Though More Affordable, It Still Left Me Feeling Uneasy

It’s been quite some time since I’ve immersed myself in the world of virtual reality—or more accurately, mixed reality. I’ve got a Quest 2 sitting at home, but it hasn’t seen much action lately because I’ve shifted most of my digital activities to a foldable Android device. However, my recent experience with the Meta Quest 3S at the Meta Connect event got me pondering whether this type of tech still has a place in my life. I just wish it didn’t leave me feeling queasy.

Meta announced the Quest 3S headset with a starting price of $300. It’s a bit cheaper than the regular Quest 3, running on the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 platform. The lower price comes with a slight hit to resolution and field of view, although it’s still an improvement from the earlier models. Meta is clearly targeting folks like me—those who’ve shelved their headsets for a while and might be tempted by an upgrade. The headset offers a full-color mixed reality passthrough, which let me easily navigate my surroundings during the demo by switching to that mode.

As I kicked off my session with the Meta Quest 3S, I found myself initially excited, thinking I had missed this kind of immersive experience. But soon enough, I was reminded why I rarely reach for these headsets. Nausea. I’m not sure if it was because I hadn’t eaten or if the room was too warm, but about 32 minutes into the demo, I had to kindly tap out and get some fresh air in the real world.

The final straw for me was Horizon World’s Music Valley Experience. It features Sabrina Carpenter, who I remember watching as a kid on the Disney Channel, singing away. As I got closer to her virtual “stage,” it was almost as if I was invading her personal space. It was too close for comfort.

During the demo, another avatar joined in and danced alongside me. This virtual guide was pretty sweet, guiding me through the digital landscape. We wound up near a floating alien spaceship that tossed out music notes. Maneuvering with the joysticks as makeshift claws to catch these notes was tricky, and it was during this game that my stomach really started to churn.

Despite my queasiness, there were moments I enjoyed with the Quest 3S. I caught the start of a Celine Dion special on Amazon Prime, and her voice was as amazing as ever. A calming field of daisies in an 8K, 3D YouTube video provided a relaxing experience. I even shuffled some virtual windows around, stacking them in a haphazard manner just for fun. I tried my hand at an Xbox game, but the demonstration controller wouldn’t cooperate. Eventually, I joined in on Just Dance, but by then, I was at the brink of my endurance.

The nausea peaked during the Horizon Worlds segment, which lacked a steady horizon to focus on, unlike what you’d find on a boat to help stabilize your senses. Surprisingly, even while sitting, the sensation got the best of me. Sitting might be my go-to strategy next time I strap on a headset. Meta’s managed to tone down the price of the Quest series, but they still need a solution for those of us with sensitive stomachs in the realm of virtual and mixed reality.

The new Meta Quest 3S starts at $300 for the 128GB model, with the 256GB version running up to $400. You can preorder now, and it officially hits the shelves on October 15.