Archive — US — techcrunch
Meta raises Quest 3 and Quest 3S prices due to RAM shortage
Meta is increasing the prices of its Quest VR headsets by up to $100 due to a global RAM shortage, effective April 19. This decision reflects the rising cost of memory chips affecting the consumer electronics sector, with similar price hikes noted by other tech companies.
Key points
- Meta is raising prices for Quest 3S and Quest 3 headsets by $50 and $100 respectively.
- New prices will be $349.99 for Quest 3S (128GB), $449.99 for Quest 3S (256GB), and $599.99 for Quest 3.
- The increase is attributed to the significant rise in the cost of memory chips.
- This RAM shortage is impacting various categories of consumer electronics.
- Updated pricing will also affect refurbished Meta Quest units, while accessories will remain unchanged.
- Meta joins other major tech companies like Samsung, Microsoft, and Sony in raising hardware prices.
Why it matters
- Historical context: The semiconductor shortage that began in 2020 affected many industries, leading to increased costs and prices.
- Current trend: Many tech companies continue to experience rising component costs impacting product pricing into 2025.
- The shift towards high-performance VR and AR technologies increases dependency on advanced components like RAM.
Meta's price adjustment reflects wider industry challenges due to component shortages, illustrating the ongoing impact of supply chain issues on consumer technology pricing.