While the market for virtual reality (VR) headsets hasn't become widely popular, Meta is working to make it easier for people to get into it by offering lower prices. They have just launched the Quest 3S, which is currently priced at $299 on Amazon, and it will begin shipping tomorrow.
Shift in Focus
In addition, Quest has shifted its focus from the Quest Pro, which was much cheaper compared to the Apple Vision Pro, which is still priced at $3,499. A recent report from Mark Gurman indicates that Apple is planning to introduce new VR headsets, starting with a more budget-friendly option that might use a chipset derived from the Apple A series.
Pricing Strategies
Moreover, Apple aims to eliminate the hardware needed for EyeSight in the Vision Pro, which could lead to a price drop of over 40% between different models. However, this still means that the next Apple Vision headset could be priced around $2,000. To put it differently, Apple's 'more affordable' VR headset could still be over six times more expensive than Meta's less costly alternative.
Future Releases
Gurman also anticipates that Apple will unveil the Vision Pro 2 in 2026, which will have enhanced performance, and follow it up with the release of its first smart glasses a year later. Reportedly, Apple is also thinking about launching new AirPods that come with built-in cameras, which Gurman suggests is a way to make up for the huge investment in the visual intelligence technology used in the Vision Pro. Ultimately, since 2027 is still quite a while away, these plans could change, and some products might even get put on hold for different initiatives.
Mark Gurman & Bloomberg, Roméo A & Unsplash - Image credits
