I tried to live inside my VR headset, and it felt magical — but it's time to face reality

My 2018 MacBook Air finally gave in to a Flexgate issue. It's happening for the second time, and my repair guy quoted me $260 to fix it.

It felt pointless to throw money at a recurring problem, especially when it's because of Apple's design flaw. So I opted for a new 2020 model with the M1 chip.

While I waited for it to ship, I tried to make a secondary monitor out of my other devices. First, I used the Samsung DeX mode on my Rayneo Air 3s Pro smart glass series.

Then I tried my Meta Quest 3S. I couldn't use the headset's Remote Desktop because of my blank screen, but its browser app was all I needed to resume my workflow.

I discovered a whole world beyond my own where I could do and be anything. Here are some of my favorite activities to try on the headset.

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By  Sumukh Rao

I'm always in my headspace

I'm the only one who can see my work projects

The Meta Quest 3S is a virtual reality (VR) headset that can also do mixed reality (MR). I wear it once every day now. It runs on Horizon OS, which is Meta's customized version of Android.

Unlike the typical interface, it displays a PC-style layout with floating windows. You can drag, drop, resize, and pin them anywhere with the controllers. But I prefer using my hands.

I don't have a physical input method, so I use the experimental see-through version in my Horizon Central. It lets me see the keyboard and trackpad through the headset's cameras in my Loft.

Go to Library > Settings > Experimental and enable the toggle switch for Surface keyboard to use it.

Sometimes, I put my phone into Do Not Disturb mode when I strap in. Then I switch to my Horizon Loft space. I prefer it to passthrough mode, which has a poor, grainy effect.

Inside the Library is a browser where I run multiple tabs simultaneously. They include Asana for task management, Google Docs for writing, CMS for publishing, and Google Sheets for logging invoice entries after completing each task.

My workflow endured trials and errors before it felt natural. Since I was tapping my desk or the ground to reach keys, I missed them frequently.

I eventually switched to writing drafts on my phone first, then using the headset for lighter tasks like image compression, uploads, formatting, and adding finishing touches.

Battery life was a pain as the Quest 3S barely squeezed in two hours.

Combined with being new to navigating everything, my normal work process took noticeably longer than it should have. I had to recharge frequently. Eventually, I just left the charger plugged in.

Since the power cable is short, I replaced it with my old PC's 2-meter USB-C cable.

Overall, the headset is a functional workspace. But calling it seamless is an exaggeration. If you're planning to do a serious amount of typing inside the headset, I strongly recommend buying accessories.

I lost myself in my private cinema

It's a great place for a loner to be

As an introvert, I don't fancy going to the cinema or live concerts. Crowds and noise make me uncomfortable and awkward. But I can have the experience on my headset without the annoying parts.

Meta has a TV app containing immersive clips of celebrity shows and other videos. I've watched Sabrina Carpenter and Doja Cat perform, among others.

There's a surreal feeling to standing so close to an artist you'd normally watch on a tiny phone screen.

An even more immersive experience comes from the AmazeVR Concerts app in the Store. I watched Zara Larsson perform for free.

However, the selections are disappointingly few. You can only choose T-Pain, Megan Thee Stallion, and some other artists.

But the purchasable live events are realistic enough to make you temporarily forget you're not at the venue. That is, as long as you don't look behind, since it isn't a full 360° view. The black spots are the only thing breaking the illusion.

Watching YouTube also hits differently. In an immersive view, it feels like being alone in a dark room with a giant screen all to yourself. I watched Justin Bieber sing Daisies at Coachella 2026.

My data took a serious hit across all these tests since I wasn't on an unlimited bundle. But I don't regret it.

Meta's bundled TV app doesn't have movies. While it does have a Theater Elsewhere app, it's more like a library of over 2,400 animated 3D stories than films. So if you're hoping to watch the latest blockbusters, you'll have to find alternatives.

I usually watch Netflix in the browser, since there's no dedicated app for the headset. I also downloaded the NordVPN app to bypass geoblocking on my favorite streaming sites and download shows.

For long streaming sessions, recline your back on a couch or bed instead of sitting upright. The weight of the headset sitting on your face will affect your neck.

The default head strap isn't ideal for extended wear. Buy a custom option instead.

I sideloaded interesting apps

What's an Android user without their favorite feature?

Design work is not something you want to attempt on the Quest 3S. Although its 1832 × 1920 per-eye resolution has a higher pixel count than 1080p, it's less sharp than a typical 1080p display because of the field of view and optics.

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Professional designers will immediately notice the lack of sharpness and color accuracy. It's okay if you only want to use it as an extended virtual monitor for reference purposes.

What I used it for was testing world-building. My team and I are developing a VR game ourselves, primarily built in Unity 6. It's the latest major release of the Unity game engine, and a widely used real-time 3D development platform.

We were able to sideload our game demo onto the headset with the SideQuest desktop app. It was easy to set up and test builds outside of Meta's official store submission process. We simply connected the headset to the PC via USB.

Many apps in the Store are locked behind paywalls, so you might need a Horizon+ subscription. Sideloading is a better solution because you can try different games from independent developers.

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Posts By  Chris Thomas

Escape to a new world

VR headsets are more complicated than they seem. I spend more time configuring my settings to get the most out of mine than using it. That mostly means I need a quicker recharge.

Thankfully, my expectations were tame, which is why I haven't been disappointed overall.

The Quest 3S runs on glorified mobile specs after all. In particular, it uses the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip. It's why I've decided to keep it primarily as a gaming device.

There are nice room-scale games that take full advantage of spatial movement. Asgard's Wrath 2 is my favorite on my free trial of Horizon+.

Meta Quest 3S

Meta Quest 3S is the budget alternative to the Meta Quest 3, one that still offers high-end performance. Supporting virtual and mixed reality, the headset comes with a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, 8GB RAM, HD resolution (1832x1920 pixels per eye), and roughly 2.5 hours of battery life. 

$300 at Amazon $300 at Newegg $300 at Best Buy
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