Meta Platforms Inc. announced a price increase for its Quest VR headsets, set to take effect on April 19, with costs rising by $50 to $100 (approximately 12-20%). This decision is driven by a global surge in the prices of critical components, particularly memory chips, which are affecting various consumer electronics, including virtual reality devices. However, Meta's own spending priorities, particularly its aggressive investments in artificial intelligence (AI), are also contributing to the rising costs. In January, the company revealed plans to allocate between $115 billion and $135 billion for capital expenditures this year, a significant increase from $72 billion in 2025 and just $28 billion in 2023. Much of this investment is directed toward AI infrastructure, including a recent $21 billion commitment to data center company CoreWeave and an additional $10 billion for a planned data center in El Paso, Texas. This surge in spending is part of a broader industry trend, with a total of $630 billion pledged for AI infrastructure by 2026, further straining the supply of RAM and storage components essential for VR headsets.