Meta will increase prices for two of its most popular virtual reality headsets starting April 19. The Quest 3 will cost $100 more at $599.99 while the Quest 3S models will rise by $50 each. The 128GB version of the Quest 3S jumps to $349.99 and the 256GB version to $449.99. The move comes as the company cites a persistent shortage of RAM chips affecting production costs.
The price changes apply to new orders placed after April 19. Existing inventory already on shelves will remain at current prices until sold. Meta confirmed the adjustments in a brief statement without detailing how long the higher prices will remain in effect.
Industry analysts note that Meta’s VR division has faced rising component costs for months. The Quest 3 launched last September with 8GB of RAM, while the Quest 3S offers 6GB. Both models use LPDDR5 memory, which has seen volatile pricing since late 2024 due to strong demand from smartphone makers and AI hardware developers.
The price hike follows similar adjustments for the Quest 2 in late 2023 when Meta cited supply chain pressures. At the time, the entry-level headset rose from $249 to $299. The company has not announced plans to adjust prices for the Quest 2 again.
Consumers planning to buy a new Quest headset may want to act before April 19 to avoid the higher costs. Meta’s VR devices remain the most widely used standalone headsets in the market despite growing competition from Apple and others.
Source: techcrunch.com