Meta Quest Pro Release Date And Price - What We Know So Far

Formerly under the Oculus Rift branding, the Meta Quest HMDs have swept their way through the VR market and have essentially become the first name in the medium (via Tom's Guide). Granting users access to a treasure trove of need-to-play games and the controversial Metaverse at a competitive price point, the latest model in the Meta's Quest series — the Meta Quest 2 — is one of the more popular options on the market, even when compared to offerings from more seasoned competition in the gaming sphere such as PlayStation's PSVR. But it seems Meta (formerly known as Facebook) has even bigger plans for its Quest models that go beyond gaming, and the first step into that future lies with the newly announced Meta Quest Pro.

While the Meta Quest 2 and its predecessor emphasized gaming and social interaction, the Meta Quest Pro seems to be a more business and professional-based platform. The Meta Quest Pro also brings new design innovations, such as thinner lenses for mixed reality experiences, a front-facing camera for eye tracking, a new processor, and a complete design overhaul, among other inclusions. Overall, it seems like a heavy-duty HMD. But when is it coming out, and how much will it cost once it does? Here's everything that is known so far about the Meta Quest Pro.

Currently, the Meta Quest Pro is available for pre-order through Meta's official website. The product will begin to ship out on October 25, 2022, shortly before the beginning of the holiday season. The October 25 release date means the Meta Quest Pro will launch almost two years — to the day — of its predecessor, the Meta Quest 2, which was released on October 13, 2020. 

Pre-ordering the Meta Quest Pro is somewhat limited as it is only available to 22 countries once units finally begin to ship. All of Africa and several Asian nations, including China, are currently ineligible to receive the Meta Quest Pro at release (though Taiwan is included in the eligible country list). This list is almost identical to the countries to which the Meta Quest 2 can be shipped. From this, it's easy to deduce that if prospective buyers live in a country that doesn't ship the Meta Quest 2, they won't be able to get their hands on the Quest Pro. For right now, at least.

Upon release, the 128GB version of the Meta Quest 2 retailed at $299, while the 256GB model went for $399. Unfortunately, the Meta Quest 2 prices were increased by $100 each beginning in August, which created tons of controversy. However, despite the price increase, the Meta Quest 2 remained one of the market's more affordable VR HMD headsets. The same, however, can not be said for Meta Quest Pro once it finally becomes available to the public.

In what is sure to raise eyebrows around the tech world, the Meta Quest Pro will retail at a lofty $1,499 upon its release. As mentioned by The Verge, this eye-popping price tag is likely due to the HMD's focus on other areas outside of gaming, as it is being marketed towards businesses. The product's official page emphasizes sharing concepts with collaborators and the creative process of tasks such as building a new living room with few references to gaming.