Vega is a sequencer released by Pacific Biosciences in January 2025.
It is based
on Single Molecule Real Time (SMRT) Sequencing.

Image of Vega: https://www.pacb.com/wp-content/uploads/Featured-image_Vega_1200x630.png by PacBio
Specifications
Manufacturer |
Pacific Biosciences |
Technology |
Single Molecule Real Time (SMRT) Sequencing |
Release date |
January 2025 |
Price [2] |
$169,000 MSRP as of March 2025
|
Type |
Benchtop |
Weight |
125.2 Kg |
Supports real-time analysis |
No |
Demultiplexing support |
Yes |
File format |
BAM |
Read length |
PacBio Vega: 1000bp to 20000bp
|
Run time |
PacBio Vega: 12 to 24 hours
|
Reagent cost per Gb [1] |
PacBio Vega: Unavailable
|
Data quality [3] |
PacBio Vega: 95% Q30+ bases
|
Maximum output per run (Gb)[4] |
PacBio Vega: 60.00
|
Primary error type [5] |
Indels |
Notes about the specifications
More about the PacBio Vega
The PacBio Vega is a benchtop long-read sequencing platform designed to address the increasing demand for cost-effective, long-read sequencing applications for individual labs. It is positioned to serve researchers requiring sequencing for applications like epigenetic studies, structural variant analysis, and comprehensive transcriptome studies. Although the Revio remains the current flagship platform for PacBio due to its incorporation by multiple sequencing facilities and its higher throughput, the Vega serves an important role in PacBio’s portfolio, as it offers the same high-accuracy HiFi reads as the Revio in a more compact form with a lower upfront cost.
Key Innovations
The core innovations of the PacBio Vega lie in its more cost-effective and compact form specifically optimized for benchtop operation compared to the PacBio Revio. These changes were made to open the door for many smaller individual labs to access PacBio HiFi data. Key improvements include:
- Lower cost: The upfront price of the Vega is $169,000, which is approximately 4 times cheaper than the Revio, which costs $779,000. There is also an option to purchase just access to a Vega for $79,000, which is approximately 10 times more cost-effective than purchasing the Revio.
- Reduced footprint: When compared to the large 465 kg Revio that is the height of a person at 174.5 cm tall, the Vega weighs 125 kb and is only 76.8 cm tall. This intentional change was made in order to optimize it for benchtop work in individual labs.
Features and Technologies
PacBio Vega uses the same Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing technology, which uses Zero-Mode Waveguides (ZMWs) to confine individual polymerase molecules and monitor nucleotide incorporation in real time. This process enables the generation of long reads with high accuracy.
- SMRT Technology: The Vega uses a SMRT cell containing millions of ZMWs, where single molecules of DNA are immobilized using the primers and polymerase attached during library prep. As the polymerase incorporates each fluorescently-labeled nucleotide, light is emitted, and this information is captured in real time to identify the incorporated base.
- HiFi Reads and Accuracy: For high-accuracy HiFi reads, Circular Consensus Sequencing (CCS) mode involves sequencing the same circularized DNA template multiple times, enabling error correction and resulting in reads with >99% accuracy. Read lengths can vary depending on library preparation and target fragment size, with mean HiFi read lengths commonly exceeding 10 kb.
Intended Uses and Specific Applications
PacBio Vega is well-suited for applications that require accurate and long-read capabilities, including:
- Population Genomics: Resolving complex genomic variations in large populations.
- Structural Variant Analysis: Detecting and characterizing large structural variations, such as insertions, deletions, duplications, and translocations.
- Full-Length Transcriptome Sequencing (Iso-Seq): Generating full-length transcript isoforms, enabling comprehensive gene expression analysis.
- Full Length Amplicon Sequencing (16S): Resolving complex microbial communities by generating long reads that span the entire amplicon-of-interest.
- Methylation Sequencing: Directly detecting 5-methylcytosine (5mC) at CpG sites in native DNA without requiring bisulfite treatment.
Suitable library prep kits includes the HiFi prep and SMRTbell prep kits.
Comparison with Competing Instruments
- PacBio Revio: Although they both offer similar accuracy and runtime, the Revio offers significantly higher throughput (90 Gb vs. 60 Gb) and a lower cost per run ($995 vs. $1,100) compared to the Vega. However, the Vega has a significantly lower upfront instrument cost and a much more compact form suitable for benchtop operation.
- Oxford Nanopore GridION: The GridION provides ultra-long reads and real-time sequencing capabilities, allowing researchers to stop the run once they’ve received the necessary data. While GridION's upfront cost ($58,800) is lower than the Vega ($169,000), its raw read accuracy is generally lower, and its throughput per flow cell is lower than Vega's output.
Special Considerations
Researchers considering the PacBio Vega should weigh the following factors:
- The Vega is a great option for small to medium labs who need long-read and accurate sequencing, but where upfront instrument cost and space are significant considerations
- For large players in the sequencing space who need high-throughput PacBio sequencing, the Vega may not be the best option over time, as the Revio is more suitable here.
Need sequencing done on a PacBio Vega or a specific instrument? Tell us about your project here, and we'll connect you with a qualified provider.
This information on this page is up-to-date as of March 28, 2025 and based on the spec
sheets published by the manufacturer.