As I write this, Meta Connect 2024 is just a day away, which means we’re also just a day away from (hopefully) finally seeing the Meta Quest 3S in action – the Connect is where many are expecting the much-leaked headset to make its debut. But its arrival could also spell the end for one of the two Meta Quest 3 models, as leaks suggest the 128GB Quest 3 could be discontinued following the 3S’s launch.
This comes from two sources, @CezaryXR – Editor-in-Chief at XRDailyNews – and @Lunayian – the source of most of the Quest 3S leaks, just ahead of Meta itself. CezaryXR claims that the Quest 3S will come in two models: a 128GB variant for around $300 and a 256GB model for around $400; this matches the pricing in that supposed leaked Amazon listing and roughly lines up with the Quest 2 pricing of $299 / £299 / AU$479 and $399 / £399 / AU$599 for both models.
Additionally, Meta will reportedly discontinue the 128GB Quest 3 in mid-November, so if it sells out, it won’t be coming back. Both current Quest 3 models (128GB and 512GB) are also being discounted.
Exclusive leak ahead of Meta Connect: Meta will discontinue the 128GB Quest 3 in mid-November, leaving only the 512GB variant. Both versions will be discounted until the 128GB supply is depleted, after which only the 512GB model will be available.September 23, 2024
Lunayian shared the post, adding that they’ve “heard similar rumors” — but neither source could confirm what prices the Meta Quest 3 headsets will drop to.
Either way, it’s worth taking these leaks with a grain of salt, but they do support my biggest piece of advice for anyone looking to buy a VR headset right now: wait. While I think a price drop for the Quest 3 makes sense (more on that below), the Quest 3S, whether it happens or not, seems like a headset worth considering — something you can’t do until it’s official.
A double-edged price cut
One question I had about the Quest 3S is how its value proposition compares to the regular Quest 3. Yes, rumors say it’ll be larger and have slightly downgraded specs in areas like the display and RAM – but still have an identical processor – but as long as these downgrades don’t impact performance too dramatically, the main deciding factor will be price.
And there’s a lot of room for error here. Make the Quest 3S too expensive and the Quest 3 remains a no-brainer upgrade that kills the new model; make it too cheap and sales of the regular Quest 3 may plummet – yes, older models eventually get replaced, but VR headsets aren’t yet part of the annual smartphone refresh cycle (nor should they be).
That’s why I started convincing myself that the Quest 3S would start around $350, or even $400, rather than being as cheap as the Quest 2 as many were hoping. The strategy outlined in the leak above, however, is an alternative way to walk this pricing tightrope.
By eliminating the cheaper Quest 3, there is more differentiation between the Quest 3S models and the top-of-the-line Quest 3. This means we can have a very affordable Quest 3S without too much risk of it outselling its predecessor.
Unfortunately, while the Meta Quest 3’s price is reportedly dropping according to the leaks, I’d imagine the 512GB model will be priced slightly higher than the 128GB version’s current $499 / £479 / AU$799 price tag. If that’s the case, then the Quest 3 would effectively increase in price as the 128GB model sells out, which wouldn’t be ideal.
We’ll have to wait and see what’s announced at Meta Connect 2024 and beyond, but if the leaks are accurate, I’d recommend trying to grab a 128GB Meta Quest 3 while you can. It seems to be my top pick of the four Quest 3/3S models, and it may not stay on the market for much longer.