If you've been eager to dive into the world of VR gaming but the cost has been a barrier, you're in luck with the first great 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 base 128GB model, making it a compelling choice for those looking to store more games for uninterrupted play. This straightforward discount is even better than the Black Friday deals, which often came with digital credit or store-specific gift cards.
To make the 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, 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 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 is a significant upgrade over the Quest 2 in every aspect, yet it maintains the same price point. It also incorporates many features from the more expensive Quest 3, including the new and improved Touch controllers, an upgraded Snapdragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 review of the Quest 3S, Gabriel Moss noted, "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 that the Meta Quest 3S can be enjoyed completely untethered. This means you can play immersive games like *Beat Saber* or *Pistol Whip* without needing a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5 console. 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 key 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)
In essence, the Quest 3S is almost identical to the Quest 3 but with slightly downgraded optics. However, since both use the same processor, the lower resolution can ease the load on the APU, potentially enhancing in-game performance and contributing to the improved battery life.
Given the price, the Quest 3S offers better value than the Quest 3 and is a more suitable choice for most gamers, particularly if the Quest 3 was beyond your budget. When compared to the previous Quest 2, the decision becomes even clearer.
Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?
--------------------------------------IGN's deals team boasts over 30 years of collective experience in finding the best discounts across gaming, tech, and various other categories. We prioritize transparency and aim to highlight only the best deals from reputable brands we've personally experienced. For more details on our process, check out our deals standards here, or follow the latest deals we uncover on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.
