Meta unveiled updates to the company's virtual reality headset and Ray Ban smart glasses on Wednesday as it tries to demonstrate its artificial intelligence prowess and the next generation of computing platforms beyond smartphones and computers.

Meta Connect 2024 just revealed its new Quest 3S headset, but how does it stack up to the lower-end Meta Quest 2?

Meta has unveiled the Meta Quest 3S, a budget-friendly VR headset designed to replace the Quest 2 as the company's most affordable offering. While it

The Meta Quest 3S has nearly all the same capabilities as the Meta Quest 3, but costs $200 less. It ships in October.

In essence, the Quest 3S is nearly the same headset but with downgraded optics. On the plus side, since both headsets use the same processor, running at a lower resolution reduces the load on the APU, which could theoretically improve performance in games and also account for the increased battery life.

Looking to get into VR? Meta has announced a new, cheaper version of the Meta Quest 3, the Meta Quest 3S, available to pre-order now.

The Quest 3S comes in the box with two of the same Touch Plus controllers as the Quest 3 and the same head strap as last time. It should also accept “some, but not all” of the Quest 3’s accessories, including the elite strap with battery and carrying case.

Meta announced a lower cost version of its Quest 3 virtual reality headset and demoed its prototype Orion augmented reality glasses alongside a significant expansion of its artificial intelligence efforts on Wednesday at the company's annual Meta Connect event in Menlo Park,

And yet, for all its new features -- a better color passthrough camera that can enable mixed reality just like the more expensive Quest 3 and the same Quest 3 processor for more advanced graphics in games -- I wonder how rapidly the VR and AR app landscape on Quest can accelerate along with it.

Considering a Meta Quest 3S as an upgrade from your Quest 2? Here's what you miss out on (and gain) from picking it over the classic Quest 3.

Meta's Quest 3S was just announced, and these worthwhile games headed to the budget-friendly headset might just convince you to treat yourself.