For those looking to dive into the exciting world of VR gaming, October Prime Day brought some truly exceptional Meta Quest deals. Until October 12, the official Meta Store on eBay offered refurbished Meta Quest 3 512GB VR headsets for just $359.99, a significant drop from the usual $500 new price. This incredible discount was accessible with the coupon code “HOLIDAYREADY” at checkout and included an extended 2-year warranty from Allstate. Additionally, the refurbished Meta Quest 3S 128GB VR headset was available for an astonishing $215.99 using the same “HOLIDAYREADY” code.
Refurbished Meta Quest 3 and 3S Headsets: An Overview of the Deals
These limited-time offers presented a unique opportunity to own a Meta Quest VR headset with the added assurance of an extended 2-year warranty.
Choosing Your VR Adventure: Quest 3 vs. Quest 3S
While the Meta Quest 3 is widely recognized as the premier standalone consumer VR headset available, its higher price tag (roughly 40% more than the 3S) reflects its superior features. The main distinctions lie in optics and storage:
- The Quest 3 boasts a sharper resolution (2064×2208 compared to the 3S’s 1832×1920) and a more advanced pancake lens array, which offers a broader and more comfortable viewing experience with a wider sweet spot.
- It also provides four times the on-board storage, with 512GB versus the 3S’s 128GB.
However, beyond these key differences, both headsets share core specifications, including identical body designs and dimensions, the powerful Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, and the responsive Touch Plus controllers featuring inside-out tracking. Both models also support mixed reality passthrough, utilizing similar camera technology at the front of the headset, albeit with a slightly different arrangement on the 3S.
For dedicated VR players deeply immersed in the ecosystem, the Quest 3’s enhanced display makes it a highly recommended upgrade. Having personally experienced and reviewed the Quest 3, logging countless hours in VR, I can attest to its quality. Yet, for casual VR enthusiasts or those new to virtual reality who prefer not to invest over $350, the Meta Quest 3S remains an excellent and more than capable option.
In summary:
- Quest 3 offers sharper resolution (2064×2208 vs 1832×1920)
- Quest 3 features a superior pancake lens array (vs fresnel)
- Quest 3 has a higher FOV (104°/96° vs 96°/90°)
- Quest 3 provides higher storage capacity (512GB vs 128GB)
- Both share the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor
- Both use the same Touch Plus controllers
- Both maintain the same 120Hz refresh rate
- Both offer the same Mixed reality passthrough functionality
- Both support same tetherless and tethered functionality
A video review of the Meta Quest 3 is also available for further insights into its performance and features.