Another leak involving the Meta Quest 3S appears to indicate that the next VR headset will not feature a headphone connector. The Meta Quest series has featured this feature ever since it was formerly known as the Oculus Quest.

It's highly likely that Meta will reveal the Meta Quest 3S during its next Meta Connect event. Nonetheless, a number of sources have started leaking information about the new headgear ahead of an official announcement. It hasn't even been formally acknowledged by Meta, aside from perceptive fans recognizing what seems to be the Meta Quest 3S behind the CTO in a video taken in his office, but the volume of leaks is unavoidable.

Recently, a fresh batch of Meta Quest 3S photos surfaced on the Arcalive forum in South Korea (via UploadVR). The images seem to depict the new headset, which differs slightly from its predecessors. Although the front of the headset includes a separate array of cameras that will be used in the Meta Quest 3S passthrough, it doesn't look all that different from the others. But one obvious distinction is that there isn't a 3.5mm headphone connector.

Item: Meta Quest 3S Headphone Absence Jack Might Be A Negative

It is unclear why the headphone jack was removed. Eliminating it might have allowed the manufacturer to save costs or enhance the form factor in some other way. But removing the headphone connector means there's no longer a quick and lag-free way to pair headphones with the smartphone. It is likely that users will have to utilize the built-in speakers on the smartphone, pair Bluetooth headphones, or attach a set of headphones to the tablet via a USB cable. That choice might not be the best one, though, as it would prevent users from charging the gadget or physically connecting it to a computer while their headphones are plugged in.

There's no guarantee that what's depicted is the finished product because this is a leak. It's probable that more adjustments were made after these pictures were shot. Either way, eager fans will get more information when Meta finally makes the genuine deal public, which is probably not too far off. The Meta Quest 3 still has a headphone jack, so purchasing the more expensive headset might be the best alternative for consumers who view this as a deal-breaker. Since the Quest 3S is expected to replace the Meta Quest 2 once it launches, anyone looking for a less costly choice with a headphone jack might want to think about getting one of them shortly.