If you've been eager to dive into the world of VR gaming but have been put off by the high costs, then the first major Meta Quest deal of 2025 might be just what you need. Best Buy is currently offering a $50 discount on the Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR headset, bringing the price down to $349.99. But the savings don't stop there. With your purchase, you'll also receive a $50 Best Buy gift card and a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for free, effectively reducing the cost to that of the base 128GB model.
To make this offer even more enticing, the package includes a copy of the acclaimed Batman: Arkham Shadow VR game and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. In IGN's review, which scored it an 8/10, 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
Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR Headset + Bonus $50 Best Buy Gift Card
Originally priced at $399.99, the Quest 3S is now available for $349.99, marking a 13% savings at Best Buy. This model is a significant upgrade from the Quest 2, enhancing performance without raising the price. It also incorporates many features from the pricier Quest 3, such as the improved Touch controllers, the upgraded Snapdragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. IGN's review of the Quest 3S awarded it a 9/10, with Gabriel Moss noting, "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 truly distinguishes this deal from other VR offers is the Quest 3S's ability to be played completely untethered. This means you can enjoy games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without needing a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5 console. At this price point, you won't find another standalone VR headset that offers this level of freedom and quality.
How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?
Even at its full retail price, the Quest 3S is $200, or 40%, cheaper than the $500 Quest 3. To achieve this competitive pricing, some compromises were made. Here's a detailed comparison:
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 offers nearly the same experience as the Quest 3 but with downgraded optics. However, using the same processor at a lower resolution can reduce the load on the APU, potentially improving in-game performance and contributing to the increased battery life.
For the price, the Quest 3S represents a superior value compared to the Quest 3, making it a better choice for most gamers, especially if the Quest 3 was out of your budget. When compared to the previous generation Quest 2, the decision to upgrade becomes even clearer.
Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?
IGN's deals team brings over 30 years of collective experience in uncovering the best discounts in gaming, technology, and various other categories. Our mission is to provide our readers with the most valuable deals from reputable brands that our editorial team has personally vetted. We do not aim to mislead our audience into purchasing unnecessary items at inflated prices. To learn more about our process, you can review our deals standards here, or follow the latest deals on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.
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