Buy a Meta Quest 3 512GB VR Headset, and Get $50 in Bonus Amazon Credit

The Meta Quest 3 is the best standalone consumer-oriented VR headset you can get right now. What sets the Quest apart from most other VR headsets is that it can be played completely untethered. That means you can play games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without having to own a gaming PC or a PlayStation 5 console. If you do happen to own a powerful gaming PC, you have the option to connect to it and harness your PC's superior hardware, even wirelessly.

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

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)

The Quest 3 isn't the most affordable standalone VR headset; that title goes to the Quest 3S. The Quest 3S has the same processor, features, ergonomics, and controllers for $200 less. However, the Quest 3 boasts significantly upgraded optics while the Quest 3S mostly carries over the same optics from the Quest 2 That's more significant than it reads on paper. How much enjoyment you get from VR headset is largely determined by the visual quality of the display. If the image that you see is blurry, or distorted, it takes you out of the immersion. For newcomers to VR gaming who are unsure of whether or not they'll enjoy the experience, the Quest 3S is the safer purchase. However for VR veterans, the improved immersion offered up by the Quest 3 is a worthwhile investment.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.