Meta confirmed this Thursday that it is increasing the retail prices for its Quest 3 and Quest 3S virtual reality headsets. Driven by the global surge in memory chip costs, the price adjustments take effect on April 19. The Meta Quest 3S (128GB) and 256GB models will both see a $50 increase, bringing their prices to $349.99 and $449.99, while the standard Meta Quest 3 will jump by $100 to a new price point of $599.99, as announced by the company.
Why Meta is Increasing Quest Prices
According to an official company blog post, the decision stems from the escalating expenses associated with manufacturing high-performance VR hardware. Meta stated that the rising cost of critical components, particularly memory chips, is currently impacting the broader consumer electronics industry. The company maintains that these adjustments are necessary to ensure the continued delivery of the hardware quality, software updates, and platform support that users expect from the Quest ecosystem.
Impact on Refurbished Units and Accessories
The updated pricing structure will extend to Meta Quest refurbished units. However, consumers looking to purchase peripherals can breathe a sigh of relief: Meta has confirmed that all Quest-compatible accessories will maintain their current price points.
A Growing Industry Trend
Meta’s announcement marks the latest instance of a major tech giant adjusting hardware costs in response to the ongoing RAM scarcity. The company now joins a list of industry peers forced to pass costs on to consumers, including Samsung, Microsoft, and Sony, all of whom have faced similar supply chain pressures.
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