If you've been eager to dive into VR gaming but the high cost has been a barrier, the first significant Meta Quest deal of 2025 might just be the opportunity you've been waiting for. For a limited time, Best Buy is offering a $50 discount on the Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR headset, bringing the price down to just $349.99. But the savings don't stop there. Along with the headset, you'll receive a $50 Best Buy gift card and a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for free, effectively matching the price of the base 128GB model.
To make this deal even more enticing, the package includes a copy of the highly-rated Batman: Arkham Shadow VR game and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. In IGN's 8/10 review, Dan Stapleton praised the game, stating, "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 + Bonus $50 Best Buy Gift Card
Originally priced at $399.99, you can now snag the Quest 3S for $349.99, saving you 13% at Best Buy. The Quest 3S surpasses the original Quest 2 in every aspect, yet it maintains the same price point. It also incorporates many features from the pricier Quest 3, such as the new and improved Touch controllers, the upgraded Snapdragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. IGN's 9/10 review of the Quest 3S by Gabriel Moss highlights its strengths: "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 is the Quest 3S's ability to be played completely untethered. This means you can enjoy games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without needing a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5 console. At this price, you won't find another standalone VR headset that offers this level of freedom.
How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?
Even at its retail price, the Quest 3S is $200 or 40% cheaper than the $500 Quest 3. To achieve this competitive price, certain compromises were made. Below are the key spec comparisons:
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)
Essentially, the Quest 3S is nearly identical to the Quest 3 but with downgraded optics. However, since both headsets use the same processor, running at a lower resolution can reduce the load on the APU, potentially improving game performance and contributing to the increased battery life.
Given its price, the Quest 3S offers better value than the Quest 3 and is a more suitable choice for most gamers, especially if the Quest 3 was out of your budget. When compared to the previous generation Quest 2, the decision becomes even clearer.
Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?
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