VR goggles at a bargain price on Amazon: Which devices are worth it?
For Prime Day, Amazon is offering discounts on three current VR glasses – Meta Quest 3S, Pico 4 Ultra and Pimax Crystal Light. Who should strike?
VR goggles such as the Meta Quest 3S are currently available at low prices on Amazon.
(Image: Meta)
Amazon is offering huge discounts on the latest VR glasses for Prime Day – including the Meta Quest 3S, Pico 4 Ultra, and Pimax Crystal Light. However, not every bargain is the right choice: while some models are aimed at inexpensive beginners, others are aimed at experienced PC VR enthusiasts. If you not only want to save money when buying but also want to be satisfied in the long term, you should know the differences in detail.
Meta Quest 3S for 266 euros
The Meta Quest 3S is the cheapest model in the Prime offer. The 128 GB model is normally available for 329 euros. Amazon is currently offering the entry-level VR glasses for 266 euros, which is 64 euros cheaper – an excellent price. The 256 GB version currently costs 370 euros instead of 440 euros. However, we would advise against this, as the additional memory is not really worth the extra cost.
- Meta Quest 3S 128 GB - Gorilla Tag Cardboard Hero bundle for 279.99 euros on Amazon
- Meta Quest 3S 128 GB for 265.99 euros on Amazon
(Image:Â Meta)
The Meta Quest 3S is a standalone VR headset with solid tracking, a good range of apps, and an optional PC connection. The chip inside is the same as in the much more expensive Quest 3, and the controller and software are also identical. The big difference lies in the optics: instead of modern pancake lenses, simpler Fresnel lenses are used, which only display the image sharply in the center.
Anyone who frequently looks at the edges of the image – for example, in mixed reality applications or films – will have to live with blurring and light reflections. There are also deductions for wearing comfort: the fabric strap distributes the weight unevenly, and the battery barely lasts more than two hours. The Quest 3S is ideal as an inexpensive starter or second device – for serious VR and mixed reality use, but only to a limited extent.
Pico 4 Ultra for 459 euros
The Pico 4 Ultra, which is also mobile, is the counterpart to the Meta Quest 3, but is significantly pricier at around 600 euros RRP. In the current offer, it costs 459 euros, which means a whopping saving of 140 euros.
(Image:Â PicoXR)
Inside is the same XR2 Gen2 chip as in the Quest 3 and Quest 3S, but with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage instead of 8 GB. A color pass-through mode enables mixed reality, which is provided by the two built-in 32-megapixel cameras with a noisy but generally decent image – provided the lighting conditions are right.
Although the LC displays have a high resolution of 2160 x 2160 pixels, the image only remains sharp in the center. A sweet spot also limits the image quality here, although the Pico 4 Ultra uses pancake lenses. However, unlike the Quest 3, the models installed here do not have continuous sharpness right to the edges. The advantage of the Pico VR glasses: better binocular overlap. The part of the field of vision in which the images for the left and right eye overlap is larger. This can lead to better depth perception and greater visual comfort for sensitive people.
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Wearing comfort suffers from a rigid headband and a less flexible face cushion. On the software side, Pico lags the meta-ecosystem: the in-house app store is significantly smaller, many high-quality mixed reality apps are missing, and the big Quest-exclusive titles such as “Batman: Arkham Shadow” or the upcoming “Marvel's Deadpool VR” are naturally not available either. Instead, the Pico 4 Ultra can record and play back spatial photos and videos and scores points as a PC VR headset – here, streaming via cable or Wi-Fi is more stable than with the Quest headsets and offers good image quality.
Pimax Crystal Light for 756 euros
The Pimax Crystal Light is aimed at a completely different target group: for around 890 euros RRP, VR fans get a pure PC VR headset that does not require standalone use. It is currently a whole 134 euros cheaper at 756 euros.
(Image:Â Pimax)
The focus is on maximum image quality. Two LC displays with mini LED backlighting deliver 2880 Ă— 2880 pixels per eye, while aspherical glass lenses ensure a consistently clear image. The field of view is slightly smaller than that of the Quest 3, but much sharper. The integrated local dimming improves the black levels, which is particularly impressive in space scenes. However, there is no mixed reality, and the tracking is also not optimal: the controllers tend to lose contact briefly during fast movements.
The Pimax Crystal Light is not particularly comfortable. The housing is large and heavy, but the thick padding is surprisingly comfortable. If you are looking for VR glasses for flight simulations such as “Microsoft Flight Simulator VR” or racing games such as “Les Mans Ultimate” or “Assetto Corsa EVO,” the Crystal Light is one of the best options on the market, especially at the current offer price. However, a powerful computer is a prerequisite.
Interested parties should also know how to help themselves technically. The installation and the Pimax software, which is still not fully developed, occasionally require some fiddling around. If you would rather get a VR classic at a low price as an alternative to the Pimax, you can find the HTC Vive Pro 2 on Amazon for 445 euros. However, we can only recommend the VR goggles to nostalgics.
Conclusion: something for everyone
If you're looking for VR glasses, you should find what you're looking for in the current Prime Deals. The Meta Quest 3S is the best choice for occasional VR excursions or as an inexpensive introduction. The Pico 4 Ultra offers slightly more power, better lenses, and a good PC VR experience, but is weaker when it comes to software. If you have a high-end computer and know how to use it technically, the Pimax Crystal Light is the ideal VR glasses for VR simulations.
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