The Meta Quest 3 is one of our favorite VR headsets and the model we generally recommend to anyone interested in trying the technology. The Meta Quest 3S is a step-down version of the Quest 3 that costs $200 less. Now that the Meta Quest Pro has been discontinued, these are the only two VR headsets in Meta's lineup. Both have earned an outstanding rating of 4.5 stars and an Editors' Choice award. I've tested both headsets (and many others) and am here to explain how they're similar, how they differ, and which one is right for you.

This is the most obvious difference between the two. The Quest 3S starts at $299.99, the same price as the Quest 2 at launch, and comes with 128GB of storage, or you can upgrade to 256GB for $399.99.

The Quest 3 is $499.99 and is only available with 512GB of storage.

Left to right: Meta Quest 3, Quest 3S (Credit: Will Greenwald)

The Quest 3 and the Quest 3S look almost physically identical, both featuring a white plastic body and a Y-shaped headstrap. You can replace those straps on either headset with the three-point Elite Strap ($69.99) or the Elite Strap With Battery ($129.99), which means the general fit and feel are close to the same across the board.

The Quest 3's front panel is curved and features three vertical camera/sensor clusters, while the front of the Quest 3S is flatter and features two triangular clusters. However, these differences don't seem to affect motion tracking or pass-through visibility.