A widespread charging fault with Meta’s $130 Elite Battery Strap for Quest 3 forced the company to pause shipments back in December and start replacing units on a case-by-case basis. Now, it seems Meta has zeroed in on just which units could potentially be defective, and issuing what it calls “voluntary replacements”—but only if they contact you first.

Meta sent out an email recently to contact customers of its Elite Strap with Battery for Quest 3. Here’s one such email, courtesy X user @ezreeszy:

Image courtesy @ezreeszy

The charging fault, which rendered the battery useless for some users, was due to an issue with the device’s firmware, which notably couldn’t be fixed with an update and required complete replacement.

In response to widespread reports of the battery fault, Meta paused shipments of Elite Strap with Battery for Quest 3 late last year, and began shipping units with updated firmware from both Meta and its partner retailers starting sometime in mid-December. If you purchased your Elite Strap with Battery for Quest 3 after then, it’s unlikely you’ll receive such an email.

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While Meta isn’t calling it a “recall” as such—the company isn’t requiring affected customers to actually send back either faulty, or potentially faulty units—it is suggesting you “follow the instructions marked on the product to responsibly dispose of it and not do it via general trash,” a follow-up email reads. So basically, keep it or bin it at your discretion.

This is only another chapter in the manufacturing woes of Meta’s Elite Strap line. Released for Quest 2 in 2020, both the Elite Strap and Elite Strap with Battery suffered premature breakage due to design issues that caused the device’s plastic struts to spontaneously crack. Meta extended the warranty of both Elite Strap variants once it unpaused sales in late 2020, or around two months after the company initially halted shipments of faulty units.

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Scott Hayden
Well before the first modern XR products hit the market, Scott recognized the potential of the technology and set out to understand and document its growth. He has been professionally reporting on the space for nearly a decade as Editor at Road to VR, authoring more than 3,500 articles on the topic. Scott brings that seasoned insight to his reporting from major industry events across the globe.
  • ViRGiN

    “noo, dont buy meta accessories, they are overpriced, quest 2 elite strap still breaks, buy kiwi/bobo/suckydiki”

    Buying Meta products is a safe-bet with top notch customer service.

    • ViRGiN

      Don’t buy Meta accessories, they are overpriced, and Quest 3 straps still break.

      Buying Meta products will get you a replacement at their discretion. If they feel it appropriate. And only six months after putting up with a faulty one.

      • ViRGiN

        Not true at all mr imposter, I got my replacement the same week I received the ordered part. And I didn’t have to send anything back.

      • JB1968

        I’d stop you at “Don’t buy Meta”. That should be core of your message.

    • Sven Viking

      Last time I bought the Quest 2 Elite Strap, spent a few days on support emails (return shipping label expected within x days never arrived so had to contact again), then bought a cheaper 3rd-party strap while waiting over a month for my replacement to turn up and never found a reason to switch back. This time I skipped the first steps and saved a return process and a significant amount of money.

      • ViRGiN

        My process “required” just taking few photos of the LED on Quest 3, and double checking if I’m using original charger.

        Smooth sailing. I’ve had stuff replaced long after warranty as well, and it seems to be quite the norm. Perhaps much like r/valveindex claims Valve to be.

        Sounds like your ticket landed with bad representative.

        • Sven Viking

          Might also be regional differences.

  • NicoleJsd

    They have refunded it for me months ago. As soon as it started to act up I contacted them and said blah blah unacceptable, I want a refund etc (Karen mode)

    Now I have this strap for free though the battery isn’t working but it’s a pretty balanced accessory otherwise. Just the back of the head support is way too stiff and overall there are better straps out there but hey free is free

  • wcalderini

    Guess I won the Battery Lotto as well. Just checked my “Elite Strap with Battery” serial number and it looks like I get a free replacement. And I’m not 100% sure the old one is NOT working. Been a while since I played with the thing, AVP been keeping me busy. Still pretty damn decent of Meta to do this as I would NOT have explored the option otherwise.

    • ShaneMcGrath

      If it’s an early batch like mine, It will play up eventually.
      I thought I was good, Got way with it all this time but it recently started playing up as does my friend who ordered at the same time.
      It still works but it’s fiddly, Sometimes won’t charge or be recognised by headset until you unplug and re-plug the USB C cable.
      Maybe because I don’t play as frequently as other Quest 3 users the battery strap lasted longer despite being first batch.
      I agree with you on Meta, Pretty happy they have done the right thing on this issue, No cost on us to send it back or pay a fee/shipping for the replacement.