iFixit’s Meta Quest 3S teardown reveals a Quest 2 ‘hiding inside’

iFixit has published a teardown video of the Meta Quest 3S, revealing that it shares many similarities with the older Quest 2. The headset uses the same Fresnel lenses as the Quest 2, which are 100% compatible, and also has the same IPD adjustment mechanism. Additionally, the Quest 3S uses a single LCD panel, rather than one panel per eye like the Meta Quest 3. However, the 3S does have some upgrades, including two IR sensors for depth mapping, which performed well in unlit spaces. The headset also uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 SoC as the Quest 3 and is compatible with Meta's newer Touch Plus controllers. The reuse of older parts has allowed Meta to make the Quest 3S cheaper, with a price tag of $299.99 compared to the Quest 3's $499.99. This also means that replacement parts for the Quest 3S may be easier to find, as the Quest 2 has been around for four years. The changes made to the Quest 3S are not necessarily a bad thing, as they have made the headset more affordable. The Quest 3S is essentially a more powerful Quest 2 with color passthrough. Overall, the reuse of older parts has allowed Meta to create a more affordable headset without sacrificing too much in terms of performance.