Meta is reportedly working on a new mixed-reality headset. Until recently, rumors suggested that the company was developing a premium variant to rival the Apple Vision Pro. Those claims have now faded into the background as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports in his latest newsletter that Meta is planning to launch an AR/VR (augmented reality/virtual reality) headset that will be cheaper than the Meta Quest 3. Notably, the Meta Quest 3 was launched in June 2023 for $499.99 (roughly Rs. 41,200) for the 128GB option.
Meta Quest 3S launch, price (expected)
In his latest Power On newsletterMark Gurman claimed that Meta was working on a cheaper Quest headset variant that could launch in September. Possibly called the Meta Quest 3S, the device could be announced during the Meta Connect conference, which is scheduled for September 25-26. The newsletter noted that many other names for the alleged wearable mixed reality headset were being discussed internally.
Gurman added that this rumored Meta Quest 3S could be priced at $300 (roughly Rs. 25,100) or $400 (roughly Rs. 33,500). To adjust the cost, the company may sell the controllers separately from the headsets, he added. However, for some models, Meta may include the controllers in the box alongside the Quest 3S, but they may not be the same ones that ship with the Meta Quest 3.
The move to introduce a cheaper Quest variant could see Meta leapfrog Apple in the mixed-reality headset game. In comparison, Apple’s Vision Pro starts at $3,500 (roughly Rs. 2,93,500). Gurman argued that the price difference between the two devices would be too much to ignore, regardless of the performance differences. Interested buyers would be more likely to opt for the cheaper, more accessible option.
At the upcoming Meta Connect conference, the brand may also show off a prototype called the Orion, which is said to be the basis for an eventual model of AR glasses. Meta already has non-AR smart glasses on the market — the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Review). Gurman added that the company may announce AI-powered software features for the existing glasses, along with updated styles and colors.
