If you've been eager to dive into VR gaming but the cost has been a barrier, you're in luck with the first notable Meta Quest deal of 2025. For a limited time, Amazon is offering a $50 discount on the Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR headset, bringing the price down to just $349. This is only $50 more than the 128GB model, making it an excellent choice for those looking to store more games for untethered play. This direct discount surpasses the Black Friday deals, which often came with digital credit or gift cards restricted to specific stores.
To make this deal even sweeter, 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, saying, "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 represents a significant upgrade from the Quest 2 in every aspect, yet maintains the same price point. It also incorporates many features from the pricier Quest 3, such as the improved Touch controllers, the upgraded Snapdragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 review of the Quest 3S, Gabriel Moss stated, "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 ability to play the Quest 3S **completely untethered**. This means you can enjoy games like *Beat Saber* or *Pistol Whip* without needing a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5. You won't find another standalone VR headset at this price point.
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 pricing, some compromises were made. Below are the 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. Since both headsets 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.
For the price, the Quest 3S offers better value than the Quest 3, making it the preferable choice for most gamers, especially if the Quest 3 was beyond your budget. Compared to the Quest 2, the decision is 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. Our mission is to highlight the most compelling deals from reputable brands that our editorial team has firsthand experience with. We aim to guide our readers to make informed purchases without resorting to misleading tactics. For more insight into our methodology, you can review our deals standards [here](#). Stay updated with the latest deals by following IGN's Deals account on Twitter.
