Quest 3 vs. Quest 3S: When Saving Costs Too Much

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Let me know if you have any other questions about how the two headsets stack up!

[@TheBlackSpartan103]

What are the difference/risks of buying a Quest 3 from eBay instead of somewhere like Best But or Amazon?

[@aline.tech.reviews]

@@TheBlackSpartan103 - On eBay there are a few things to consider: 1) Find the "Meta Official" listing (which should be for $379 USD for the 128GB model). This is an official listing of pristine-condition refurbished units and comes with a 2-year warranty. 2) If you don't buy from that listing and are getting a used one from another user, make sure the price isn't too low - you will often see headsets listed for $200, just keep scrolling down and you'll often see those users have multiple listings with the same pictures. They're just trying to scam eBay (eBay has buyer protection and you'll get your money back from them, but don't end up in that situation). Due diligence like any used purchase and have faith that eBay has your back - they're a great company. 3) eBay (at least in the US) has buyer protection and highly favors the buyer - meaning, if the headset shows up broken or non-functional, they will have you send it back and force the seller to refund or refund it for you. It's generally a safe platform.. the thing you need to keep an eye out for is the quality of the listing (things like notes of potential used defects, making sure they say it's in great condition, runs perfectly fine, etc.).. and ask if there is any warranty left (many users are selling only months after purchasing). The turnover rate for VR headsets seems to be pretty high; I think many people buy them, only to realize that VR isn’t what they thought it was, or that it’s more cumbersome to jump into than say turning on your PC. Best Buy: as long as it's directly from Best Buy and not their third-party market place, you should be in good hands. They are also selling the "Meta Official" refurbished units on their primary listing (which is out of stock currently online, but your local store may have them still). IIRC, it also comes with a 1year warranty - same as if you were to buy from Meta direct (which are also now out of stock). Amazon: make sure you're buying direct from the Meta Official listing (which is currently sold out in the US site) or from Amazon directly. If you see a third-party vendor listed, you will need to do your research to figure out if they're worthy. I hope that helps!

[@MarkTheW0lf]

Not a single person I've seen makes in depth videos like you. Very informative and always covering everything. Keeo up the great work.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Thank you! I truly appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. I've built a dedicated studio room and made a bunch of upgrades.. I plan to publish many more videos in 2025. =)

[@argonaut502]

If I was upgrading from a Q2 I might have considered a Q3 but as a first VR user, and me getting the 3S for $225, I don't really regret getting the 3S with my only immediate complaint being the storage. If I find myself still using the 3S years down the line, I'll upgrade and hope the tech available is even better than what we have now for consumers.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Yea, you shouldn't! The Quest 3S is still an *awesome* bit of tech, and a great headset to test out your VR legs (because it offers a bit of everything that VR currently has to offer in terms of experiences). It's a crazy good value proposition at $299, so getting it for only $225 is insane. You're really only missing the upgraded visuals.. and ignorance is bliss - by time you're ready to move on from the 3S, there should be like 6 other options available with better lenses and resolutions than the Quest 3.

[@preyprey6734]

Yeah I agree. Also the 3 will probably be 200 or 300 in a year or 2. If that's the case, you now have 2 headsets for the price of one 3 today. Incase you wanna watch 3d movies or something locally with a friend

[@Herewithkop]

I'm literally in two minds at moment to return a 3s and get a 3. I bought it for 14 year old son for xmas he never used VR me, either. I could return it tomorrow and swap for a 3, just not sure it was worth it. I watched so many vids, I can afford it it's £489 gbp but it's still alot to spend if he doesn't use it much. I'm thinking if he likes the 3s, he get a year out of it, and aren't they talking about the Quest 4 in late 25 early 26. Help me decide 😅

[@aline.tech.reviews]

@@Herewithkop - In your case, I'd probably stick with the Quest 3S - you can sell it / trade for a used Quest 3, at a later date, if you both get into VR more. I wouldn't upgrade if you're not sure it will even be used in a couple months time. The 3S is perfectly adequate for a 14 year-old; this is especially if you aren't sure if it will be used. It's a very real scenario that many Quest headsets end up sitting on shelves, untouched, because people don't use it as much as they thought they would - it's more cumbersome than just turning on your PC/gaming console and takes effort to get into. Valve's Deckard is also rumored to be back on the docket - along with 5 other headsets. In a year or two, the Quest 3 might not even be the top dog anymore. =)

[@andrewpeternavarrete1227]

​@@Herewithkopkeep the 3s, like you said, you don't use it that often. Save the money for a better head set in about a year or two.

[@chrislair6832]

I've had my quest 3 since launch and I cannot believe how much I have learned about my headset by watching this video. You my friend are awesome! Keep up the great work.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Love to hear it!! Thanks for taking the time to watch.

[@jesusr1997]

Now this is what I call a proper review great job we appreciate your analysis

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Appreciate you taking the time to watch and leave the kind words; glad is was helpful, and thank you!!

[@ahmedelboghdadi5328]

I made myself and my family a favor and got the quest 3 512GB, and was over 150GB of storage in less than 10 days! Fun times!

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Haha, smart choice! Especially for multiple people sharing the headset. I couldn't imagine the hassle of 128GB in that scenario.

[@djhindsight]

The work you're putting into this video really shows and I see the comments are reflecting that. nice.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

I truly appreciate that, thank you!!!!

[@03chrisv]

I got a refurbished 128GB Quest 3 for $379 not too long ago. For me the $80 difference compared to the Quest 3s made it a no brainer decision to get the standard Quest 3. The higher resolution and pancake lenses make all the difference to me. I normally stream my content or use my headset for PC VR so the small 128GB of storage isn't an issue for me.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Definitely a no-brainer!! Excellent choice - and yea that use case is also perfect for the smaller storage. Love to hear it.

[@gadorulinvestorgradelive7759]

I got branew 512 for 449$ in mycountry when use coupong 12.12 XD happy now

[@WindySurfer]

Hey, not usually watching this kind of content, but got to stop by and comment you that your content is On-point and also super in-depth. Quality of video/audio is top. And you even make it more entertaining with funny little things. Nice investment in the studio upgrades. You will grow big with the growth of the vr industry!

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Hey there, I truly appreciate that! Thank you for the kind words; it means a lot and makes all the effort that goes into a video worth it. What kind of content do you watch? I have a bunch more non-VR tech + desk setup videos on the horizon. I do have a backlog of VR content to get out before that though so it will be a fairly VR-heavy month in January.

[@WindySurfer]

@@aline.tech.reviews hey, thanks for your time. I am not a big KZbin consumer, but I am watching more VR as I got into it last year with the quest 3 (your Is it worth it video was really good, as this one). I always like tech videos as this one, because they help one to make more informed decisions or learn more about the devices (I'm a bit techie/nerdie I guess). But if it is something that does not interest me that much, with this quality I will surely give every other video you have/will upload a try 😅

[@AndresGarcia-wk6gw]

Ive seen countless reviews on theseeven though i already own the q3. This is by FAR one of the best one, great job!

[@aline.tech.reviews]

I truly appreciate that! Thanks for taking the time to watch.

[@SjaakSchulteis]

"Jack under attack" is so unnecessarily addressed. I bought an inexpensive adapter that lets me plug in my headphones with a regular jack while charging my headset at the same time. That’s one solution. But the Quest 3 speakers are good enough for me to use the headset without headphones. It’s great to play games without those annoying earbuds or heavy, pressuring headphones, so I don’t really care about having a "jack." But apart from that, I found your video interesting enough to subcribe! I'm a Quest3 owner since it came out and my second headset is the Pico4 Ultra, also a fine device.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

I get what you're saying! It's surely a personalized preference to some degree (but I do have a real reason it needed to be mentioned below). I agree that the built-in speakers are quite good. I prefer headphones simply because they're more immersive/isolated, but if I'm throwing the headset on to do something quickly then I'll just use the stems. The reason I mentioned removal of the jack is two-fold: 1) if they're removing a critical headset feature and promoting wireless, then it needs to work. The current state of wireless objectively *does not* work due to the delay. Important note: Meta does not suggest multi-functional adapters (many users wouldn't know they exist or even that they need them), they suggest using wireless headphones and single-point adapters in their docs. They needed to have low-latency Bluetooth ready to go for the 3S launch; they did mention in the latest keynote they have it on the roadmap, for an undecided time in 2025, but it hasn't yet been tested.. and probably means the real reason behind it is they have new Bluetooth headphones they want to release with that Android update 😆; and 2) adapters introduce multiple issues: a) the type you got with the 3.5mm jacks are few and far between + not quality products that I would trust plugging in (it's not like the USB-C to C passthrough adapters which are made by reputable companies with testing standards), b) it's unnecessary stress on the USB-C port + you're introducing another point of failure by accidentally yanking the headphone cable and ruining your only charging port (charging point > headphone jack in terms of protection; and if you yank on a handphone jack the weakest point is typically the male end that will just snap off inside and can be removed). I get that it's removed for cost savings / to push users up to the Quest 3 as a "premium" feature, but their push for wireless needs to work for me to not mention it as a significant con that requires effort and additional cost on the customer's side to resolve. It could be a major deciding factor for someone who is adamant about using headphones with their device (a lot of users have have their favorite set). And I appreciate that! Thanks for taking the time to watch and leave a thoughtful comment =) How are you getting on with the Pico Ultra? Pico is the only brand I haven't tested at this point - its been on my list and requested for a while and I never did.

[@artgoat]

Looking at the specs, the 3S was too close to the Q2 that I already had. All I could see that it offered was faster processor and better pass-through. I just bought a Q3, and couldn't be happier with the lenses. I honestly cannot FIND a bad IPD! If somebody didn't have a headset, already, I could see going for the 3S, but the Fresnel lenses were a killer for me. But the 3S is a replacement for the Q2, not a serious competitor to the Q3.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Agreed! Really, the Quest 3S feels closer to a "Quest 2 Pro" or "Quest 2+" over a "Quest 3S" - if that makes any sense 😆

[@wangtang32000]

literally answers all my questions. thank you.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Great to hear! Thanks for taking the time to watch.

[@jendaar]

I upgraded from a Q2 and decided to get a Q3 over the 3S. I felt guilty about spending more but thanks for making me feel better. LoL

[@aline.tech.reviews]

😂. You made the right call! If it helps, you'll likely have it for 3-7 years. Even at the minimum of 3 years (if you were to upgrade to a Quest 4), the difference is HALF the cost of a Spotify subscription.

[@iamapie13]

I've been rocking a Quest 1 since 2019, so I think the only downgrade if I got a Quest 3S would be the LCD display instead of OLED

[@vixxie9518]

Good comparison. I always recommend the Quest 3 to new people getting in VR or as a Quest 2 upgrade, even after 3s is released, and despite me selling my Quest 3. Sold mine on eBay for about $380 in pristine condition with 3rd party comfort accessories included. Which I think is a significantly better deal for anyone over a 3s. Fresnel lenses and the same terrible IPD adjustment makes it just not recommendable. For me I have a Quest Pro and found the audio jack, QLED w/ local dimming, self-tracking controllers, and eye tracking for dynamic foveated encoding w/ Steam Link for PCVR to still be the best for me personally over Quest 3/3s, but it's double the price so it's hard to recommend to anyone who's not seriously into VR.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Appreciate that - thanks for taking the time to watch and comment! Love that you passed on such a great deal to another VR user. And definitely agree with you on the Quest 3 recommendation + pitfalls of Fresnel lenses and the IPD adjustment. Quest Pro definitely takes the cake, of the three, for pushing the limits in PCVR. It's hard to find a good used deal on one, too, so annoyingly out of reach; either less were sold than I imagined or people really hung onto them for the eye tracking. You'd expect eye tracking to be more widely available in headsets due to how functional it is. I'd probably still recommend the Quest 3 for standalone - and even now for PCVR I think the upcoming Pimax Crystal Super is going to be worth the wait and jump in price (or their Crystal that will presumably drop in price down to that $1,000 mark to get rid of inventory). Excited to see where those go!

[@Teykila31]

Regarding the infrared emiters added on the quest 3S and not on the quest 3, you can buy a small and cheap one that you plug on the USB-C port of the quest 3 to mitigate the bad tracking in low light environment

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Yea, I mentioned that in the video! The one I showcased was the KKCOBVR I2.

[@PatternMusic]

I just last week upgraded from my old Quest 2 to a Meta-refurb Quest 3. The displays are SO MUCH BETTER.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Love to hear it! And agreed - it's not even CLOSE. Fresnel lenses are on their way out 💨

[@theperpetualboy3386]

I learned a lot about the differences between models, thanks.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Sure thing! Don't hesitate to let me know if you need more information - I've been using the Quest 3 for over a year and I've been testing the 3S for months (got it Day 1).

[@GrimmerPl]

Thank you for your video. And about storage - that's true. I have 128GB Q3 and with just couple games I had issues with updating them because there was not enough storage left for update. Maybe when I finish Asgard's Wrath it will be a non issue because that game is taking 35GB.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Thanks for taking the time to watch! And lolol, most definitely - and then you'll find "Medal of Honor" and realize it's 43GB 😲. Unfortunately, I think the games are going to keep getting larger; I fear even the smaller apps, currently 2-10GB, are going to start doubling in size with upgraded asset resolutions.. which means you and I are going to have an even harder time managing space.

[@ottomatic.tech.]

Bro this was such a great review! At 5:30, I didn’t know that it has diagonal displays, no other channel mentioned that. I’m probably getting the 3 soon and I’ll review it on my channel, and the upgrades look well worth it! I do think that the 3s is still an OK option for first time vr users (if you’ve never tried pancake lenses) and will still provide a fun gaming experience. Thanks for the review 👍

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Thank you!! Appreciate you taking the time to watch. And haha, yea - be sure to keep an eye out for it when you get your Quest 3. It's noticeable in a lot of scenarios - the lenses amplify the screens so you can see it quite well. It's an interesting effect.. your brain kind of "blends" or "erases" it when you're immersed in a game, but anytime there's a horizontal or vertical edge or text it will grab your attention again (at least it does mine). It's an effect that won't exist much longer in the world of VR. In the unreleased headsets I've looked through ("4k" per eye headsets coming in 2025), you can no longer see the grid or space between pixels.. it's like looking at a flat, high-res screen. The future is going to be awesome for VR =) And I agree 100% - the Quest 3S is a GREAT option for first-time VR users. It's just hard to recommend it when you can get a Quest 3 for the same price and storage (even if it's slightly used).

[@phoenixbluex]

i just ordered a refurbished quest 3 128gb from ebay for $379.99 ($80 more than a new 3s). Hopefully, it's like new. I want the better lenses.

[@phoenixbluex]

It's the cheapest option I found (besides used), but doesn't come with batman, 3 months quest+, or the referral bonus so.. it kinda depends.. it has 2 years warranty though

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Nice! If you got the "Meta official" one, then you should be in great shape. IIRC those come with a basic warranty in the event it dies or you find it's more used then the "pristine" quality they advertise + eBay has a warranty on top of that you can use to replace it.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Here's a 15% referral coupon for Batman in case you wanted it eventually: www.meta.com/appreferrals/ALINE.tech/3551691271620960

[@christian32301]

When you set up your meta account you actually do get the 3 months of meta+ i bought the same thing and it was a happy surprise

[@aline.tech.reviews]

@@christian32301 - That's awesome - did you get Batman: Arkham Shadow as well or just the Meta+?

[@neilbrennan8346]

That was a amazing video dude was waiting to update from 2 to 3 or the 3s now it's 3 all the way thanks dude

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Thanks man, I appreciate it! You won't regret it - the upgrade from 2 to 3 is totally worth it. Be sure to take a good look through your Quest 2 before you get rid of it - the difference in clarity will blow your mind.

[@DT-gun]

I picked up a quest 3 used on marketplace for $250. I knew coming from the drone fpv world that the frnezel lens goggles are a hot wet mess. I didn't want to spend the money for the expensive 3's and FB marketplace delivered.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Woooot! That's a nice snag, congrats. The turnover rate for VR headsets seems to be pretty high; I think many people buy them only to realize that VR isn’t what they thought it was OR that it’s more cumbersome to jump into than say turning on your PC. Great news for users that want to get in with deal.

[@AW_DIY_garage]

Do I plan on buying a quest3 or quest3s? No. But your videos are amazing so here I am watching to the end.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Haha, appreciate you always showing up and out! 🙏

[@S01DATT]

I bought my Q3 512 a year ago on eBay for $300 no free game but great headset

[@aline.tech.reviews]

That's a great deal - lots of you guys the comments here are coming out on top with awesome buys. The free game back then would have been Asgard's Wrath 2? Which is only like $30 with the 25% referral code.

[@l0wh1n]

Awesome video, I'm very glad it came out now as I am looking for which one I will upgrade from my quest 2! Looks like the Quest 3 is the better option in nearly every aspect.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Appreciate that! And yea - the visuals hold the most weight. The Quest 3S got incremental updates in other places, lessons they seemingly learned from the Quest 2/3, but nowhere near enough to overcome the Quest 3's pancake lenses and better build quality.

[@ArcticBuzzard44]

This is the best review I’ve seen of this hands down 🔥

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Appreciate that! Thanks for taking the time to watch

[@legocreator768]

You didn't bring up the fact that prescription lenses from the Quest 2 fit the 3S. thats a huge upside considering they can cost $100+.

[@flymanhawaii]

Ordered 3s and the viewing experience getting worst. Tried 3, much more better. So ordered 3 and return 3s

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Glad you caught it and were able to replace it!

[@deepoi5754]

I upgraded from quest 2 to quest 3s, im fucking blessed that ipd fits me perfectly

[@talasattila6401]

same here. I have exactly 63mm IPD. maybe it's a problem for others, but 3S is great for me.

[@k.c.9019]

No infrared in Quest 3 - "it can easly be matched by existing attachments". No audio jack in Quest 3s - "you sacrifice the ability to charge while playing", "you ditch out more money on accesories". I agree to all but why just not be objective in all aspects. Why choose a winner and then emphasize every pros of Quest 3 and at the same time highlight every cons of Quest 3S. It is what it is why treat it diffrent.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

I was objective in all aspects - those items objectively have easy fixes for the alternative, which allows the Quest 3 to stay on top (and I gave the win of the IR section to the 3S). To counter your point, check out the Quest 3 charging pads, which I said are useless and the Quest 3S has same access to accessories, and Quest 3S Action Button + tapping - to which there are no counters there for the Quest 3 *because they don't exist*.. and that the Quest 3's depth projector *does not make a difference*. The problem you're seeing is just there's way more cons to the Quest 3S (which is the point of my video). Neither the Quest 3 nor the Quest 3S are headsets I use for my personal VR experiences - so I don't have a race in this horse (I use the Apple Vision Pro for work and Pimax Crystal for VR simulations). The Quest 3 was objectively better in any way I tried to flip it. I think what you may have been hoping for is a video that just lists out the features of each headset, but that is not the point of my video. The point of my video was to compare them, pit them against one another, and choose a clear winner (if one was to be chosen)

[@k.c.9019]

@@aline.tech.reviews I understand what you wrote. Without pointing out specific things I could even simplify that I agree to what you wrote. But what you answer to is not the topic I brought. I mentioned one flaw of each VR and how you present this issues. And the way you described the "solutions" wasn't coherent between VR in my opinion. That's all, nothing more I wanted to share there. I enjoyed the video, great editing. Wondering if the comparison of lenses shown in "Optics & Visuals" is that drastic. If yes, best showcase of superiority of Quest 3 I saw so far in any videos comparison so far. If it's not that big of a diffrence then... hmm you know. If you see anything worth in my opinion, great. If not, great. I could be wrong. Wish you best.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

​@@k.c.9019 - I definitely see value in your opinion! I'm doing my best to comprehend; I believe there is a slight language barrier, but I re-read it a couple times and I think I understand; you hear me saying: 1) IR Emitter (Quest 3 lacks) -> accessories good 2) Audio Jack (Quest 3S lacks) -> accessories bad I understand this and it makes sense! I could have done better at presenting those items and the reasoning/weight behind them. The solution is more nuanced than accessories "good" vs. "bad" (which is a slippery slope). The reason the latter has such a heavy weight is because they've actively removed a feature to make the headset worse and more cumbersome (vs. adding a feature to make it better); I'm more addressing a deeper problem with the device and the impact of it on a user than the impact of its accessories (which is why it was in a list of 3 options). So, yes, I need to do better in that regard and I appreciate you calling it out for me and helping me understand! The difference in the lenses is quite drastic and is the largest difference between the two headsets. If you are able and have a Best Buy/Walmart/etc. around you that does demos, you can go try them both side-by-side to see for yourself. I recommend this to anyone making the purchase (which I also forgot to say at the end of this video). I truly appreciate you taking the time to watch and leave a thoughtful comment.

[@laxlyfters8695]

Great video 🎉 Feliz Navidad!! Crazy how meta has been releasing beefy updates lately especially that windows 11 compatibility that allows 3 computer monitor screens to be used just straight in the home environment!

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Thank you!! And happy holidays. =) Agreeeeddd!! I've had a "1 year later" Quest 3 video in the works for a while, and right as I started filming they dropped three major updates back-to-back-to-back. I'm gonna keep testing all the new features a bit and delay that video. I'm super impressed with the pace they're keeping in terms of updates. It's great to be in an ecosystem that is constantly improving and makes the cost of the product so much more worth it.

[@Holy_Light65]

I got a quest 3s 128gb, for free from someone, I would of like the quest 3 with 500gb but can't be mad at a free one

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Congrats, and most definitely! Quest 3S is still an awesome bit of tech.

[@0gmafia]

Gonna pick up a 3 Now your the best 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🤣☺️👍🏽

[@aline.tech.reviews]

My man, hope you enjoy it! Thanks for taking the time to watch 🙏

[@shinarts4902]

i wish i had seen this video before i bought the 3s.. its my first headset and i thought it was just less pixels and thats it. granted there is more information about it out there, but the videos i watched kinda left it at "less pixels and slightly smaller fov but otherwise the same". when i got it i found it dang blurry and you constantly have to move it up and down to get back into its sweetspot. also F the constant halo effects.. i even looked up if the blur was normal or if i had gotten a lemon but nope thats just where its at. i have the disposable income but ofc i had to be stingy.. on the other hand i have to admit i quickly started feeling a little letdown by the state of vr gaming. i only purchased it for pcvr and bought tons of games. but gaming just feels extremely experimental and lacking. ive wanted to buy a multiplayer shooter and quickly gave up cause i cant tell which games are dead. it sounds like the best titles can do 300 players max on steam and i cant see what its like on quest.. who wants to buy games in that kinda market? probably a very unedjucated statement to make, but it just felt like it wasnt worth digging. if anyone has recomendations id be happy to hear them. thanks for the great video though, atleast i know im not gonna cheap out on headsets again.. but if not alteast some of my 3s accessoires fit the quest 4 im not going to bother. i imagine short after its release youd have to wait for 3rd party's to make new stuff and im not gonna buy metas overpriced stuff (that also seems to have bad quality). what a horrible system. "look our headsets are the cheapest but you also have to buy 100-200€ worth in accesoires every new release." as if consumers didnt realize..

[@aline.tech.reviews]

For your note on the letdown of the state of VR gaming: I think a lot of people feel that way and it's a primary reason there are so many used Quest headsets on the market (15:47). That, plus VR takes a lot of extra effort to set up and jump into over just turning on your PC or gaming console - especially when you get into PCVR. It's a large barrier to entry and I get why you feel that way + you aren't alone. At this point in time, I would still consider you an early adopter to VR. Meta's beautiful pricing (especially the Quest 3S - it's priced at an insanely good value for all the hardware/tech you get) is helping lure more users into the world of VR and slightly expand the ecosystem, but many users get through all the content pretty quickly and then get bored because it's still more of a novel experience than lasting one unless you find a niche you really enjoy. Luckily for you, the upgrade to the Quest 3 won't solve that issue and this is one scenario where you might end up realizing you saved $200 if you don't end up enjoying it. For fun multiplayer shooters, I'd try out some of the standalone ones first so you don't get too overwhelmed with PCVR setup. To play those Steam games you will need a computer that can run them, but standalone is where the Quest 3 headsets shine because you can run their games on the headset directly: "Contractors" is one you can't go wrong with IMO. It's on sale right now - it started with small multiplayer maps, but they have larger CoD-esque "Ground War" and "Rush" maps with like 16 or 32 players now I think. "Population One" is a free battle royale game you can play standalone - it was one of the first multiplayer shooters I played and I quite enjoyed it (even though the graphics are meh) - I still like to hop in and play but there's a lot of kids in it because it's free. Also try Vail, I think they have a free version you can get a taste of.

[@RedFox0333]

Why wouldn't they allow an SD card slot, unless they don't want the user to actually own the product.

[@armfrosting]

All Im saying is Im taking donations

[@aline.tech.reviews]

😆😆 At the end of the video, I give a handful of examples of where to find used/refurbed Quest 3's for the same price as the 3S (or a just $80 higher for a pristine one with a 1-2 year warranty). There's a lot of VR headset turnover so lots of great deals to be had.

[@dpatrick813]

Same here, I got a Quest 3 a month after release and got the 128 gig to save a few bucks, and now I regret getting the smaller memory option. Without having the option to upgrade memory, I'm stuck until the new headset drop. To overcome the low memory of the headset I buy most my games on PC. I think the next headset should come with 500gb or TB standard.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

It's unfortunate. They really like locking us into the Apple-designed ladder of storage. 256GB seems like the sweet spot IMO and they always dangle it just out of frame. I've been testing some USB-C storage options for a potential video - playing with ways to expand storage with attachments that you can wear on a headstrap.. not having a ton of luck because they have it fairly locked down. It works for external storage like movies/etc. but I haven't yet gotten games successfully routed off the headset. I'll try again when they make their update to Android 14 in 2025.

[@ChickenWingnut]

I would reccomend waiting a bit, and eventually motherboard modules will soon enter market for repair/upgrades. The quest 2 currently can be upgrade to 256gb for around $60 so if you plan on keeping the quest 3 for a while that may be your option!

[@KingTacos1146]

IM NOT EVEN KIDDING I BOUGHT A 3S ABOUT 3 DAYS AGO (well i didnt actually purchase it) BUT i DIDNT LOOK INTO THE 3 BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE 3S BEING THE NEWEST VR WAS THE BEST TO DATE..... (but i dont hate u i hate that stupid little s) edit: if you see this can u return the 3S for a 3???

[@aline.tech.reviews]

Haha, you *can* return it (nearly everywhere has a 14-day return policy and most holiday purchases are extended through January 31 - depending on where you got it), but that doesn't necessarily mean you *need* to. The Quest 3S is still a perfectly viable VR headset and is the new replacement for the Quest 2. The real question I would ask yourself is if you're enjoying it? If you're enjoying it A LOT and can see yourself using it for many years, then the Quest 3 upgrade is probably worth it. If you're enjoying it and don't imagine you'll use it daily/weekly for the foreseeable future, then stay with the 3S! Also, keep in mind the Quest 3 is $200 more (which is a lot). You'd need to buy refurbished/used if you want to stay in the same price as the 3S. I'd recommend getting one of the officially refurbished ones from Meta in this case because you get a warranty and a better change at a "pristine" device.

[@KingTacos1146]

@aline.tech.reviews ok I'll look into a refurbished 3 and talk it over thx man

[@SharkAcademy]

Yes, should be easy to return, specially if you’re upgrading, you can get store credit if they have it and you want to buy it there

[@talasattila6401]

Meh. 3S is great. Quest3 is a bit better, but not 200$ better. the pancake lenses and SLIGHTLY higher rez screen inside is not a 200$ upgrade. Well to be fair considering what they are packing, even the Quest3 is cheap. But if you factor in all the pros and cons, at this moment 3S is simply the better deal in every way. Price, performance, value. My advice is this: If you simply want the slightly better headset, buy the Quest3. If you want a far better value, buy the Quest 3S. If you already bought the 3S, and thinking of buying a Quest3 as an "upgrade", don't do it. The difference isn't as big as you think.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

I highly disagree with this opinion! Yes, the Quest 3S is still an amazing piece of tech (and an insane value at this price). However, the pancake lenses alone are worth the $200 upgrade (and I presume it's literally what you're primarily paying for). It's definitely NOT a "slight" upgrade.. and I would always advise the $200 upgrade if you want a viable visual experience. The good news, as I state in the video: the Quest 3 refurbished, slightly used, and even brand new can be had at the same price as the 3S. The turnover rate for VR headsets seems to be pretty high; I think many people buy them, only to realize that VR isn’t what they thought it was, or that it’s more cumbersome to jump into than say turning on your PC.. which means great deals for VR users.

[@armfrosting]

So the 3S is trash & the 3 is too high 😂

[@MobileDecay]

We know it's better but when people say they don't have the money they're not messing with you. They don't have the money. There are care that are better than your car but they are too expensive so you buy what you can afford. Also, the 3S is more giftable. Mom and Dad don't care about pancake lenses and higher resolutions.

[@aline.tech.reviews]

That's why I've spent 1 minute of the video (15:47 - Can't afford a Quest 3?!) giving alternatives to make it the same price. And yes, again, that's literally the only scenario in which I recommended the Quest 3S (16:27 - The One Case for the Quest 3S). It's almost like you didn't bother to watch the video and just came here to whine.

[@MobileDecay]

@aline.tech.reviews Wow I just gave my opinion and you lost your mind throwing insults. Christ. I don't know why anyone would be buying the 3S if they had the money for the 3 but whatever. Feel better. Lol

[@aline.tech.reviews]

I didn't "lose my mind", you drama queen. 👑 I replied with direct links where your "opinions" were addressed directly in the video you didn't bother to watch.

[@MobileDecay]

@@aline.tech.reviews Feel better. ☺️

[@matthews4159]

videos like this a just stupid ,,, $300 quest 3s or $500 quest 3 ,,,, you pays your money and you get what you pays for ,,, every one knows this . was the presenter of this video ISSUED free of charge the Quest 3 by Meta to review it ?? I would probably wax lyrical about a piece of kit I didn't pay for

[@aline.tech.reviews]

I paid for all 3 headsets in the video, and I'm not partnered or affiliated with Meta in any way. Meta offered me a partnership over a year ago and I declined. Keep up the great work, though, you're so good at being dumb and wrong!

[@adhdTrucker]

Lol, its not stupid. Maybe try watching before commenting next time. He compares storage and ways to get the 3 for cheaper which significantly shortens the gap and reasoning behind buying a 3s.

[@kaptchi]

Im going with a 3s because most games I play are on my computer and I don't mind worse performance or battery life, I was also planning on getting a 2 in the first place but the 3s is nearly the same price at this point so I decided to go with it instead. Great video though, for people wanting a stand alone headset I agree with everything you said!

[@MobileDecay]

You're not getting worse performance. It's the same specs as the 3.

[@kaptchi]

@MobileDecay right right I forgot same processor

[@ArcticBuzzard44]

7:15 😂😂😂 nice joke my dude 👌

[@aline.tech.reviews]

👀 lolol

[@ArcticBuzzard44]

You get subscriber today 😂