20 questions and answers about the history and meaning of Meta Quest Pro and what happens next (with Quest 3, Quest 3S and 4?)

Innovative but unsuccessful: The short life of the Meta Quest Pro – but it continues!

The Meta Quest Pro was a highly ambitious project by the Meta corporation, with which the company aimed to tap into the high-end market for virtual and mixed reality. Although the device initially raised high expectations with its premium features and high-quality design, it was ultimately discontinued after only about two years. The following provides an overview of the background, the technology, the market, and the consequences of this failure. The text explains why the Meta Quest Pro, while an important milestone in the history of VR, ultimately failed to achieve the desired breakthrough despite all efforts.

1. From social media giant to metaverse pioneer

When Facebook became Meta, the company signaled a fundamental realignment: instead of focusing solely on social media, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) would take center stage. The Meta Quest Pro symbolized Meta's vision to advance the metaverse and revolutionize the immersive technology market.

2. A premium device with high expectations

The Meta Quest Pro was intended to be a technological flagship – featuring state-of-the-art hardware, improved sensors, and a high-resolution display. Meta placed particular emphasis on mixed-reality capabilities, aiming to seamlessly blend the real environment with virtual elements. Anticipation among VR enthusiasts and professional users was high: never before had a standalone headset pursued such ambitious goals.

3. The Quest Pro in the shadow of its own product family

Despite all its technological highlights, the Quest Pro quickly found itself in competition with the more affordable Meta headsets, especially the Quest 3. The question, "Why buy the expensive Pro model when the next generation offers more performance for less money?" dampened the interest of many buyers. The price of $1,500 simply wasn't attractive enough for most private users.

4. Criticisms and sobering reality

Even before its market launch, doubts arose as to whether Meta could maintain its ambitious price-performance ratio. Indeed, the battery life proved to be less than ideal, and the software offerings for pro features were limited at launch. Those investing $1,500 expect a clearly noticeable premium experience – but for many users, this wasn't pronounced enough to justify the higher price.

5. Discontinuation of the device and consequences for the VR market

In September 2024, Meta announced it would discontinue production of the Quest Pro. The final shutdown followed in early 2025. This swift end clearly demonstrated that even an industry giant like Meta is not immune to harsh market forces. The Quest Pro's demise also highlights the issue of high-priced VR devices: innovative technology alone is insufficient if the public is unwilling to pay a sufficient price for it.

6. From pro experiment to mass-market VR experience

For Meta, the Metaverse remains the top priority – but for now, the path there will lead through mass-market headsets like the Quest 3 and Quest 3S. The Quest Pro serves as a valuable experiment from which the company has learned important lessons. Whether another high-end standalone headset will be released in the near future is uncertain. One thing is clear, however: if the VR market continues to grow and reliable use cases become established, expensive premium devices could get a second chance.

What was the Meta Quest Pro and what was it designed for?

The Meta Quest Pro was a high-end mixed reality headset launched by Meta in October 2022. It was designed to serve the premium segment of virtual and mixed reality devices, primarily targeting professional users, creatives, designers, and VR enthusiasts with the highest demands. Through higher-quality materials, improved sensors, and more powerful processors, Meta aimed to demonstrate its capabilities in the high-end market.

Suitable for:

• The End of a Vision: Meta's decision to discontinue the Quest Pro and what that means for the future of VR

How does the Quest Pro fit into Meta's new direction towards the Metaverse?

With Facebook's rebranding to Meta in 2021, VR, AR, and mixed reality moved significantly into the spotlight. The goal was to create a "Metaverse"—a virtual world that combines work, leisure, and social interaction. The Quest Pro was intended to serve as a kind of technological flagship to promote this idea and demonstrate that Meta is far more than just a social media company.

What are the key technical features of the Quest Pro?

• High-quality hardware: Better displays, more powerful processors and a focus on wearing comfort with stable but lightweight materials.
• Independent controller tracking: The controllers had integrated cameras to capture precise movements independently of the headset.
• Mixed reality features: Users should be able to see their real environment and simultaneously display virtual objects, which is helpful, for example, in training or in the design field.
• Hand tracking: Improved hand tracking should enable precise input, which promised advantages especially in professional environments.

Why was the Quest Pro so expensive?

The launch price of $1,500 reflected the Quest Pro's premium positioning. Meta incorporated expensive components to deliver the highest possible VR and MR experience. Furthermore, special features like mixed reality, integrated controller tracking, and improved ergonomics were complex to develop and produce. All of this was intended to represent a significant improvement over less expensive models like the Meta Quest 2.

Which target groups did Meta have in mind for the Quest Pro?

Besides advanced VR enthusiasts who appreciate high-end technology, the focus was primarily on professional users. For example, architects, designers, doctors, researchers, and creative professionals were intended to benefit from the improved sensors, higher display resolutions, and enhanced comfort. The Quest Pro was therefore never meant to be a mass-market product, but rather a niche solution for users with high demands or specific professional applications.

What criticisms arose shortly after the market launch?

• High price: Many potential buyers felt that $1,500 was too expensive, especially since VR is still not a mass market.
• Battery life & performance: The actual battery life in professional use was sometimes criticized as being too short.
• Software offerings: While there were some apps that utilized the Pro features, these mostly fell short of expectations.
• Added value compared to Quest 2 or Quest 3: Users questioned whether the additional features justified the high price.

What role did Meta Quest 3 play in the failure of Quest Pro?

The Meta Quest 3 was introduced later, boasted better specifications in some areas, and was significantly cheaper. It offered so much performance that many questioned why they should even bother with the much more expensive Quest Pro. This created a competitive situation within the company's own product line, which further damaged the Quest Pro's market position.

What ultimately led to the discontinuation of the Quest Pro?

In September 2024, Meta announced it would halt production of the Quest Pro, as sales figures and interest in the device fell far short of expectations. At the beginning of January 2025, the company officially ended sales. Internal considerations had apparently indicated for some time that the device was not economically viable and demand was too low.

What were Meta's reasons for ceasing production and sales?

Meta wanted to streamline its VR portfolio and focus on products that offer a more attractive price-performance ratio. The Quest 3 and Quest 3S are now the focus because they are affordable for more customers while still offering many modern VR and MR features. The Quest Pro no longer fit into this strategy due to its high price and low sales.

What is the general significance of this discontinuation for high-priced VR headsets?

The failure of the Quest Pro underscores the difficulty of achieving four-figure price points in the VR market. Although VR and MR are becoming increasingly important, particularly in gaming, education, and business, the willingness to pay for very expensive devices is limited. Only if the added value is clearly noticeable and reliable software ecosystems exist will premium devices be able to establish themselves more successfully in the future.

How did the Quest series develop overall?

• Oculus Quest (1st generation): Groundbreaking, as it was the first time a standalone VR experience was possible without cables or an external PC.
• Quest 2 (originally Oculus branding): Cheaper and more powerful, which is why it became a bestseller in the consumer sector.
• Quest Pro: Intended as a premium add-on, it never achieved the hoped-for success.
• Quest 3 and Quest 3S: A new generation aimed at a broader user base, offering mixed reality features at a more affordable price point.
• Quest 4? …

Suitable for:

• VR-Next-Gen: Meta Quest 4 – Speculation about the release date of the VR glasses and the new technologies from Meta

What role does Mixed Reality play in Meta's Metaverse concept?

Mixed Reality (MR) blends the real world with virtual content. Meta sees this as a key to the metaverse, as it allows virtual meetings, 3D design, and simulations to be integrated into everyday work and learning. The Quest Pro was originally intended to showcase the possibilities of MR. However, the market environment was apparently not yet ready for an expensive device relying on these features.

How did the VR community react to the end of the Quest Pro?

Reactions were mixed. Some users had anticipated the move and viewed the Quest Pro as a failed experiment. Others regretted that the idea of ​​a professional standalone headset hadn't been pursued further. There was widespread agreement that the price was too high and the software selection too limited to make the device attractive.

What are the consequences of discontinuing the Quest Pro for professional VR users?

• Companies that use VR for training, simulations or meetings are now more likely to use devices like the Quest 3(S) or other manufacturers.
• Those who have already invested in expensive VR setups may switch to PC-based solutions that can better meet specific requirements.
• Meta itself is focusing more on the consumer market, although it cannot be ruled out that a professional device will be developed again in the future.

What lessons can the VR industry learn from the failure of the Quest Pro?

• Price-performance ratio: A high-priced VR headset will only be successful if the price and benefits are in a plausible relationship for the target group.
• Software ecosystem: Even top-notch hardware is unconvincing if there is a lack of sophisticated, professional applications.
• Customer expectations: Ultimately, the customer decides whether a product truly delivers the promised added value.
• Market maturity: The premium VR market remains a niche market and is growing only slowly. High-priced devices must clearly stand out from the mainstream to make the investment worthwhile.

Does the end of Quest Pro mean the end for Meta's Metaverse plans?

No! Meta continues to pursue ambitious goals in the VR and metaverse sector. The Quest 3 and Quest 3S are intended to lay the foundation for more users to come into contact with immersive technologies. Through a larger user base, Meta hopes to build a stable ecosystem in which a high-end product might then become worthwhile again – but only if there is sufficient demand.

Why is Meta now placing such a strong focus on Quest 3 and Quest 3S?

Both models are more appealing to a broader customer base and are priced significantly lower than the Quest Pro. Nevertheless, they offer modern hardware, solid mixed-reality functionality, and are easy to set up. Meta aims to increase the critical mass of VR users with these models, which in turn should strengthen its software offerings and the appeal of the entire Metaverse concept.

Suitable for:

• Is Meta Quest 3 the best VR & XR headset for the Metaverse & Extended, Augmented, Virtual & Mixed Reality projects?

What does the future hold for premium VR devices in general?

The VR market is dynamic and constantly evolving. New technologies, shorter innovation cycles, and falling component prices could make high-end headsets attractive again in a few years. If Meta or other manufacturers then release a true "must-have" device with outstanding technology and exclusive software, a premium model could also establish itself in the market. Currently, however, the focus is more on mass-market products.

What signals is Meta sending to the market by discontinuing the Quest Pro?

Meta demonstrates its ability to adapt to market conditions and its focus on profitability. Investors demand results, and a product that isn't profitable is discontinued. At the same time, Meta shows its capacity to learn: A lack of success in the high-price segment leads to a streamlining of its portfolio and a focus on successful core models.

What conclusion can be drawn from the history of the Meta Quest Pro?

The Meta Quest Pro was an ambitious project that ultimately failed due to high costs, limited added value compared to cheaper headsets, and a lack of market acceptance. It serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges of establishing a premium VR product. At the same time, its failure underscores that VR as a technology still needs further development before high-priced solutions truly become worthwhile. Despite everything, Meta remains committed to its metaverse vision and aims to win over the mass market with the Quest 3 models. Whether and when a new Pro device will be released remains to be seen – however, the lessons learned from this "experiment" are likely to significantly influence future developments.

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