Introduction: Meta Platforms, Inc. has apparently accidentally leaked details about its new VR headset. The device seems like a more affordable version of a combination of its previous devices, and even though many details are still missing, the Quest 3S could enter the market later this year.
Article: Confidential leaks and insider information sources are something many companies, especially the biggest multinational corporations, constantly deal with. There are numerous reasons why sensitive data becomes public knowledge and these span everything from industrial espionage to simple flukes. The latest leak from Meta Platforms, Inc. squarely belongs in the accidental category. Here, the administrators of the Meta Quest Store apparently listed a new device from the same company completely by mistake. This device is called Meta Quest 3S and seems to represent a lite variation of the latest Meta Quest 3 VR headset. The listing, which was online for a very short amount of time, was still noticed and recorded by many, including big tech and gaming media outlets. They noticed that Quest 3S was listed under the supported device category.
These include older VR headsets like Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro. While the listing quickly reverted back to its old form, it did fall into a previous wider company pattern of Meta’s determination to break into the more affordable segment of the virtual reality market. Here, the gaming potential alone is very substantial for growth and Meta is not the only company looking to move towards a wider adoption of its headsets. While it has been several years since any business tried to push a more affordable VR headset, the present period, with its big slowdown in the game development industry in particular, could be a good moment for Meta to showcase its Quest 3S device and its capabilities. With fewer new video games to purchase, many gamers began to consider refreshing or expanding their collection of gaming devices, which is good news for Meta.
Budget-Friendly VR Headset
Earlier in the year, it became clear that Meta is indeed developing a VR headset that would come with a smaller price tag. The device was nicknamed both Meta Quest 3 Lite and Meta Quest 3S. It represented the goal of making VR more approachable to those users who want to get a headset but do it for less money compared to getting the current Quest flagship model. Additionally, Mark Rabkin, the vice president of the Meta VR division, apparently stated to his employees that a more accessible VR headset would be hitting the market in 2024. That project has the codename Ventura, but right now, very few industry experts doubt that this is all one new device. Back then, Rabkin was clear that the goal of Meta was to get to a value for the same headset that is more attractive for people in the consumer VR market. In the past year, that type of thinking would be going against the grain of the wider virtual reality industry. After all, Apple Vision Pro was the biggest addition to the VR and AR market and its price tag is huge – its present price starts at $3,500. Meta is working to hit a completely different segment of the VR market with its new headset.
Quest 3S Specs
Right now, there is no official confirmation that this device is even in the works, let alone what its specifications will be. But, once more, thanks to a range of different previous news and leaks, it is possible to piece together a fairly accurate image of this headset. In short, the device should be a merger of Quest 2 and Quest 3. Here, the older Quest 2 would be the basis of its physical characteristics and the model’s ergonomics, while the Quest 3 should be the platform for 3S hardware and software. On the hardware side, the model should house the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, as well as Touch Plus controllers. These should be equipped with two RGB passthrough cameras, each with a 4MP resolution. The display side of the device is where the smaller price tag begins to make sense. Meta Quest 3S should have a display with a 1,832 x 1920 resolution, placing it in the Quest 2 category. Compared to Quest 3, it will feature 20 PPD (pixel per degree), which is going to be significantly less than the 25 PPD present in the latest Quest model. Lately, the display should come with a 120Hz refresh rate. The same mixture of older and newer models is completely sensible and a logical move by Meta when it comes to creating a cheaper device that can still perform adequately, especially in terms of VR gaming.
Potential Price Range
With all of the information related to Meta Quest 3S, it is no wonder that there is even a calculation related to the potential price of this VR headset. Meta Quest 3 has a starting price of $499. The older Meta Quest 2 came out with a price of $299 in 2020. Adjusted for inflation, that price would be right now $360. So, chances are that the Meta Quest 3S will be priced at around $350. Anything below would mean that it is selling cheaper than a brand new Quest 2 four years ago, which is highly unlikely unless Meta decides to further downscale the headset’s design and features. The problem with that possibility is that it would make the new device less appealing to potential customers, making the slightly smaller price pretty much pointless.
2024 Release
The hardware and software, as well as the price range of this headset all make perfect sense for a mid-tier VR device. But, the leak of the Quest 3S device’s details placed Meta company in a somewhat strange position. Being that the second part of 2024 has nearly begun, it will have to decide if the headset will be released this year or sometime after that. For a 2024 launch, Meta will have to announce Meta Quest 3S as soon as possible, potentially even at one of its official events in June or July. Anything after that would risk a weak promotional campaign before the Christmas period, which is the most important time of the year for all VR gear. But, if the device is more or less ready in terms of research and development, Meta could very well use the present momentum and reveal the device, along with its launch date. That could help it build interest and with a steady promotional campaign, Meta Quest 3S could become one of the most interesting entry-level VR devices of the year.
Author: Ivica Milaric, game designer and assistant professor of game design at the Novi Sada Academy of Arts, Republic of Serbia