Meta has always been a bit secretive about its headset sales figures, but we can still get a feel for how the platform is doing by looking at things like downloads of its Meta Horizon app. This app, essential for users and available on Android and iOS, provides some insight into the headset’s popularity.
According to independent analyst Omdia, as reported by Game Developer and picked up by Forbes, downloads of the Meta Horizon app saw a 27% drop on Christmas Day 2024 compared to the same day in 2023. This is significant because Christmas has traditionally been the peak download day each year.
Omdia and Sensor Tower have put together a chart that highlights major milestones in Meta’s series of Quest releases. It highlights the release and record sales of Quest 2 in October 2020, the launch of Quest 3 in October 2023, and the debut of Quest 3S a year later in October 2024.
The Quest 3S, Meta’s newest mixed reality headset, comes equipped with Quest 3’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset and features full-color mixed reality capabilities. However, it uses the older displays and bulkier Fresnel lenses from the Quest 2. While it’s an excellent choice at just $300, many still find the $500 Quest 3 to be the better option if budget allows.
However, there’s more to consider. The chart doesn’t account for things like re-downloads, updates, or downloads on new devices for users with existing accounts. It also misses out on users adding new headsets to their accounts, such as upgrading from a Quest 2 to a Quest 3S.
Game Developer mentions other aspects that might break the link between app downloads and actual headset sales, like second-hand sales, shared headsets, and people downloading the app just to explore the store without owning a headset.
Without Meta’s official sales numbers, third-party retailers become another reference point. Game Developer cites Amazon data suggesting that over 160,000 Quest headsets were sold in November 2024 across eight countries. This represents a 16% drop in Amazon sales compared to the previous year, with two-thirds being the Quest 3S and the rest Quest 3.
In contrast, the Quest 3S emerged as the best-selling console on Amazon US in 2024, surpassing major competitors like the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 Pro, and updated Xbox Series consoles.
Despite these successes, the dip in app downloads and year-over-year sales on Amazon indicates that the enthusiasm seen during the Quest 2’s peak might be waning. Omdia’s figures showed that following the launch of Quest 2, app downloads doubled in the first year and almost tripled by the following Christmas.
Whether Meta can reignite the excitement around its headsets with Quest 3 and Quest 3S depends on how aggressively it pushes these products. They’re already enticing buyers by cutting $50 off the price of the 256GB Quest 3S (making it $350) and throwing in the well-received Batman: Arkham Shadow game and a three-month Quest+ subscription.
It’s open to debate whether these trends point to a slowdown in the VR market or just a shift in consumer preferences. Yet, there’s no doubt Meta’s Quest lineup remains a key player in the home VR landscape. But, that’s not guaranteed to stay unchallenged—Google might just be waiting for its moment.
