Quest 3 vs. Quest 3S: When Saving Costs Too Much

Quest 3 vs. Quest 3s: A Detailed Comparison

Key Concepts:

• Standalone VR: Virtual reality headsets that operate independently without requiring a PC or external device.
• Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2: A high-performance processor designed specifically for VR and AR devices.
• Fresnel Lenses: A type of lens used in older VR headsets, known for a narrow "sweet spot" and visual artifacts like glare.
• Pancake Lenses: A more advanced lens technology offering a wider sweet spot, improved edge-to-edge clarity, and reduced glare.
• Mixed Reality (MR) Passthrough: The ability to see the real world through the headset's cameras, overlaid with virtual elements.
• IPD (Interpupillary Distance): The distance between the centers of your pupils, crucial for optimal visual clarity in VR.
• Screen Door Effect (SDE): A visual artifact where the gaps between pixels are visible, resembling looking through a mesh screen.
• Mura: A visual artifact appearing as faint blotches or unevenness in the display.
• Aliasing: A visual artifact where straight lines appear jagged or stepped, especially noticeable on diagonal lines.

Core Similarities

• Processor and Memory: Both headsets are powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset with 8GB of RAM.
• Connectivity: Both support Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.
• Software and Features: They operate on the same software, access the same apps and games, receive the same updates, and support features like hand tracking, upper body tracking, room-scale mapping, and virtual windows.
• Controllers: Both use the same Touch Plus controllers.
• Spatial Audio: Both have the same stems and speakers for spatial audio.
• Battery Life: Both offer roughly 2 to 2.5 hours of battery life.
• Camera Array: Identical camera arrays for tracking and mixed reality passthrough.

Price Disparity

• The Quest 3s starts at $299 USD for the 128GB model.
• The Quest 3 starts at $499 USD.
• This is a $200 difference.

Visual Quality: Quest 3 Dominance

• Lenses:
  • Quest 3s: Uses Fresnel lenses (recycled from Quest 2).
  • Quest 3: Uses pancake lenses.
• Sweet Spot:
  • Quest 3s: Narrow sweet spot, requiring constant readjustment.
  • Quest 3: Wider sweet spot, providing consistent sharpness across a larger area.
• Edge-to-Edge Clarity:
  • Quest 3s: Clarity deteriorates rapidly away from the center.
  • Quest 3: Crisp image across the entire field of view.
• Glare and Visual Artifacts:
  • Quest 3s: Excessive glare and God rays.
  • Quest 3: Drastically reduced glare and virtually eliminated God rays. Mura effect is present but subtle.
• Resolution:
  • Quest 3s: Single LCD panel, 1832x1920 per eye.
  • Quest 3: Dual LCD panels, 2064x2208 per eye (30% increase in pixel density).
• Field of View:
  • Quest 3s: Not specified.
  • Quest 3: Slightly larger at 110° horizontal and 96° vertical.
• Aliasing:
  • Quest 3s: Renders straight lines and edges cleaner.
  • Quest 3: Angled screens cause aliasing (jagged lines), especially noticeable on text.
• Screen Door Effect: Slightly worse on the Quest 3s.

Quote: "I literally will not go back to Fel lenses it's a dying stack and there's a reason all new headsets on the horizon are foregoing them"

Tracking and Sensors

• Low-Light Tracking:
  • Quest 3s: Two flood IR illuminators for improved tracking in low light and complete darkness.
  • Quest 3: Loses tracking in complete darkness.
• Controller Tracking: Effectively the same, but the 3s has a slight advantage in low light.
• Depth Sensor:
  • Quest 3: Dedicated depth projector for more accurate depth mapping.
  • Quest 3s: Relies on software-based depth mapping.
• Proximity Sensor:
  • Quest 3: Detects when the headset is worn to automatically turn off the screens.
  • Quest 3s: Relies on a software-based timer.
• Flicker Sensor: Quest 3s introduces a flicker sensor to reduce display flickering.

Audio

• Headphone Jack:
  • Quest 3: Includes a headphone jack.
  • Quest 3s: Lacks a headphone jack. Bluetooth audio suffers from latency issues. Meta promises improvements in 2025 with Android 14 update.

Ergonomics and Design

• Action Button:
  • Quest 3: Awkward double-tap gesture for toggling between virtual and mixed reality.
  • Quest 3s: Physical action button for easy toggling.
• IPD Adjustment:
  • Quest 3s: Three-step focal point system with fixed presets (58mm, 63mm, 68mm).
  • Quest 3: Precision adjustment wheel for sub-millimeter fine-tuning.
• Microphones:
  • Quest 3: Three microphones (two hidden, one noise-canceling).
  • Quest 3s: Two visible microphones.
• Charging: Both charge via USB-C. Quest 3 includes contact pads for charging docks.
• Weight: Negligible difference (Quest 3: 462g, Quest 3s: 456g).
• Facial Interface:
  • Quest 3: Contoured design, reduces pressure points, less light leakage. Four-stage depth adjustment for glasses.
  • Quest 3s: Boxier design, more light leakage around the nose bridge. One-size spacer for glasses.

Storage

• Quest 3: 512GB.
• Quest 3s: 128GB or 256GB.
• The operating system and default apps take up 20GB.
• AAA games can range from 20-40GB.

Battery

• Quest 3s: 4324 mAh (17 Wh).
• Quest 3: 4879 mAh (19 Wh).
• Both are rated for 2-2.5 hours of use due to the 3s's lower resolution screen.

Conclusion

The Quest 3 offers a significantly superior visual experience due to its pancake lenses, higher resolution, and better edge-to-edge clarity. While the Quest 3s has advantages in low-light tracking and a physical action button, the compromised visual quality makes it a less desirable option. The Quest 3s is a good value only if it's the only VR option available. Used or refurbished Quest 3 models often offer a better value proposition than a new Quest 3s. The 256GB Quest 3s is the worst purchase of the three due to its poor cost per gigabyte value.