Meta Raises Quest 3 Price $100 Due to RAM Shortage
▼ Summary
– Meta is raising prices on its Quest VR headsets due to increased hardware costs from a global memory shortage.
– The price increases, effective April 19th, are $50 for both Quest 3S models and $100 for the Quest 3.
– Refurbished Quest headsets will also see price hikes, with the Quest 3 increasing by $170.
– The company states the global surge in memory chip prices is impacting consumer electronics, necessitating the change.
– Meta’s smart glasses are not expected to see a near-term price increase related to the memory shortage.
The cost of building advanced virtual reality hardware is on the rise, and consumers are about to feel the impact directly. Meta has announced a price increase for its Quest 3 and Quest 3S headsets, citing a global shortage of memory chips as the primary driver. This move reflects a broader trend affecting consumer electronics, where supply chain pressures are forcing companies to adjust their pricing strategies to maintain product quality and support.
Effective April 19th, the new retail prices will take effect. The 128GB Quest 3S will now cost $349.99, while its 256GB counterpart will be priced at $449.99, representing a $50 increase for each model. The more powerful Quest 3 headset will see a more substantial jump, rising by $100 to a new price of $599.99. This adjustment is not limited to new units, refurbished models will also become more expensive. The refurbished 128GB and 256GB Quest 3S headsets will each increase by $50, costing $319.99 and $409.99 respectively. A refurbished Quest 3 will see a significant $170 price hike, bringing its cost to $549.99. Notably, accessories for these devices will retain their current pricing.
In a statement, Meta explained the rationale behind the decision. The company pointed to a significant rise in the cost of manufacturing high-performance VR hardware, specifically highlighting the global surge in prices for critical components like memory chips. This inflationary pressure is impacting nearly every segment of consumer electronics, including the VR market. Meta stated that adjusting prices is necessary to continue delivering the expected quality of hardware, software, and platform support that Quest users rely on.
For now, one segment of Meta’s hardware lineup appears insulated from this immediate pressure. According to a company spokesperson, Meta does not currently anticipate raising prices on its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in the near future due to the memory shortage. This suggests that the component cost dynamics and product architecture for these wearable devices differ from those affecting the more complex VR headsets.
(Source: The Verge)
