Meta has reportedly killed plans for its premium mixed reality headset. The device was rumored to arrive as a direct competitor to the Vision Pro in the high-end AR/VR headset segment in 2027. However, The Information reports that Meta has pulled the plug on the premium mixed reality headset for now.
Meta kills its premium mixed reality headset that would have competed with the Vision Pro
According to the report, Meta had already started development on its premium mixed reality headset in November last year. However, the company has now told employees at its Reality Labs division to stop working on the high-end AR/VR headset. The decision was reportedly taken after a review meeting attended by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, CTO Andrew Bosworth, and other Meta executives.
The source claims that the Meta premium mixed reality headset was internally codenamed ”La Jolla”. It would have ultimately launched at some point in 2027. The high-end headset was going to feature ultrahigh resolution micro OLED displays. The Apple Vision Pro also utilizes this display technology.
The report suggests that the cost of the Meta headset’s micro OLED displays is the main reason behind the cancellation. Meta purportedly wanted to keep the cost of the headset under $1,000. The feat seemed impossible considering the hefty price of the micro OLED display technology.
The canceled Meta VR headset was going to directly compete against Apple’s Vision Pro in the premium segment. The Cupertino tech giant’s $3,500 device is already struggling to attract buyers.
A more pocket-friendly Meta Quest headset may be coming later this year
According to reports, Meta may launch a more affordable Quest VR headset later this year. The device is reportedly in the pipeline under the codename “Ventura”. It could officially launch as the Meta Quest 3S. The company may introduce the budget headset at the upcoming Meta Connect 2024, which will take place from September 25 to September 26.
Not many details regarding the features of the purported Meta Quest 3S are available at the moment. However, we do know that it could cost around $200. Meta will reportedly ship it without controllers to keep the cost down. Notably, the company may have two variants of the device on offer – a controller-free variant at $200 and a model with controllers at $300.
2024-08-24 15:06:31