If you've been eager to dive into VR gaming but the cost has been a barrier, the first significant Meta Quest deal of 2025 might be your golden ticket. For a limited time, Amazon is slashing $50 off the Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR headset, bringing the price down to just $349. This deal makes the 256GB model only $50 more than the base 128GB version, offering a fantastic opportunity to store more games for untethered play. This straightforward discount is even better than the Black Friday deals, which often came with digital credit or gift cards restricted to specific stores.

To make the offer even more enticing, the package includes a copy of the acclaimed Batman: Arkham Shadow VR game and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. In IGN's 8/10 review, Dan Stapleton praised the game, stating, "Batman: Arkham Shadow makes most of the Arkham series' defining gameplay work respectably well in VR, and its mystery story pays off."

Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR Headset

$399.99 save 13%
$349.00 at Amazon

The Quest 3S is a significant upgrade from the Quest 2, offering enhanced features without a price hike. It incorporates many of the same elements as the pricier Quest 3, including the new and improved Touch controllers, the upgraded Snapdragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 review of the Quest 3S, Gabriel Moss noted, "Raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and snappy Touch Plus controllers make the Quest 3S a fantastic standalone VR headset that also brings entry-level mixed-reality gaming to the masses for – arguably – the very first time."

What sets this deal apart from other VR offers is the ability to play the Quest 3S completely untethered. This means you can enjoy games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without needing a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5 console. You won't find another standalone VR headset at this price point.

How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?

Even at its regular price, the Quest 3S is $200, or 40% cheaper than the $500 Quest 3. To achieve this competitive pricing, some compromises were made. Here's a breakdown of the similarities and differences:

Quest 3S vs. Quest 3 Similarities

• Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor
• Touch Plus controllers
• 120Hz refresh rate
• Mixed reality passthrough (same cameras, different layout)

Quest 3S vs. Quest 3 Differences

• Lower per-eye resolution (1832x1920 vs 2064×2208)
• Fresnel lens vs. pancake lens
• Lower FOV (96°/90° vs 104°/96°)
• Smaller storage capacity (128GB vs 512GB)
• Longer battery life (2.5hrs vs 2.2hrs)

In essence, the Quest 3S is nearly identical to the Quest 3 but with downgraded optics. However, since both use the same processor, the lower resolution can reduce the load on the APU, potentially improving game performance and contributing to the increased battery life.

For the price, the Quest 3S offers a better value than the Quest 3 and is a more suitable choice for most gamers, especially if the Quest 3 was out of your budget. Compared to the Quest 2, the decision is even clearer.

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