The $1,299 Meta VR Glasses Prove That High Prices Are the New Normal
Meta finally announced its long-rumored Meta VR Glasses last night at Connect, and while they seem like a cool little gadget, they're coming in at a $1,299 asking price – the same that Valve is charging for its 1TB Steam Frame. The difference, though, is that Meta's headset has less RAM and storage, even if it comes in a flashy new form factor.
Meta has officially unveiled its highly anticipated Meta VR Glasses during the Connect event. These futuristic glasses come with a hefty price tag of $1,299, placing them on par with Valve's 1TB Steam Frame. The main difference lies in the Meta VR Glasses' specifications, which include less RAM and storage compared to the Steam Frame.
However, they are set to be powered by a Snapdragon Reality Elite chip housed in a portable computing puck that users keep in their pockets. This puck is equipped with 12GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, paired with Qualcomm's latest VR and XR-ready chip. The lightweight design of the Meta VR Glasses, weighing just 100g on the head, does not include the puck.
Despite the premium price, Meta is likely to capitalize on additional subscriptions and add-ons to enhance the device's capabilities. The headset's high price could be attributed to the ongoing RAM crisis and the company's strategy to subsidize VR hardware through software sales and data harvesting. Compared to the Meta Quest 3, the Meta VR Glasses appear to be more geared towards professional use, but their price point still rivals that of a high-end TV.
The company's focus on software and data monetization might make future VR hardware less affordable.
Written by urgent.news from IGN's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
