate (and not-so-subtle) perks for long-time VR followers.
For
Full-color, high-resolution combined realityNext-gen Snapdragon chip with 33% extra RAMNew material strap designDual flood LEDs for low-light gamingUpgraded Contact Plus controllers
Towards
No upgrades to lenses, decision, or FoVNo extra 3.5mm jack
Not useless but
Despite the fact that Meta would 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 adjustments to the decision, lenses, and core design.
For
Matches 3S lens, decision, and discipline of viewHas a 3.5mm jack for headphonesStill helps practically all the identical gamesWide array of equipment
Towards
Final-gen chipset cannot deal with Quest 3 exclusives & enhancementsSlower loading timesLow-res, B&W passthroughOlder 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 similar to Quest 2 homeowners after they first attempt it on. Its upgrades have extra to do with {hardware} than design, however they’re nonetheless important.
The Quest 2 bought 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’ve got 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.
As a way to maintain the Quest 3S at an reasonably priced worth, Meta held again a number 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 possibly can regulate the lenses to any of three interpupillary distances (IPD): 58mm, 63mm, or 68mm. We’ve got a information on the right way 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 would not completely match these presets.Â
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 case you examine the Quest 3 vs. Quest 2 for visuals, the newer headset hits 2,064 x 2,208, or about 25 PPD, giving a big enhance.
Discipline 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 plain, but it surely’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 problem.
Despite the fact that each headsets use Fresnel lenses, Meta discovered a technique 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 tougher line alongside the entrance edge the place the Quest 2 is extra curved.
When it comes to weight, the Quest 2 weighs 11 grams much less, or about 0.4 ounces. You are not going to note the distinction; both means, you are going to need an Elite Strap to stability the load higher.
The obvious design distinction is the digicam array; we’ll discuss combined actuality subsequent, however strictly from an aesthetic perspective, the Quest 3S places its cameras entrance and middle in a enjoyable triangular sample, whereas the Quest 2 digicam 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 may have a battery pack. And on that be aware, the Quest 3S has its USB-C charging port in the correct arm, whereas the Quest 2 port is straight on the headset physique.
Each headsets have a default material strap, and our Quest 3S tester stated that it “felt similar” to the Quest 2 by way of consolation and help. That stated, there may be one distinction: the Quest 2 strap had a single broad high strap with velcro, whereas the Quest 3S high strap branches off in a Y form to cup each side of your head, theoretically stopping it from sliding to 1 facet as simply.
Both headset nets you about 2.5 hours of battery life in very best circumstances (based on Meta), however we anticipate your Quest 2 capability has dipped naturally during the last 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 don’t seem to be that completely different from the Quest 2 by way of monitoring accuracy, however they not want the enormous monitoring rings and so they have improved TruTouch Haptics for video games.
The most important 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 an alternative of 6GB.Â
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, larger refresh charges, dynamic lighting and shadows, and decreased fog, in addition to different adjustments 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 out a particular patch, you may see decreased loading occasions for video games and apps.
Additionally, there are some upcoming Quest video games which are 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 may see Quest 3 video games that do not work on Quest 2 as a result of they require full colour combined actuality, corresponding to Laser Dance, Good day Dot, Dwelling Room, and Starship Residence. This additionally applies to software program options like Meta AI with Imaginative and prescient, because it requires high-res passthrough.
On that matter, the Quest 2 and Quest 3S share the identical variety of customary VGA sensors for inside-out monitoring, however in relation to passthrough the Quest 2 makes use of a black-and-white digicam 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 colour. Whereas combined actuality mode had some points within the 12 months for the reason that Quest 3 launched, the v64 replace improved colour and backbone and the v66 replace eliminated warping round palms 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 means, so this could theoretically make the Quest 3S higher for hand monitoring — although we recommend ready for our full overview for affirmation.
One other fascinating Quest 3S addition is 2 flood LEDs “for illumination and extra dependable hand interactions throughout environments and lighting circumstances.” In principle, this might allow you to play video games in dimly-lit rooms with no worry that the headset will fail to trace your actions; we could not check this within the normally-lit Meta demo house, so you may have to attend for our overview 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 would 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 serious unfavourable in our books. It makes utilizing a Quest 3S headset a lot much less isolating, so you are not continuously taking it on and off in the event you’re a mum or dad or pet proprietor having to place out fires.
Whereas the Quest 2 nonetheless has new video games coming in day by day, 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 case you’re unsure whether or not the Quest 3S does sufficient for you as a Quest 2 proprietor, you could need to learn our Quest 3S vs. Quest 3 information as an alternative and select whether or not it is value the additional value 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. Preserve your Quest 2 in the event you’re an occasional VR participant who’s joyful together with your present expertise, or select the Quest 3 as an alternative, in the event you want higher decision.
Not useless but
You should buy a used Quest 2 if it is particularly low-cost, but it surely is smart to decide on the Quest 3S in order for you it to last more. Nonetheless, it was a preferred 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 an alternative is full colour combined actuality.