Meta, the company behind the popular virtual reality headset Quest 3, has temporarily halted shipments of its Elite Strap with Battery accessory due to widespread reports of a charging fault. Users have complained that the $130 accessory is rendering their battery useless, and Meta has acknowledged the issue. The company is now manufacturing new battery straps to fix the defect and is handling replacements on a case-by-case basis.

Earlier this month, concerns were raised about the reliability of the Elite Strap with Battery. Some users found that the accessory refused to charge their Quest 3 after a certain point, essentially rendering it an expensive counterweight. When contacted by Road to VR, Meta Support indicated that replacing the faulty units may not resolve the issue, suggesting a hardware or firmware problem with the Elite Battery Strap.

A spokesperson from Meta has confirmed to Road to VR that the company has temporarily paused sales of the device while it manufactures new units without the charging fault. Meta has identified that the issue was related to the firmware of the device. The company clarified that it is not recalling the Elite Strap with Battery but will replace affected units on a case-by-case basis. Meta is also working with its retail partners to stock new units as soon as possible.

As a result of the temporary pause in sales, official Meta retail partners such as Target and Best Buy have removed listings for the Elite Strap with Battery. However, the accessory is still available on a few retailers, including Amazon and directly through Meta, although they are marked as 'out of stock' with no indication of when new stock will be available. The article will be updated once information on availability is obtained from major retailers.

In the meantime, some users may still find the Elite Strap with Battery on store shelves, but there have been reports of stores being unable to sell them. It is recommended that users exercise caution as there is potential for having a faulty unit until new stock arrives.

It should be noted that not all users have experienced the charging fault, making it unclear what triggers the issue. However, US consumers are covered by a one-year warranty to replace Meta devices, while EU consumers have a two-year warranty. Users facing problems with their Elite Strap with Battery for Quest 3 are advised to contact Meta Support for troubleshooting and potential replacement.

This is not the first time that Meta has faced manufacturing issues with the Elite Strap line. With the release of the Elite Strap and Elite Strap with Battery for Quest 2 in 2020, design flaws led to premature breakage of the plastic struts. Meta extended the warranty for both variants and resumed sales after a temporary pause.

Title: Meta Temporarily Halts Sales of Elite Strap with Battery for Quest 3 Following Charging Fault Reports