During his latest Connect event, Half has unveiled a new headset: the Quest 3S. Due out October 15, the device is billed as a low-cost entry into the world of virtual reality at $300 (for 128GB) or $400 (for 512GB).
For comparison, the original Mission 3 AND Pro Search headphones respectively launched at 500 dollars (for 128 GB) and $1,500. But in recent years, Meta has been playing with the price of the Quest headphones.
In 2022, the Mission 2 got a price increase as a way to help Meta “continue investing” in virtual reality. Then in 2023, both it and the Pro have undergone a reduction in individual prices.
Impressions For the Quest 3S they say it will have the same performance and mixed reality features as its predecessor, while having an improved battery life of 2.5 hours (up from the Quest 3’s 2.2 hours). Other notable changes include being smaller than the Quest 3, lower resolution display, and a narrower depth of field.
With the arrival of the Quest 3S in October, Meta is also phasing out some of its headsets. Both the Quest 2 and Pro, as well as the 128GB version of the Quest 3, will be discontinued.
All three will be sold “through the end of the year or until they sell out,” according to Meta, with the 128GB Quest 3 discounted to $430 (down from $500) while supplies last. The 512GB version will be discounted to $500, and will be Meta’s only other headset beyond the two versions of the Quest 3S.
The original Meta Quest was discontinued in 2020, a year after launch. While the Quest 2 ended up lasting four years, the Quest Pro lasted two years sooner, and the initial Quest 3 only lasted one year.