Meta Quest 3S pre-orders are now live - here's where to buy

Meta just announced its latest VR headset, and Quest 3S pre-orders will be going live today. That's not the only good news, the cheaper headset goes for a much more affordable $299.99 / £289.99 MSRP (128GB), with a 256GB model available for $399.99 / £379.99. That's a $200 price drop on a device that features the same core features as the full model, albeit with Fresnel lenses instead of pancakes. 

We're scouring the web for any hint of those early Meta Quest 3S pre-orders as we speak, but right now the only listing we've found is via Meta itself. There you'll be able to bag your own headset ahead of that October 15 release date, along with a free copy of Batman: Arkham Shadows. Of course, we're expecting retailers to launch their own pre-order pages shortly so stay tuned for all the latest updates. 

The Meta Quest 3 is one of the best VR headsets on the shelves today, and a cheaper version might be just what the brand needs to draw in more first-time buyers. There are still loads of gamers who have never owned a VR headset because they're usually prohibitively expensive, but a cheaper Quest 3S could change that. 

Meta Quest 3S pre-orders in the US

✅ Meta | Pre-order now

Meta has Quest 3S pre-orders live already, and Zuck hasn't even stopped introducing the device. Head over for early doors orders starting from $299.99 and you'll also be able to secure your free copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow as well.

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❌ Amazon | Check stock

Amazon is the go-to supplier of Quest devices, usually because they have the biggest stock take for devices like this. It's also the world's largest retailer, so even if stock flies off the shelves, you're likely going to see it replenished quickly.

❌ Best Buy | Check stock

When the Quest 3 launched, Best Buy had the most steady supply of headsets of any retailer. If the same remains true this year, this is definitely a place to check for Meta Quest 3S pre-orders.

❌ Walmart | Check stock

Walmart actually had the lowest price of any retailer when the Meta Quest 3 launched. Granted, it was by a measly dollar that undercut the MSRP, but still, this might be worth checking to save you every penny possible.

❌ Newegg | Check stock

Newegg had a supply later than other retailers, if memory serves. The best part about this though was that you could get store credit for your pre-order.

Meta Quest 3S pre-orders in the UK

✅ Meta | Pre-order now

UK shoppers can also bag their Meta Quest 3S pre-orders right now, with the 128GB model starting at £289.99. Each Meta Quest 3S pre-order comes with a free copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow and Meta Quest+.

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✅ Amazon | Pre-order now

Meta Quest 3S pre-orders are now live at Amazon in the UK for the standard RRP. It looks like the details are still filtering onto the page as we speak. 

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❌ Very | Check stock

Very is a great retailer for getting gaming hardware, and a lot of the time you'll find store credit and small bundles thrown in. 

❌ Currys | Check stock

Currys isn't the first retailer we'd check, but it usually has a steady supply of Meta Quest 3 headsets for ordering. If you're having trouble finding stock, this could be a good source to check.

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Meta Quest 3S specs and features

The Meta Quest 3S does everything the original Quest 3 can; from mixed reality to precision controls. It just drops those beautiful pancake lenses for a more affordable set of Fresnels. What exactly does that mean for you? A pancake lense offers a higher picture quality with increased clarity and fewer visual distortions but they're also much lighter than Fresnel. That means the Quest 3S could be a little heavier on the noggin while offering lower quality visual images. Still, that $200 had to be sacrificed somewhere, and Meta states that the Quest 3S still provides a better visual experience than the Quest 2 overall. You're still getting "4.5x the resolution and color compared to Quest 2" with 96x90° field of view and 773 pixels per inch of display.

The Meta Quest 3S uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip as the Quest 3, so everything under the hood should be running the same. That means the Quest 3S (while it can run with the brand's precision controllers) will still work with the hand tracking features that have dominated the VR space for the last year. 

Jazz up your VR loadout with the best Meta Quest accessories, or grab yourself a chair to play in with the best gaming chairs. If you want to play PC VR games, you'll need one of the best gaming PCs.