Meta Quest 3S Leak Shows VR Headset Design Changes

Highlights

• Meta Quest 3S design leaked, suggesting a middle-ground upgrade between Quest 2 and 3.
• New headset may feature full-color passthrough, Touch Plus controllers, and familiar resolution.
• Possible replacement for Quest 2 in the future with potential to offer upgraded features.

The upcoming Meta Quest 3S virtual reality headset, previously referred to as the Meta Quest Lite, seems to have had its design leaked from official channels. While the Meta Quest 3S still doesn’t have an official release date, price, or even a reveal, more hints of its existence and what to expect have been coming to light in recent months.

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is behind the extremely popular standalone virtual reality headsets. Initially getting their start under the Oculus brand, Meta Quest VR headsets can be used independently or with a PC, depending on the user’s preference and how complex the game they’re interested in playing is. In either situation, the headset doesn’t require base stations to track the user’s movement, which makes it considerably easier to set up and use.

Currently, the Meta Quest 2 and 3 are available for sale alongside the Meta Quest Pro, but the 3S may be joining that line-up in the near future. During a Meta video from the CTO of the company, eagle-eyed fans spotted what looks to be the Meta Quest 3S headset in the background. The device only appeared briefly during a recording demonstrating a recent update to Meta Quest headsets, showing their reduction in distortion when using passthrough mode.

While it’s difficult to ascertain a great deal of detail from the brief look, there are some apparent design changes from the currently available Meta VR headsets. The new Quest is white, and appears to be thicker than the Meta Quest 3. While difficult to tell, it looks as though there may be cameras on the front of the headset, and the overall design is less curved than the Meta Quest 2. The look of the device seems to be in keeping with recent leaks that have shared some details regarding its specs.

What’s New With the Quest 3S?

Meta Quest 3 owners probably won’t want to pick up the 3S, as it’s looking like it will be a new middle-ground upgrade between the Meta Quest 2 and 3. The Quest 3S will allegedly use the same type of lenses as the Meta Quest 2, with less visual fidelity than the Meta Quest 3. However, it’s suggested that it will also feature full color passthrough, which is currently only a Quest 3 and Pro feature. The Meta Quest 3S will allegedly have the same resolution as the Meta Quest 2, the same IPD adjustment system and processor, but will feature the more recent Touch Plus controllers. For fans who haven’t upgraded from the Meta Quest 2, this new headset may be a worthy purchase. It’s also possible that the Meta Quest 2 may stop production at some point and be replaced by the 3S.