Meta Quest 3S delivers on the promise of the Meta Quest 2 -- and gives users what they probably should have gotten with the 3 (including price).

Is the affordable Meta Quest 3S really that much better than the Quest 2? Let's look at what they are really like to use.

The Meta Quest 3S provides a cheap and user-friendly entry point to VR gaming. Though the hardware takes a slight downgrade compared to the pricier Quest 3, the Quest 3S is still capable of running the latest VR games.

After being stung by the cost of the Meta Quest 3 last year, I'm glad to say the Meta Quest 3S remedies a key issue.

Meta released a brand new mixed reality headset about two week ago, the Meta Quest 3S. It’s their cheapest mixed reality headset by far, starting at a price of $299, compared to the $499 starting price of Meta Quest 3. Don’t get confused though, the S in 3S does not mean it’s better, even though you may think that.

It's been just over two years now since soon-to-depart CTO John Carmack told a Meta Connect audience about his vision for a super low-end VR headset that came in at $250 and 250 grams. "We're not building that headset today, but I keep trying," Carmack said at the time with some exasperation.

AR browsing on Meta Quest 3S can help limit screen time due to a higher barrier for entry. Instagram is seamlessly integrated into the 3S, but VR features won't fully replace the usual methods. The Meta Quest 3S is a robust piece of hardware and a great gateway to virtual reality,