Quest 3 prices have gone up. Should you still buy it 'now'?

Quest 3 and Quest 3s have gone up in price (sad).
The impact of rising memory costs has reached VR devices as well. I feel the barrier to entry has risen slightly, as it will be harder for those interested in VR to get their hands on one.

While it is said that the Quest 3 offers higher satisfaction than the budget-friendly 3s, the question remains whether to buy it now.
'Whether it is a good device' and 'whether you should buy it now' are completely different questions, so let's think about it properly.

Is the Quest 3 a 'good VR device'? Answer: Quite good

I believe it is the most well-balanced model among current VR devices. It operates standalone without needing a PC, and covers all bases including gaming, fitness, and video. The lenses are also easier to see through than the budget 3S.

PICO 4 is an alternative that is comparable, but I feel Meta Quest is still stronger in terms of name recognition and the spread of knowledge.
While name recognition isn't everything, you should also consider how easy it is to gather information.
Even so, I feel like I'm hearing more people around me using the PICO 4, so the balance of power might change in the future.

'Should you buy it now' is a different issue

The reason for the price hike is a bit unusual; it's not 'a price hike because performance improved.' It's due to external factors like memory shortages. In other words, nothing has been added to justify the price increase.

You can't expect the price to go down again in the future. But there is also no 'reason to buy it in a hurry' at the moment.

On top of that, the VR market itself is somewhat stagnant, and Meta is starting to focus its efforts on AI. Next-generation products are also said to be in development. It becomes a question of whether you want to pay 100,000 yen for a gadget that is still in the process of maturing.

Who it's for, who it's not for

People who are okay to buy

• Those who want to play VR games extensively

• Those aiming for Beat Saber-style fitness

• Those who also want to use SteamVR (PCVR)

• Those who can afford to pay for new experiences

People who are recommended to wait

• You're vaguely interested

• You're aware you might get bored of it quickly

• You'll only use it for watching videos

• You prioritize cost-performance

The latter has a high probability of becoming a 'paperweight.' In fact, even I, who am writing this, am on the verge of it becoming one.

A realistic decision-making line

If you are genuinely interested in VR
the satisfaction of buying it now is high. The cost of waiting is greater.

If you are vaguely hesitant
wait for the next generation. When new products are released, your options, including price, will increase.
For light use, the 3S is enough. Honestly, the cost-performance of the 3S is higher for video and casual use.

Summary

Quest 3 is a good VR device. However, due to the price increase, it is no longer 'recommended for everyone.' It is becoming positioned as a 'device to be bought only by those who will get hooked as a hobby.'

If your purpose is clear, such as 'for gaming,' 'for movies,' or 'wanting to link with a PC,' you can make a decision accordingly. If you are hesitant, that hesitation itself might be a sign that 'it's not the right time to buy yet.'

Bonus

I feel like a certain number of people who want VR devices are into VRChat (a bias).
Even if it's the cheaper 3S or a used one, just get your hands on one and start playing VRChat.

This is when I went to play in a PSO2 recreation world recreated by fans.

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