It’s no secret that tech prices are currently in a state of severe flux, especially when it comes to components like memory and storage. Now, for the first time its affecting VR hardware, more specifically Meta Quest, with Meta confirming that the price of Quest 3 and 3S are about to increase.
New Quest Prices
So, how much are they going up in price? As you can see from the image above, the price changes are as follows:
- Meta Quest 3S (128 GB): $349.99/£319 (was $300/£290)
- Meta Quest 3S (256 GB): $449.99/£409 (was $400/£380)
- Meta Quest 3 (512 GB): $599.99/£549 (was $500/£470)
That’s not a small, insignificant bump, which Meta explains quite plainly: “We’re making this change because the cost of building high-performance VR hardware has risen significantly. The global surge in the price of critical components — specifically memory chips — is impacting almost every category of consumer electronics, including VR.”
Furthermore, the company notes that: “Updated pricing will also apply to Meta Quest refurbished units, while all Meta Quest accessories will stay at their current prices.”
These new prices will take effect from this Sunday, 19th April 2026. So if you’ve been thinking about purchasing a Quest, now might be the time.
The Price Increase Trend
As mentioned, most companies producing technology hardware have had to increase prices over the last year. PC gamers first noticed the pinch when components like RAM started to increase in price. This was mainly attributed to the rollout of evermore AI data centres, with companies like Nvidia and Micron shifting their focus away from consumer products – although it must be said that RAM prices have started to drop recently.
Prior to Meta’s price hike, companies like Sony and Microsoft had increased the price of their PS5 and Xbox consoles, respectively. And, likely, this trend isn’t going to die down anytime soon due to numerous political and economic factors.
What does it mean for VR?
This could have a range of factors on the VR landscape, crucially seeing fewer consumers adopt the technology. In turn, that means the niche VR industry remains that way, and developers find it harder to sell their games across a small audience.
And let’s not forget about Valve’s upcoming Steam Frame. A price and launch date were expected by now, but in February – citing the same reasons as Meta – Valve decided to hold off on any further details. The company still plans on launching the Steam Frame in the first half of 2026, but as of now, there have been no further developments.
What do you think of the price increase? Will this have a negative effect on VR? Let us know in the comments.
