Meta Quest 3S officially launches
Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 4:59AM 
Photo: Meta
Meta's newest entry-level virtual reality headset officially launched on October 15. And for a limited time in the US, you can get the new Meta Quest 3S bundled with Batman: Arkham Shadow. This Quest 3-exclusive (and now Quest 3S) action game pits the Caped Crusader against the Rat King. This bundle is available for both storage configurations (128GB and 256GB) until April 30, 2025, at US$300 (around CA$413) and US$400 (~CA$550), respectively.
The Meta Quest 3S is powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 chipset as the Quest 3 and features the same 8GB of RAM. It also comes with a pair of Touch Pro controllers to navigate menus with gestures. The Quest 3S supposedly offers better battery life with an average playtime of two-and-a-half hours. (Its predecessor tops out at two hours).
The two diverge when it comes to lenses. Meta cuts costs with the Quest 3S by equipping it with the 1832 x 1920 fresnel lenses used in the Quest 2. It also doesn't get a depth sensor and has a narrower field of vision. Meanwhile, Quest 3 gets 2064 x 2208 pancake lenses, which offer improved resolution and clarity.
Batman: Arkham Shadow is launching on October 22, so the bundle helps you get your hands early on the title. This bundle also includes three months of Meta Quest+ subscription, which normally costs US$8 per month (~CA$11). That gets you two free games each month, valued at up to US$50 (~CA$69). And even if you cancel your subscription, you get to keep your freebies. That means you get seven free games with the Quest 3S.
Amazon also offers a bundle that includes the Elite Strap, which you'll generally have to pay US$69 (~CA$95). You'll save around US$20 (~CA$28) if you get it bundled with the new headset. The Elite Strap replaces the default band and provides better weight distribution so you feel less pressure while wearing the headset. It comes with a dial that lets you make quick adjustments.
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