Meta has always been pretty secretive about revealing their headset sales numbers. However, there are some ways to get a handle on how popular their platform is. A key indicator is the number of downloads for their necessary companion app, Meta Horizon, available on both Android and iOS devices.
According to data from independent analyst Omdia, reported by Game Developer (as noted in Forbes), downloads of the Meta Horizon app experienced a significant 27% drop on Christmas Day 2024 compared to the same day in 2023, which is typically the app’s most popular time for new downloads each year.
The chart provided by Omdia and Sensor Tower highlights several major events in Meta’s Quest line history. It includes the launch of the Quest 2 in October 2020, which set remarkable sales records the following year, the release of Quest 3 in October 2023, and Quest 3S in October 2024.
A side note on the Quest 3S: it’s Meta’s latest mixed reality headset, carrying the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip as the Quest 3, along with full-color mixed reality features. It pairs these with the older displays and bulkier Fresnel lenses of the Quest 2. If your budget tops out at $300, the Quest 3S is a solid choice, though the Quest 3 at $500 remains our recommendation for those who can stretch a bit more.
But let’s unpack this a bit more. The chart in question doesn’t cover re-downloads, app updates, or additional device installations by existing users on iOS or Google Play accounts. It also fails to consider users who already have a Quest device and decide to upgrade to something like the Quest 3S.
Additionally, Game Developer highlights several other factors that might skew the perception of a direct link between app downloads and headset sales. These include sales of second-hand units, the sharing of headsets, and downloads by non-owners merely curious to explore the app store.
When official numbers are scarce, looking at third-party retailers gives another perspective. Drawing from data on Amazon product pages, Game Developer reports that Meta offloaded over 160,000 Quest headsets in November 2024 across eight countries. However, this represents a 16% dip in sales on Amazon compared to the previous year. Intriguingly, two-thirds of these were the Quest 3S, with the rest being Quest 3.
On a positive note, the Quest 3S was 2024’s biggest console seller on Amazon US, outperforming the Switch, PlayStation 5 Pro, and the refreshed Xbox Series S and X hardware.
However, the decline in app downloads and Amazon sales, year-over-year, might suggest waning excitement compared to the Quest 2 boom. Omdia’s data shows that Meta more than doubled app downloads during the year following the Quest 2’s launch, tripling them during the next Christmas period.
As we look to the future, only time will reveal how much effort Meta will put behind the Quest 3 and Quest 3S, and how many high-profile, possibly exclusive, games they’ll fund to attract more customers as the next holiday season approaches. To boost Quest 3S sales, Meta has cut the price of the 256GB model by $50, reducing it to $350. This offer also includes a free copy of the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham Shadow and a three-month trial of Quest+, their game subscription service.
Whether these developments indicate a plateau in the VR market or simply a shift in consumer priorities remains to be seen. Still, one thing’s certain: Meta’s Quest series continues to lead the charge in consumer VR evolution. But could this dominance be under threat? One can bet Google is hoping for just that.
