If you've been eyeing VR gaming but the price tag has been a deterrent, prepare to be excited! Amazon is offering an incredible deal on the Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR headset, slashing $50 off the price, bringing it down to just $349. That's a mere $50 more than the base 128GB model—a worthwhile upgrade for expanded game storage and untethered play. This direct discount easily surpasses any Black Friday deals, which often involved less desirable store credits or gift cards.
To make this deal even sweeter, the package includes a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow VR and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. IGN's 8/10 review praised the game, stating that "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 with Batman: Arkham Shadow
$399.99 $349.00 at Amazon
The Quest 3S surpasses the original Quest 2 in every aspect, remarkably without a price hike. It also boasts many features of the more expensive Quest 3, including the improved Touch controllers, the upgraded Snapdragon APU, and full-color AR passthrough. IGN's 9/10 review of the Quest 3S highlighted its "raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and snappy Touch Plus controllers," calling it a "fantastic standalone VR headset that also brings entry-level mixed-reality gaming to the masses for – arguably – the very first time."
What truly sets this deal apart is the Quest 3S's completely untethered gameplay. Enjoy titles like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without needing a powerful gaming PC or PlayStation 5. You won't find another standalone VR headset at this price point.
How Does the Quest 3S Differ from the Quest 3?
Even at full price, the Quest 3S is $200 (40%) cheaper than the Quest 3. Naturally, some compromises were made to achieve this competitive price. Here's a comparison:
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)
Essentially, the Quest 3S offers nearly identical functionality with slightly downgraded optics. The lower resolution, however, reduces the load on the APU, potentially improving performance and explaining the extended battery life.
At this price, the Quest 3S offers superior value compared to the Quest 3 and is the better choice for most gamers, especially those who previously found the Quest 3 unaffordable. The choice is even clearer when compared to the previous generation Quest 2.
Why Trust IGN's Deals Team?
IGN's deals team boasts over 30 years of combined experience in uncovering the best discounts across gaming, tech, and various other categories. We prioritize delivering genuine value to our readers, focusing on trusted brands and products our editorial team has personally used. For more details on our process, check out our deals standards. Stay updated on the latest deals via IGN's Deals account on Twitter.
