If you've been eager to dive into VR gaming but the cost has been a barrier, the first significant Meta Quest deal of 2025 might just be what you need. For a limited time, Amazon is slashing $50 off 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 fantastic choice for those looking to store more games for untethered play. This direct discount is even better than the Black Friday deals, which often came with digital credit or store-specific gift cards.
To make the offer even more appealing, the package includes a copy of the acclaimed 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 256GB VR Headset with Batman: Arkham Shadow
$399.99 save 13% $349.00 at Amazon
The Quest 3S is a marked improvement over the Quest 2, offering enhanced features without a price hike. It incorporates many of the same features found in the more expensive Quest 3, including the upgraded Touch controllers, the advanced SnapDragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. In IGN's 9/10 review of the Quest 3S, Gabriel Moss highlighted its strengths, saying, "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 makes this deal stand out is the ability to play the Quest 3S completely untethered. This means you can enjoy games like Beat Saber or Pistol Whip without needing a powerful gaming PC or a PlayStation 5. It's tough to find another standalone VR headset at this price point.
How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?
Even at 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 how the two compare:
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)
Essentially, the Quest 3S is nearly identical to the Quest 3 but with downgraded optics. The same processor means running at a lower resolution could improve game performance and contribute to the longer battery life.
Given its price, the Quest 3S offers a better value than the Quest 3, making it an excellent choice for most gamers, especially if the Quest 3 was previously out of your budget. Compared to the Quest 2, the decision becomes even clearer.
Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?
IGN's deals team brings over 30 years of collective experience in finding the best discounts across gaming, tech, and various other categories. We focus on offering genuine value, never pushing products that aren't worth the price. Our goal is to highlight the best deals from trusted brands, based on our editorial team's hands-on experience. For more details on our process, check out our deals standards, or follow the latest deals on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.
