Don't buy Meta Quest 3 right now — a huge price drop is coming
The 512GB version of the Quest 3 now costs $499
The introduction of the Meta Quest 3s at Meta Connect today (September 24) means there's now a low-cost version of the virtual reality headset from Meta. But the existing Meta Quest 3 is getting a refresh of its own, with shoppers enjoying more storage for their buck.
The Meta Quest 3 remains at the same $499 / £479 / AU$799 starting price Meta charged prior to the Quest 3s announcement. But that version of the Quest 3 now comes with 512GB of storage. Previously, the base model Quest 3 offered just 128GB while a 512GB version would have cost you $649 / £619 / AU$949.
This poses a bit of a change for people shopping for a Quest 3. Some online listings still have the 128GB Quest 3 on sale at or near the $499 price. However, in the U.S. at least, the 512GB version is already available at Best Buy for its new lower price. Even better, it looks like Batman: Arkham Shadow comes bundled with the VR headset.
Meta Quest 3 512GB: was $649 now $499 at Best Buy
The arrival of the Meta Quest 3s means a change in capacity for the Meta Quest 3. The 128GB of storage in the base model gives way for 512GB, essentially saving your $150 over what Meta used to charge for that capacity. Otherwise, the Meta Quest 3 is unchanged from before, offering a superior 4K+ Infinite Display to the lower-cost Qeust 3s headset. Order from Best Buy and you can get the Batman: Arkham Shadows game bundled with your VR headset.
Meta now positions the Quest 3 as "the best headset in our lineup for tech enthusiasts and gamers." In our Quest 3 review, we praised the headset for its more comfortable design, impressive controls and full-color passthrough features.
The Meta 3s arrives in stores October 15 as a lower-cost alternative to the Quest 3. The 3s features the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset that you'll get in the more expensive model, but the pancake-style lenses make way for fresnel lenses. You're also getting lower resolution in exchange for the Meta 3s's lower price.
The Meta 3s starts at $299 for a 128GB model, with the 256GB version costing $399. Pre-orders start today.
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Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.