Meta has always played it close to the vest regarding the number of VR headsets it sells. However, we can gather some insight into its popularity through the Meta Horizon app downloads on Android and iOS. Recent data cited by Game Developer, and reported by Forbes, hint at a 27% drop in app downloads on Christmas Day 2024 compared to the previous year, a day that’s typically a high point for downloads.
Independent analyst Omdia, alongside Sensor Tower, has compiled a chart detailing key moments in the release history of Meta’s Quest line. This includes the launch of Quest 2 in October 2020, which saw a record sales year, and the releases of Quest 3 and Quest 3S in October 2023 and October 2024, respectively.
Just to note, the Quest 3S, which is the latest in Meta’s mixed reality lineup, features the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset and full-color mixed reality capabilities, but retains the older displays and bulkier Fresnel lenses from Quest 2. Priced at $300, it’s an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers, though the more advanced Quest 3, at $500, is recommended if your budget allows.
Back to the data, it’s worth mentioning that the chart doesn’t include re-downloads, updates, or installations on new devices linked to the same account. It also omits new device additions by existing users, such as someone upgrading from a Quest 2 to a Quest 3S.
As Game Developer points out, the correlation between app downloads and headset sales isn’t straightforward, given factors like second-hand sales, device sharing, and non-owners exploring the app without buying a headset.
In the absence of Meta’s official sales numbers, third-party retailers offer some clues. Data from Amazon shows that Meta sold over 160,000 Quest headsets in November 2024 across eight countries, marking a 16% decline year-over-year on Amazon. Interestingly, two-thirds of these were Quest 3S units, with Quest 3 making up the rest.
Yet, it seems the Quest 3S shone brightly in 2024, claiming the top spot as the best-selling console on Amazon US, outperforming other big names like the Switch, PlayStation 5 Pro, and refreshed Xbox Series models.
However, the drop in app downloads and Amazon sales could indicate waning excitement compared to the Quest 2 period. Back then, Meta saw app downloads more than double in the year following Quest 2’s release and nearly triple the next Christmas.
The true impact of Meta’s marketing efforts for Quest 3 and Quest 3S remains to be seen. It hinges on the release of major (and possibly exclusive) games strategically positioned during the lead-up to the holiday season. To boost sales, Meta recently slashed the price of the 256GB Quest 3S by $50, now pegged at $350, sweetening the deal with a free copy of the critically-acclaimed Batman: Arkham Shadow and a three-month Quest+ subscription trial.
Whether this signals a settling of the VR market or simply a shift in what consumers prioritize is unclear. But one thing is certain: Meta’s Quest series still stands as a formidable player in the consumer VR arena. That being said, is this dominance under threat? Perhaps Google is betting on it.
