Meta's Quest 3S: Same Chip, Budget Lens, Half-Off, Full Confusion
KEY POINTS
- •Meta reduced the Quest 3S headset price from $299.99 to $249.99 with a $50 digital credit promotion on Amazon during the holidays.
- •The Quest 3S uses the same chipset as the pricier Quest 3 but adopts optics and screens similar to the Quest 2 it replaces.
- •Apple’s AirTags four-pack deal drops the price to $64.98 at Amazon and Walmart, while Steam’s winter sale ends January 5 with indie and mainstream game discounts.
Meta dropped the Quest 3S during the holidays, slashing its price from $299.99 to a festive $249.99, and Amazon sweetened the deal with a $50 digital credit—because nothing says holiday cheer like virtual money for virtual adventures. This headset blends the 'deluxe' brain of the Quest 3 with the optics of Quest 2, confusing shoppers but pleasing frugal VR explorers. It’s also got 256GB, enough space for more games than your real-life friends. Meanwhile, Apple’s AirTags are dangling their bluetooth tracker charms at $64.98 on four-packs at Amazon and Walmart, cute little gadgets that say 'I’ll find your lost wallet, but you’ll owe me extra for grief.' Steam's winter sale wraps Jan 5, offering $41.99 Silent Hill F discounts and indie bargains like ‘Seance of Blake Manor’ to keep your virtual suffering affordable. For more accessories, Apple’s $42 iPhone crossbody strap makes your phone wearable art, Baseus powers your car and accessories for $28.49, and Anker's $129.99 power station promises five hours of fridge running, perfect for when you want cold drinks or just ponder a life lived plugged in.
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Meta’s Quest 3S is like buying a Ferrari engine, putting it in a go-kart, then charging you for the fuel too. Meanwhile, Apple’s AirTags hide your keys better than your will to socialize this year.
Nothing screams 2026 like paying near $250 for goggles that make you pretend you’re somewhere else—same chip as high-end but with lazy optics. Budget VR, but make it fashionably expensive.
Amazon’s $50 digital credit with Quest 3S is like a participation trophy for spending hundreds on virtual disappointment. Meanwhile, AirTags wait silently for you to lose your mind—and your keys.
Source: Theverge | Published: 1/3/2026 | Author: Cameron Faulkner
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