If you've been eager to dive into VR gaming but the costs have been a barrier, you'll be thrilled to hear about the first compelling Meta Quest deal of 2025. For a limited time, Amazon is slashing $50 off the price of the Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR headset, bringing it down to just $349. That's 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 straightforward discount outshines the Black Friday deals, which often came with digital credit or gift cards restricted to specific stores.
To make this offer even more enticing, it includes a free copy of the acclaimed *Batman: Arkham Shadow* VR game and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. In IGN's 8/10 review, Dan Stapleton praised the game, noting that "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
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Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR Headset
$399.99 save 13%$349.00 at Amazon
The Quest 3S marks a significant upgrade from the Quest 2, delivering enhanced performance without a price hike. It incorporates several features from the pricier Quest 3, such as the advanced Touch controllers, an upgraded SnapDragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 review of the Quest 3S, Gabriel Moss highlighted its strengths, stating, "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 truly distinguishes this deal from other VR offers is the ability to enjoy the Meta Quest 3S **completely untethered**. This means you can immerse yourself in games like *Beat Saber* or *Pistol Whip* without the need for a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5. You won't find another standalone VR headset at this price point that offers such freedom.
How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?
-----------------------------------------------At its retail price, the Quest 3S is $200, or 40% cheaper than the $500 Quest 3. To achieve this competitive pricing, certain compromises were made. Here are the key similarities and differences:
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 is nearly identical to the Quest 3 but with downgraded optics. However, since both headsets use the same processor, the lower resolution can ease the load on the APU, potentially enhancing in-game performance and contributing to the longer battery life.
Given its price, the Quest 3S offers superior value compared to the Quest 3, making it the better choice for most gamers, especially if the Quest 3 was beyond your budget. When compared to the previous generation Quest 2, the decision becomes even clearer.
Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?
--------------------------------------IGN's deals team boasts over 30 years of collective experience in uncovering the best discounts across gaming, tech, and various other categories. We prioritize transparency and value, ensuring our readers are never misled into purchasing unnecessary items at inflated prices. Our mission is to highlight the most compelling deals from reputable brands that our editorial team has firsthand experience with. For a deeper understanding of our methodology, you can review our deals standards here, or stay updated with the latest deals by following IGN's Deals account on Twitter.
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