If you've been eager to dive into VR gaming but the costs have held you back, the first remarkable Meta Quest deal of 2025 is here to change that. Best Buy is offering a tempting $50 discount on the Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR headset, bringing the price down to just $349.99. But that's not all—there's more to this incredible deal. You'll also receive a $50 Best Buy gift card and a free one-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, effectively lowering the cost to match that of the base 128GB model.

To make this offer even sweeter, it includes a copy of the highly-rated 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 VR Headset with Batman: Arkham Shadow

Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR Headset + Bonus $50 Best Buy Gift Card

Originally priced at $399.99, save 13% and get it for $349.99 at Best Buy. The Quest 3S surpasses the original Quest 2 in every aspect, yet maintains the same price point. It incorporates many features from the pricier Quest 3, such as the new and improved Touch controllers, an upgraded SnapDragon APU, and support for full-color AR passthrough. Gabriel Moss, in IGN's 9/10 review of the Quest 3S, noted, "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 others 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, you won't find another standalone VR headset that offers such freedom.

How Is the Quest 3S Different from the Quest 3?

Even at its 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 is nearly identical to the Quest 3 but with downgraded optics. However, since both use the same processor, the lower resolution can reduce the load on the APU, potentially improving game performance and contributing to the increased battery life.

For the price, the Quest 3S offers a superior value compared to the Quest 3, making it the better choice for most gamers, especially if the Quest 3 was out of your budget. When compared to the Quest 2, the decision becomes even clearer.

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