Meta’s Cheaper AR/VR Headset to Challenge Apple’s Vision Pro
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is reportedly working on a new mixed-reality headset that is expected to be cheaper than its current Meta Quest 3. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is planning to launch the new headset, possibly named Meta Quest 3S, in September.
The Meta Quest 3S is expected to be priced between $300 and $400, which is significantly lower than the Meta Quest 3’s starting price of $499.99. To achieve this lower price point, Meta may sell the controllers separately from the headsets or include them in the box for some models, but not the same ones shipped with the Meta Quest 3.
The move to introduce a cheaper Quest variant could put Meta ahead of Apple in the mixed-reality headset game. Apple’s Vision Pro starts at $3,500, which is a huge price difference compared to the Meta Quest 3S. Gurman argues that the price difference would be too huge to ignore, and interested buyers are more likely to opt for the cheaper, more accessible option.
At the upcoming Meta Connect conference, the company may also showcase a prototype called Orion, which is said to be the base for an eventual model of AR glasses. Meta already has non-AR smart glasses in the market, and Gurman added that the company might announce AI-backed software features for the existing glasses, alongside updated styles and colors.
The Meta Quest 3S is expected to be announced during the Meta Connect conference, scheduled to be held on September 25 and September 26. The conference may also provide more information on the company’s plans for its AR/VR technology and its future products.
