Meta Quest 3S Evaluation: 3 Notable Features and Key Imperfection
Meta Quest 3S Evaluation: 3 Notable Features and Key Imperfection
If you're into virtual reality, you should be rooting for the Meta Quest 3Star to succeed.
This isn't just about Meta making a profit. The main objective is to prove that the Meta Quest 2 wasn't a one-off success, that millions of regular people still enjoy and care about VR.
The Quest 3Star is more of a genuine successor to the Quest 2 than the Quest 3 was. It's not too expensive and is designed to be user-friendly, perfect for someone new to VR.
Should you buy one? If you're a Quest 2 owner who doesn't want to miss out on future experiences, the Quest 3Star allows you to continue your hobby in style. Unfortunately, it's lacking one key feature that Meta failed to include in its budget.
Here are the pros and cons of the Quest 3Star experience.
Pro: It's Ready for Future VR and AR
The Meta Quest 3Star's purpose is to allow the Quest 2 to gradually fade into obsolescence. It's a more affordable alternative to the Quest 3 that still offers all its essential features.
There's no reason why a Quest 3Star won't be able to run or allow you to experience everything that comes to the Quest 3 in the future. They share the same processor, and their color passthrough cameras are comparable, allowing you to see the world around you properly.
In some titles, the Quest 3Star may even perform better than the Quest 3, despite having the same processor and graphics chipset and a lower-resolution display.
Pros: It Comes with One of the Better (and Most Expensive) VR Games
Meta is known for offering sweeteners. The Quest 3Star includes Batman: Arkham Shadow, which can be claimed until the end of April 2025.
This game is like a VR adaptation of one of the classic Rocksteady Batman: Arkham games, and is worth $50, according to its retail price.
That's a sixth of the cost of the base Quest 3Star. While few people may pay the full retail price for Batman: Arkham Shadow, it's a great project and a better pack-in title than what comes with budget console bundles.
Pro: Even the Lowest-End Storage Model is Viable
More storage is always better, but the entry-level version is completely workable. It starts with 128GB, which would be too small for a laptop.
It may be enough for a Quest 3Star, though. While you may need to juggle installations sooner rather than later, it's not an immediate issue. For example, Batman: Arkham Shadow takes up 25GB, with Asgard's Wrath taking up around 21.5GB. These are some of the largest games available for Quest, with most taking up far less space.
Cons: The Lenses Are a Weak Point
If there's one area where the Quest 3 clearly outperforms the Quest 3Star, it's the lenses.
The Quest 3Star has Fresnel lenses, just like the Quest 2. These are efficient but lack the sharpness of the Quest 3's pancake lenses.
Using the Quest 3Star for the first time is similar to using the Quest 2, with a fairly narrow cone of sharpness. If the headset sags slightly, the image may become soft.
A Quest 3 allows you to look to the side using your eyes instead of your head, but that's not really an option with the Quest 3Star. As a result, the 3Star is a less immersive headset in general.
For me, this is the best reason to spend more on a Quest 3. Is it enough to justify the upgrade? It depends on how often you plan to use the headset.
Is the Meta Quest 3Star Worth It?
The Quest 3Star is the complete opposite of the Samsung Vision X in one important aspect. It's a headset designed to be relatively affordable, capable of capturing the broadest possible market.
This is smart, and one of the reasons the Quest 2 was so successful. However, it means the Quest 3Star can only be so ambitious, potentially disappointing some tech enthusiasts.
It receives a significant power boost, but the Quest 3 offers no major optical advantage over the Quest 2, making the Quest 3 a more desirable headset for serious VR fans.
The Meta Quest 3Star, with its user-friendly design, is an excellent choice for individuals new to virtual reality, using a comparable color passthrough camera to the Meta Quest 3 for proper world viewing. In a potential review, the Quest 3Star's budget-friendly price and inclusion of Batman: Arkham Shadow, valued at $50, may be commended as attractive features.