Save $50 on Meta Quest 3S VR: Includes Batman Game %v

If you've been eager to dive into VR gaming but have been deterred by the high costs, then the first significant Meta Quest deal of 2025 might just be what you've been waiting for. For a limited time, Amazon is offering a $50 discount on the Quest 3S 256GB VR headset, bringing the price down to just $349. This is only $50 more than the base 128GB model, making it an excellent choice for those looking to store more games for untethered play. This direct discount surpasses even the Black Friday deals, which often included digital credit or gift cards tied to specific stores.

To make the offer even more enticing, the package includes a copy of the 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

Originally priced at $399.99, the Quest 3S is now available for $349.00 at Amazon, marking a 13% savings. The Quest 3S is a significant upgrade over the Quest 2, boasting improvements in every aspect without a price hike. It also incorporates many features from the pricier Quest 3, including the new and improved Touch controllers, the upgraded Snapdragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 review, Gabriel Moss highlighted its strengths, saying, "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 from other VR offers is the ability of the Meta Quest 3S to be played completely untethered. This means you can enjoy games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without the need for a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5 console. You won't find another standalone VR headset at this price point that offers such freedom.

How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?

Even at its regular retail price, the Quest 3S is $200, or 40% cheaper than the $500 Quest 3. To achieve this competitive price, some 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)

In essence, the Quest 3S is nearly identical to the Quest 3 but with downgraded optics. However, since both headsets use the same processor, the lower resolution on the Quest 3S reduces the load on the APU, potentially improving game performance and contributing to its longer battery life.

At its current price, the Quest 3S offers unbeatable value compared to the Quest 3, making it the better choice for most gamers, especially those for whom the Quest 3 was out of reach. When compared to the previous generation Quest 2, the decision to upgrade becomes even more straightforward.

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