Meta’s subsequent headset is Quest 3S. Here is all the pieces we have heard about Quest 3S, together with the way it doubtless compares to Quest 3 and Quest 2.
There’s been sturdy proof over the previous 15 months that Meta is getting ready to launch a less expensive various to Quest 3 to interchange Quest 2 in its lineup.
The S right here is being utilized in the identical sense as Xbox Sequence S, to imply a less expensive mannequin, not in the identical sense Apple used to make use of for iPhones.
In March 2023 a leaked Meta {hardware} roadmap talked about this cheaper headset, and final week the official Quest Retailer listed “Meta Quest 3S”, a reputation seen in an obvious leak three months in the past purporting to indicate the headset’s design.
Learn on for a full breakdown of each dependable Quest 3S leak and rumor to date, revealing the compromise it makes to realize a cheaper price.
Why Is A Cheaper Headset Wanted?
Quest 2 launched at $100 decrease than the unique Oculus Quest, so Meta discontinued it instantly. Quest 3 then again is $500, so Meta has continued to promote Quest 2.
Since Quest 3 launched Meta has repeatedly lower the worth of Quest 2, first to $250 after which in March to only $200. In April it even lower Quest 2 official accent costs by greater than 50% in comparison with their unique costs.
In February, the upper storage 256GB mannequin of Quest 2 went out of inventory fully and was delisted from all retailers, suggesting that manufacturing of at the least that mannequin has ended.
Quest 2 Is Now Simply $200
Quest 2’s official worth has been lower once more, now to only $200. And when purchased from Walmart, it consists of $50 Quest Retailer credit score.
In latest weeks we have additionally seen the announcement of the primary main VR video games coming to Quest 3 however not Quest 2, together with Alien: Rogue Incursion from Survios and Batman: Arkham Shadow from Meta-owned studio Camouflaj.
Meta’s continued cuts to Quest 2’s headset and accent pricing, the disappearance of the 256GB mannequin, and the announcement of a flagship first-party recreation not supporting it strongly recommend the headset is nearing the tip of its time in the marketplace.
Batman: Arkham Shadow Is The Greatest Quest 3 Unique But
Batman: Arkham Shadow is a model new entry within the Arkham sequence, coming solely to Quest 3.
However because it stands, if Quest 2 was off the market the entry worth for the Meta Quest platform would develop into $500, the 128GB mannequin of Quest 3. Thus to continue to grow the VR market as quick as attainable, Meta must ship a less expensive headset that may run the identical content material as Quest 3.
A Meta Roadmap Leak Confirmed A Cheaper Headset Coming This Yr
Again in March 2023, round ten months earlier than Quest 3 shipped, an inner Meta VR and AR {hardware} roadmap assembly was leaked to The Verge.
In addition to precisely describing particulars about Quest 3, which had not but been introduced on the time, and Quest Professional 2, the leaked assembly revealed Meta additionally deliberate to ship a extra “accessible” headset in 2024.
Meta Reportedly Plans Cheaper Headset For 2024
Quest 3 Lite? Quest Go? Meta plans an affordable “accessible” headset for 2024, in line with a Meta roadmap leaked to The Verge.
Here is how Meta’s VP of VR Mark Rabkin described the headset in that leaked assembly:
“The aim for this headset may be very easy: pack the largest punch we are able to on the most tasty worth level within the VR shopper market.”
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman Described Its Look & Worth
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has a powerful monitor report of reliably reporting Meta and Apple’s {hardware} and software program strikes upfront. For instance, he reliably reported many particulars of Oculus Quest 2 and Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional earlier than they have been formally revealed and even acknowledged to exist.
A couple of days earlier than Quest 3 launched, Gurman reported Meta’s subsequent headset can be a “blended actuality headset” that “appears rather a lot just like the Quest 3 however makes use of more cost effective parts.”
His report claimed Meta is aiming to achieve a worth of $300, and was at the least “contemplating” transport the headset with out controllers to as an alternative promote them individually. Be aware, nevertheless, that in latest months Mark Zuckerberg has praised Contact Plus controllers as a key cause he thinks Quest 3 is superior to Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.
A Chinese language Analyst Claimed It Makes use of Fresnel Lenses With XR2 Gen 2
Per week after Gurman’s report, a Chinese language analyst who precisely reported particulars of Meta and Pico headsets previously launched his personal claims concerning the headset.
‘Quest 3 Lite’ Might Hit $200-300 Utilizing Fresnel Lenses
Chinese language analyst claims ‘Quest 3 Lite’ might launch within the first half of 2024 at $200. Learn the claimed specs right here:
The analyst was the primary to report it’ll use the brand new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset from Quest 3 however paired with the previous fresnel lenses from Quest 2 to realize a cheaper price.
He claimed the product launch at someplace between $200 and $300, and will even arrive within the first half of 2024. If he is proper about that final half, anticipate an announcement later this month.
The Wall Avenue Journal Corroborated These Specs
In November, The Wall Avenue Journal reported that Meta plans to carry a less expensive model of Quest 3 to China by way of a take care of Tencent.
The take care of Tencent had beforehand been reported by Chinese language information outlet 36Kr and The Wall Avenue Journal itself, although in these earlier experiences the headset was reported to be Quest 2.
XR2 Gen 2: Quest 3’s New GPU Extra Than Twice As Highly effective
Quest 3 is the primary headset to function Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, with as much as 2.5x extra GPU efficiency and 8x AI efficiency. Extra particulars right here:
The Wall Avenue Journal’s November report described this cheaper model of Quest 3 as utilizing cheaper lenses than Quest 3 however a extra highly effective GPU than Quest 2, seemingly agreeing with the claims of the Chinese language analyst.
It Will Assist Inside-Out Higher Physique Monitoring
When launching inside-out higher physique monitoring for Quest 3 in December, Meta famous that it will additionally work on “all future headsets”.
Quest 3 Now Has Inside-Out Physique Monitoring & MR Occlusion
Quest 3 inside-out higher physique monitoring is now out there, and blended actuality occlusion can now be shipped in apps.
This helps the Quest 3S design proven out there analysis research, displaying Quest 3S having downwards-facing facet cameras in the identical positions as Quest 3.
A Meta Market Analysis Research About It Seemingly Leaked
In March we noticed what could be the solely precise photos of Quest 3S, in an obvious leak of a Meta market analysis research.
A reddit person of three years, with a posting historical past that seems to be that of an actual human, shared two screenshots they stated got here from a Meta presentation shared with them over Zoom as a part of a market analysis research. The title of the presentation is seen as “Quest Design System Research_V2_Final_Phase2_Stim (FR)”. The presentation is in French, as famous by the FR on the finish of the title.
One of many slides exhibits Quest 3S as having the very same decision as Quest 2, suggesting it’ll use the identical single LCD panel. It additionally appears visibly thicker than Quest 3, supporting the claims of the Chinese language analyst and The Wall Avenue Journal that it’s going to use fresnel lenses.
Each slides present the headset as having two clusters of three sensors on either side of the entrance. Presumably two of those sensors are the infrared fisheye digital camera used for monitoring and a coloration digital camera for blended actuality passthrough. However what is the third?
Again in October, Quest firmware dataminer Samulia found a brand new headset codenamed Panther. Samulia beforehand found lots of Quest Professional’s specs a yr earlier than it launched, in addition to Quest 3’s decision and 3D room meshing capabilities. The reference to Panther was in a debug function for “simulating” it on Quest 3 (which was codenamed Eureka). Making use of this setting, in line with the debug log textual content, prevents the depth projector getting used. This strongly suggests Meta is testing attaining the room setup capabilities the depth projector at the moment permits with out it.
Thus the third sensor could merely be an infrared illuminator, permitting Quest 3S to have a transparent view of your setting throughout room setup whatever the lighting circumstances, with out having the identical price as a depth projector. However that is simply hypothesis – we merely do not but know what it’s.
A while after the reddit submit was made, the person deleted it. Meta hasn’t made any touch upon the state of affairs.
We did not report on this leak on the time as a result of we as a staff did not unanimously agree it was more likely to be legit. However we’re together with it now as a result of the Quest 3S naming appears to now be confirmed.
The Official Quest Retailer Listed Quest 3S
A couple of days in the past the official Quest Retailer began itemizing help for “Meta Quest 3S” on a number of app retailer pages, together with the upcoming Alo Strikes XR.
This metadata was eliminated just a few hours later, suggesting it was by accident enabled early by Meta.
This retailer itemizing appears to immediately affirm the naming of Meta’s subsequent headset is Quest 3S, and probably validates the March market analysis research leak.
Abstract (TL;DR)
Placing the proof all collectively, it is doubtless Quest 2 manufacturing has ended and Meta is at the moment clearing out inventory to arrange for the launch of a equally priced direct substitute known as Quest 3S.
Quest 3S will seemingly function the identical Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset as Quest 3 so it will possibly run the identical content material on the similar graphical constancy, however use the previous fresnel lenses from Quest 2 to realize a worth someplace round $300.
| Quest 2 | Quest 3S | Quest 3 | |
| Chipset | Snapdragon XR2 (7nm) |
Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 (4nm) |
Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 (4nm) |
| Lenses | Fresnel | Fresnel | Pancake |
| Passthrough | Very Low Res Black & White |
First rate Res? Colour |
First rate Res Colour |
| Inside-Out Physique Monitoring | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Entry Worth | Launch: $300 Present: $200 |
~$300? | $500 |
It is going to nearly actually additionally help coloration blended actuality, however probably with a slower and fewer correct room setup course of.
In impact, Quest 3S can be a less expensive Quest 3 with a bulkier design, inferior lens readability, and decrease decision. A less expensive and decrease high quality – however not basically completely different – gadget. It is going to let extra individuals take pleasure in Quest 3 VR graphics, and vastly develop the room-aware blended actuality market too.
