If you've been eager to dive into the world of VR gaming but the price has always been a barrier, you're in luck with the first significant Meta Quest deal of 2025. For a limited time, Amazon is slashing $50 off the Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR headset, bringing it down to just $349. This price is only $50 more than the base 128GB model, making it an excellent choice for those looking to store more games for seamless, untethered play. This direct discount is even better than the Black Friday deals, which often came with digital credits or gift cards restricted to specific stores.
To make the deal even sweeter, the package includes a copy of *Batman: Arkham Shadow* VR game and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. According to IGN's 8/10 review, Dan Stapleton praised the game, saying, "Batman: Arkham Shadow makes most of the Arkham series' defining gameplay work respectably well in VR, and its mystery story pays off."
Meta Quest 3S VR Headset with Batman: Arkham Shadow
Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR Headset
$399.99 save 13%
$349.00 at Amazon
The Quest 3S surpasses the original Quest 2 in every aspect, yet maintains the same price point. It also incorporates many features from the pricier Quest 3, such as the enhanced Touch controllers, the upgraded SnapDragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 review of the Quest 3S, Gabriel Moss highlighted, "Raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and snappy Touch Plus controllers make the Quest 3S a fantastic standalone VR headset that also brings entry-level mixed-reality gaming to the masses for – arguably – the very first time."
What makes this deal stand out from other VR offers is the ability to play the Meta Quest 3S **completely untethered**. This means you can enjoy games like *Beat Saber* or *Pistol Whip* without needing a high-end gaming PC or a PlayStation 5. You won't find another standalone VR headset at this price point.
How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?
Even at full retail price, the Quest 3S is $200, or 40% cheaper than the $500 Quest 3. To achieve this competitive pricing, certain compromises were made. Below is a comparison of the specifications:
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)
In essence, the Quest 3S offers nearly the same experience as the Quest 3 but with slightly downgraded optics. However, since both use the same processor, the lower resolution can reduce the load on the APU, potentially enhancing game performance and contributing to longer battery life.
Given the price, the Quest 3S represents a better value than the Quest 3 and is a more suitable choice for most gamers, especially if the Quest 3 was beyond your budget. Compared to the previous generation Quest 2, the choice is even clearer.
Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?
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