Meta Announces Next-Gen XR Headset 'VR Glasses' Priced at $1,300

Meta has officially revealed its next-generation mixed reality headset, carrying the name Meta VR Glasses. Previously known under the development codename Project Phoenix, the newly announced hardware will retail for $1,300. While the company has not yet provided an exact calendar date for the launch, the headset is scheduled to go on sale in the spring of 2027.

The physical design of the Meta VR Glasses prioritizes comfort by separating the main display unit from the core computing and power components. The headset itself weighs approximately 100 grams on the head. Inside a separate pocketable puck weighing around 300 grams sits a Qualcomm Snapdragon Reality Elite processor, designated as the XR2 Gen 3. The puck houses a battery that claims to provide over three hours of mixed use, and the device can be charged while in use using the included 45W USB-C power supply. An optical cable connects the headset to the compute puck via a proprietary port.

Visuals are handled by what Meta calls a 5K Infinite Display utilizing micro-OLED panels. The hardware offers a 5.5-megapixel resolution per eye at 2,412 by 2,288 pixels. Meta notes that the device achieves 37 pixels per degree because the pixels are distributed over a tighter field of view measuring roughly 88 degrees diagonally. The pancake lenses feature integrated eye tracking and can be manually adjusted for an interpupillary distance range between 56 and 70 millimeters. Users can also order prescription lens inserts through Meta partner Zenni Optical. The hardware will ship in two distinct sizes, Standard and Large, with 128GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 1TB using a microSD card slot located on the compute puck.

For inputs, the headset relies primarily on eye tracking and hand gestures rather than packaged physical controllers. Users can look at items to highlight them, pinch their fingers together to select, or use thumb movements to scroll through content. However, the system does support Meta Touch Plus controllers, allowing owners to buy them separately or use existing controllers from a Meta Quest 3 or 3S. Bluetooth peripherals such as keyboards and gamepads are fully supported, alongside the Surface Keyboard feature to turn flat surfaces into tracking pads.

Regarding software compatibility, the headset runs the same operating system and store as the Quest lineup, granting access to the existing library of virtual reality games and applications. Meta has promised more than 75 games and apps optimized specifically for hand gesture controls at launch. Headlining titles include modified versions of Beat Saber and Tetris Effect designed for hand tracking, the 3D puzzle game Dragon Grove, and the courtroom simulation titles Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and Dual Destinies. Streaming services such as Disney+ and Peacock will offer 3D support, alongside platforms like YouTube, Prime Video, and HBO. The hardware is also an IMAX Enhanced certified device supporting Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos spatial audio.

When the Meta VR Glasses arrive in the spring, the company plans for broad international availability. Supported regions at launch include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Poland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Iceland, Finland, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.