Though Cheaper, It Still Left Me Feeling Queasy

It’s been quite some time since I’ve dived into the world of virtual—or should I say, mixed reality—with a headset. I have a Quest 2 at home, but lately, it’s been gathering a bit of dust as I’ve become more engrossed with my foldable Android device for most of my computing needs. However, my experience with the Meta Quest 3S at the Meta Connect event got me thinking about whether this type of immersive experience deserves a place back in my routine. If only it didn’t leave me feeling a tad queasy.

Meta’s announcement of the Quest 3S headset, which starts at a price point of $300, adds an interesting twist to the lineup. It offers a more budget-friendly option compared to the regular Quest 3, powered by the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 platform. Of course, the trade-off comes with a decrease in resolution, offering a narrower field of view. Still, it’s a step up from the Quest and Quest 2. Meta seems to be targeting folks like me—those who haven’t dusted off their headsets in a while but might be tempted by an upgrade. It boasts a full-color mixed reality passthrough, making it easy to glide back into reality mid-demo by switching modes.

Starting my session with the Meta Quest 3S, I initially felt a pang of nostalgia for this virtual realm. Yet, by the session’s end, the queasy feeling reminded me of why headsets weren’t a staple in my routine. Maybe it was a combo of an empty stomach and the intense heat, but after about 32 minutes of trying to immerse myself, I had to graciously bow out for a breath of fresh air.

The tipping point, amusingly enough, was the Horizon World’s Music Valley Experience. As Sabrina Carpenter, a Disney Channel alum I vaguely remember from younger days, sang out in the distance, it felt as though I was encroaching on her space. An interesting experience, though a bit too up-close for comfort.

At one juncture, I even joined another avatar who graciously guided me through this digital wonderland. We ventured towards a hovering alien spaceship, where collecting musical notes with the joysticks felt cumbersome. That’s precisely when I felt my stomach start to churn.

Despite the queasiness, there were enjoyable aspects of the Quest 3S too. I marveled at the intro to a Celine Dion special on Amazon Prime—her voice was captivating. Plus, lounging amidst daisies in an 8K, 3D YouTube video was wonderfully serene. I shuffled around some windows for fun, albeit haphazardly stacked them. I at least managed to try Just Dance, though nearing my VR endurance limit by then.

Horizon Worlds particularly unsettled me, lacking that solid horizon line which could stabilize seasickness, ironically while I was planted in a chair. Next time, I’m definitely sticking to a sitting position with any headset adventures. While Meta has adeptly lowered the Quest’s price, finding a solution for sensitive stomachs—like mine—in VR and mixed reality would truly elevate the experience.

The new Meta Quest 3S is available for pre-order, starting at $300 for 128GB and escalating to $400 for the 256GB version, with an official release set for October 15.