If you've been eager to dive into VR gaming but the cost has been a barrier, the first significant Meta Quest deal of 2025 at Best Buy might catch your attention. For a limited time, you can snag the Quest 3S 256GB VR headset for just $349.99 after a $50 discount. But that's not all – you'll also receive a $50 Best Buy gift card and a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for free, effectively bringing the price down to match the base 128GB model.
To make this offer even more enticing, the package includes a 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, 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 256GB VR Headset + Bonus $50 Best Buy Gift Card
$399.99 save 13%
$349.99 at Best Buy
The Quest 3S is a significant upgrade from the Quest 2, matching many features of the pricier Quest 3, such as improved Touch controllers, an upgraded Snapdragon APU, and full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 review of the Quest 3S, Gabriel Moss highlighted its strengths, noting, "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 sets this deal apart is that the Meta Quest 3S can be enjoyed completely untethered. You can immerse yourself in games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without needing a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5. At this price, you won't find another standalone VR headset with these capabilities.
How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?
Even at its regular price, the Quest 3S is $200, or 40% cheaper than the $500 Quest 3. To achieve this price point, 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)
Essentially, the Quest 3S is nearly identical to the Quest 3 but with downgraded optics. However, since both use the same processor, running at a lower resolution can ease the load on the APU, potentially enhancing game performance and contributing to the longer battery life.
Given its price, the Quest 3S offers better value than the Quest 3 and is a superior choice for most gamers, especially if the Quest 3 was out of your budget. Compared to the Quest 2, the decision is even clearer.
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