Apple’s Vision Pro initially generated a lot of excitement, but interest seems to have waned in recent months. Nevertheless, the future of this type of wearable technology looks promising, and Meta has joined the competition. A new report from The Information now indicates that Meta’s plans have undergone significant changes.
No Quest Pro 2. Meta had been working on the Quest Pro 2, which was supposed to be the next iteration of its advanced mixed reality headset. Under the codename “La Jolla,” the project had an estimated release date of 2027. However, these plans have recently been canceled. Instead, Meta will now reportedly focus on a new, intermediate design between the Ray-Ban Meta glasses and the Meta Quest headset.
Hello, Puffin. According to The Information, Meta’s latest project in this segment is codenamed “Puffin.” Unlike Meta’s previous virtual reality products, Puffin will supposedly feature a new compact and lightweight design. It’s important to note that Puffin is different from the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which look like “normal” eyewear. Instead, the Puffin project aims to directly compete with Apple’s Vision Pro but with a much more comfortable design for everyday use.
Ultralight. Puffin is expected to resemble a slightly bulkier headset due to the integrated technology, but despite this, it’s still lightweight at 110 grams (for comparison, the Meta Quest 3 headset weighs about 400 grams without the fastening straps). The design will apparently feature opaque VR goggles with pancake lenses and external cameras for passthrough.
A familiar design. There seems to be a similarity between Meta’s design proposal and the one put forward by Bigscreen Beyond, a virtual reality headset which relies on a PC and is remarkable for its small size and weight. It features MicroOLED screens with a resolution similar to that of the Vision Pro and provides an attractive alternative to the traditional Meta Quest 3. It’s not cheap, though, considering it costs $999.
The battery and processor will be housed in a separate puck. It appears that the design, similar to that of Apple, will allow for reduced weight and size. Specifically, the battery and computing elements are said to be contained in a puck that can hang from the headset and be carried in a pocket.
Control will be achieved using hand gestures. Reports also indicate that Meta’s future headset won’t have control knobs like the Quest 3, but instead, users will be able to control it through hand gestures, as seen in the Vision Pro.
They won’t be ready until 2027. The Puffin project is anticipated to be ready by 2027, so we’ll have to wait over two years to see the results. There’s no information regarding the potential price range of this device, but experts suggest that it’ll be significantly more affordable than Apple’s Vision Pro.
The Meta Quest 4 is also in development. Meta is developing the Puffin project alongside the next evolution of the Meta Quest. In July, The Information reported that Meta is working on not one, but two different models, theoretically the Meta Quest 4 and a more affordable version called the Meta Quest 4S. The Puffin protect is expected to be available in 2026 and will update Meta’s lineup in this area.
Image | Adrià García Sarceda
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