Meta has announced the latest pricing update to its Quest 3 series as it hikes its selling price, with the company noting that this is a direct effect of the RAM shortage issues present in the industry.
The new pricing will take effect at the start of next week, and it is a significant difference compared to its original selling price in the market as the component shortage continues to affect different kinds of hardware.
Meta Quest 3 Series Sees a Price Hike
Meta revealed in their latest blog post that it is raising the prices of its Quest 3 series, and the company is blaming the global chip shortage for it. The new pricing takes effect on Sunday, April 19, and it affects both Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S across all markets.
Starting April 19, here is the updated price list of the Meta Quest 3 series:
- Meta Quest 3S (128 GB) - now at $349.99; previously $299.99 ($50 increase)
- Meta Quest 3S (256 GB) - now at $449.99; previously $399.99 ($50 increase)
- Meta Quest 3 (512 GB)- now at $599.99; previously $499.99 ($100 increase)
According to Meta, the current hike will also affect the price tag of all Meta Quest refurbished units available on its website, but the company said that all Quest accessories will retain their current prices.
UploadVR said that it is worth noting that the 512GB Quest 3 model was actually $650 when it first released in 2023 before it saw a price cut. This means that it still remains cheaper than it was at launch despite the latest change in price.
RAM Shortage Affects Quest 3 Headset
In its blog post, Meta said that "The global surge in the price of critical components, specifically memory chips, is impacting almost every category of consumer electronics, including VR."
The company said that in order to keep up with the demand, as well as deliver the same quality in its hardware, software, and support on the Quest platform, it has to adjust its pricing accordingly.
Meta is the latest tech company to raise hardware prices in response to the RAM shortage, following the latest price hike from Sony on the PlayStation 5 series. Samsung and Microsoft have also raised their prices.
Users may purchase their preferred Quest 3 series headset now from the Meta Store to get it at a significantly lower price before the new rates apply on April 19.
