Meta Connect 2024 is fast approaching and one of the announcements we’re almost certain to get on September 25th will be for the Meta Quest 3S. Not only have we seen a ton of details from mainstream leakers, Meta themselves have leaked the headset’s existence twice in recent months, and now FCC and Dekra certifications have further bolstered the idea that we’ll be seeing a new VR device soon.
Dekra is an independent company that deals with product certification. The FCC is the Federal Communications Commission of the US government. It is common for both parties to review and certify technology before it is released to the market.
91Mobile phones has shared details about the certifications each company has awarded to a new Meta device dubbed the “P97.” The Dekra document also notes that it is for a VR headset.
While the P97 is somehow a previously unheard-of Meta gadget, given the company’s usual announcement cycle – which includes revealing and releasing new hardware during the annual Meta Connect showcase in late September/early October – these details seemingly confirm that we’ll see something on September 25. So if you’ve been planning on finally buying a VR headset, you might want to wait a little longer to see what Meta has to show.
The VR headset you’ve been waiting for
It’s easy to get excited about high-end hardware. Which is why you might be sad to see reports of the Meta Quest Pro 2’s cancellation, and happy to hear isolated leaks that the Quest Pro 2 might evolve into a different kind of headset altogether. But the announcement of the Quest 3S has me super excited.
I love the Meta Quest 3. If I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t have given it five stars in our Meta Quest 3 review . But while it’s fantastic value for money, it’s still quite a bit more expensive than its predecessor, the Meta Quest 2. It cost $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.99 instead of the $299 / £299 / AU$479 that the earlier version cost at launch.
Rumors suggest that the Meta Quest 3S will be closer to the Quest 2’s price point, while still featuring core Quest 3 specs like the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset. If these reports prove accurate, the next-gen VR and MR experiences that the Quest 3 will offer – such as the exclusive Batman: Arkham Shadow game coming later this year – could be a lot more accessible than they’ve been thus far.
And if more people can afford great VR experiences, that’s never a bad thing as far as I’m concerned.
Of course, we’ll have to wait and see what Meta announces – if anything at all. While I have faith that something is coming, there’s always a chance that the leaks are wrong and the Quest 3S is a myth. I really hope not, but we won’t know for sure until September 25th.