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Meta VR Headsets Get Pricey Amid Chip Shortage
16 Apr
Summary
- Meta's VR headsets will see price increases starting April 19.
- Rising memory chip costs are driving up prices for consumer electronics.
- This move signals Meta's strategic shift towards AI and away from VR.
Meta Platforms revealed on Thursday, April 16, that its virtual reality headsets will become more expensive in the United States beginning April 19. This price adjustment is attributed to the escalating costs of memory chips.
The entry-level Quest 3S headset, featuring 128 gigabytes of storage, will now retail for $349.99, a rise from its previous $299.99 price point. Additionally, the higher-end Quest 3 headset with 512 gigabytes of storage will see a $100 increase, setting its new price at $599.99.
The surge in demand for memory chips, driven by companies like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft expanding their AI infrastructure, has led manufacturers to prioritize components for data centers over consumer goods. This trend has prompted other tech companies, including Dell, HP, and Microsoft, to also raise prices on their devices.
This strategic move by Meta indicates a potential shift in focus from its metaverse ambitions, championed by its Reality Labs division, towards artificial intelligence. This is further underscored by recent workforce reductions within the Reality Labs group and a scaling back of its VR platform, Horizon Worlds.
