- Meta has launched a low-cost version of its Quest 3 metaverse headset
- Dubbed the Meta Quest 3S, it retails for $299 down from $499
- Meta announced the headset during its Meta Connect conference
Tech heavyweight Meta has announced the launch of Meta Quest 3S, a low-cost version of its current Quest 3 metaverse headset. The headset will retail at $299, $200 cheaper than the original version. According to the company, the price reduction is meant to spur the headset’s adoption in its mission “to bring the future to everyone,” a move that may help it become more popular than Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
Free Game Included
The new headset comes in two variants with different price points. The one with an internal storage of 128GB is the cheapest at $299 with the 256GB variant costing $100 more. Both versions will, however, come with a free copy of the Batman: Arkham Shadow game, although for a short time.
In comparison, the original Meta Quest 3 retailed at $499 for the 128GB version with the 512GB model going for $649. Meta has also slashed the price of the 512GB version to $499 with the 128GB Quest 3 headset being discontinued. Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro will also no longer be produced.
The reduction in price for the Quest 3S comes with changes in its specifications. Although the low-cost headset will use the same processor as the Quest 3, it won’t have a depth sensor. It will also not have the double tap option when switching to the passthrough mode but instead will include a physical button offering the same functionality.
Tech Companies Make Quest-linked Plans
The Meta Quest 3S’ displays also have a lower resolution. In the past, Zuckerberg has used the Quest 3 headset to attend a podcast held on Meta’s metaverse platform, Horizon Worlds. Tech companies like Asus and Lenovo plan to build Quest-linked hardware devices to push for metaverse adoption.
With Meta losing billions of dollars in its metaverse quest, it’s to be seen whether developing a low-cost metaverse headset will bring more people to the Quest ecosystem leading to more revenue.
