Quest 3 will combine the augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) elements and is expected to be 40% thinner than the company’s previous headset. The mixed reality headset is expected to be priced at $499 ( ₹41,000).

Mark Zuckerberg said the upcoming Quest 3 will feature an upgraded Qualcomm chipset that offers double the graphics performance compared to its predecessor. The Meta CEO announced that the device is scheduled to be released in the autumn and assured that further information regarding its specifications will be shared during the company’s annual AR/VR conference on 27 September.

The move is seen as an attempt by Meta to continue its dominance in the VR headset markets where currently the company has a massive hold. Meta’s devices comprised nearly 80% of the 8.8 million virtual reality headsets sold in 2022, market research firm IDC estimates said.

Despite such dominance in the market, Meta’s vision of an immersive “metaverse” of interconnected virtual worlds is still in progress and the pace of market expansion beyond gaming communities is slow.

Quest price reduction

In an effort to stimulate demand, Meta reduced the prices of its existing Quest headsets in March, following a previous price increase for the entry-level Quest 2 128 GB version in July 2022.

The high-end Meta Quest Pro, originally priced at $1,500 upon its release, now sells for approximately $1,000. Similarly, the Quest 2’s 256 GB version now starts at around $430, down from its original price of $500.

Recently, the company announced that it would further decrease the prices of the Quest 2 starting June 4. The entry-level device will revert back to its initial price of $300, while the 256 GB version will be available for $350.

(With agency inputs)

Updated: 01 Jun 2023, 10:49 PM IST