An internal memo has revealed that Meta plans to raise prices on its VR devices, like the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S. Allegedly, the move is being made to extend the long-term sustainability of the line.
The memo (seen by Business Insider) reportedly came from new Metaverse execs Gabriel Aul and Ryan Cairns, who insist the company needs to “make a shift” to sustain its VR headsets. Alongside price increases, a new focus will be on accounting for tariffs and extending the replacement cycle of the devices.
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It also calls for creating high-quality software experiences that match the “excellence” of the Quest devices. However, that means the company may ship new hardware at a slower rate.
All of this news hits as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is planning big cuts for the Metaverse team, a section of the company that has burned more than $70 billion since 2021. Partially, this is on a perceived failure of the metaverse, but also a pivot by the company to be more AI-focused.
How high?
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As of this writing, Meta offers two Quest headsets: the flagship Quest 3 for $499, which is a price cut from the original $649 it launched with. The entry-level Quest 3S retails for $299.
The memo doesn’t provide any potential price suggestions. Right now, the Quest 3s are some of the least expensive quality headsets you can buy.
Apple’s Vision Pro sells for an absurd $3,500 while the recently announced Samsung Galaxy XR starts at $1,799. For gaming, Valve revealed its Steam Frame VR headset in November but has yet to announce a price.
Previous rumors have suggested that the Steam Frame will be priced between $600 and $1,200, with most expectations pegging it around $1,000. Either way, the Frame will likely be more expensive than the current Quest 3 lineup.
To be competitive, it’s more than likely that Meta will compare its next offering to whatever the Steam Frame costs, as that is where you’ll see the most competition, especially in the VR gaming space.
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(Image credit: Meta)
A slower release cadence isn’t a big surprise, as the long-rumored Meta Quest 4 was sidelined this year in favor of the company’s smart glasses; the Meta Ray-Ban Display and Ray-Ban Meta (gen 2) glasses. Previous rumors suggested that Quest 4 wouldn’t release until 2027.
A rumor from earlier this month revealed that Meta is working on the next-gen Quest VR headset, which will be a “large upgrade” compared to the Quest 3.
Allegedly, Meta has at least four different prototypes in the works: two Quest 4 models, an ultralight mixed-reality headset, and the rumored “Phoenix”, which would feature a tethered battery puck (similar to the Apple Vision Pro).
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