Meta has introduced a new entry-level mixed reality headset, the Meta Quest 3S, which starts at $299.99 for the 128GB model and $399.99 for the 256GB model. Pre-orders are available on Meta's website and will ship on October 15 along with a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow. The edge He was able to get a hands-on demo of the new Quest 3S and notes that it “brings a lot of what you can get in the Quest 3 to a much more affordable VR headset.”
As part of the presentation, Meta also announced that both the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro will be discontinued, simplifying the offering to those two Quest 3S models, as well as the 512GB Meta Quest 3 for $499.99.
While Meta has been pushing VR for many years (I still have vivid memories of trying out a very early Oculus Rift prototype over 12 years ago), one of the key turning points was the launch of the entry-level Meta Quest 2. It was this headset that eschewed the need to set up multiple external cameras or long cables tethering you to a gaming PC, opting instead for a self-contained experience in terms of both hardware and software, all at a more palpable (if ever-fluctuating) price point. By all reports, the new Quest 3S will be Meta’s new entry-level model for years to come.