The world of virtual reality keeps evolving at a rapid pace. Not long ago, only a select few headsets dominated the scene, but today, there’s an ever-growing range of options. One of the newest contenders is the Meta Quest 3S, bringing with it a lineup of fresh accessories designed to enhance the experience.
Among these is the PrimsXR Carina D1S, a brand-new charging dock built specifically for the Quest 3S. I’ve had the chance to test it out firsthand, and at $69.99 (£60) at the time of writing, it presents a fairly inexpensive and straightforward solution to keeping your headset and controllers powered up. As a bonus, it doubles as a sleek storage solution, standing it in pretty good stead from the outset.
After spending over a week with the Carina D1S, here’s what I think.
Design and Setup
The Carina D1S makes an immediate impression with its sleek and polished design. From the packaging to the charging stand itself, everything seamlessly complements the Meta Quest 3S aesthetic. Also, the materials feel sturdy and durable, while the clean all-white finish helps the dock blend effortlessly into almost any gaming setup.
One of the standout aspects of the Carina D1S is its compact footprint, especially considering the size of the Quest 3S. PrimsXR has done a great job of keeping things efficient—there’s no unnecessary bulk, just a well-designed space to securely hold and charge your headset.
Alongside the docking station, the Carina D1S includes:
- A USB-C attachment
- Two rechargeable batteries
- Two controller battery covers
- An AC to DC power adapter
- A dedicated rest for the Quest 3S's head strap
Setting it up was pretty self-explanatory considering all of the components, although you do get instructions if you're struggling. I plugged it in, set up the USB-C adapter with the Quest 3S, replaced the batteries with the rechargeable ones in the controllers, and then docked it all into the stand and left the Carina D1S to do its thing.
A few things I noticed while getting to this point:
- The magnets used throughout the dock are impressively strong, giving a satisfying snap when placing the Quest 3S onto the stand. This leaves no doubt that the headset is properly connected. That said, there’s also a clear charging indicator on the front—orange when charging, green when fully charged—so you’ll always know where things stand.
- Additionally, the extra USB-C port is a handy touch, allowing you to charge peripherals or other Quest 3S accessories.
- According to PrimsXR, the Carina D1S supports charging even with attachments like a nose pad or shell cover installed. However, I wasn’t able to personally test this, as I don’t own those accessories.
Features and Performance
Marketed as a FlexiDock charging solution, the Carina D1S brings a solid mix of versatility and performance to the table.
I've already touched on the extra USB-C female port on the USB-C adapter, which is a handy and thoughtful addition for those with additional accessories. But the Carina D1S doesn’t stop there, with the dock's main feature being its “Superfast Charging” capabilities.
According to PrimsXR, the dock can fully charge a Quest 3S in two hours, while the controllers take around six hours. While I didn’t drain my devices completely to precisely time the process, the charge times I experienced with low-battery devices lined up well with these claims pretty closely.
One interesting detail is that the dock is designed to keep controllers slightly below 100% after a full charge. This helps preserve battery health by reducing unnecessary strain, which can extend the overall lifespan and prevent chemical degradation and erosion of the batteries over time.
At the end of the day, the Carina D1S does exactly what it’s supposed to—charges your Quest 3S and controllers efficiently. There’s no extra software, no complicated setup, just a simple, well-designed docking station that keeps everything powered while doubling as a sleek, neat storage solution.
Verdict
The PrimsXR Carina D1S is a near-perfect charging solution for the Meta Quest 3S, offering a sleek design, strong magnets for effortless docking, and fast, reliable charging.
It’s incredibly easy to set up, doubles as a compact storage solution, and even includes an extra USB-C port for added convenience. While a few cheaper alternatives exist, none appear to match the build quality and functionality of this dock.
That said, I’ve only had a short time with it, so I can’t speak to its long-term durability just yet. If it continues to perform flawlessly for weeks, months, and even years, it could easily earn a perfect 10/10. However, if issues arise down the line, that score may drop. For now, though, the Carina D1S stands as one of the best Quest 3S charging docks on the market based on my time with it.
