“Meta has Multiple Next-Generation VR Headsets in the works” – “Meta Confirms Multiple Next-Generation VR Headsets in Development for 2027 Launch”
Meta confirmed it is developing multiple next-generation virtual reality headsets slated for release in 2027, company executives said during the Q4 2025 earnings call and subsequent interviews. According to Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth and CFO Susan Li, the new devices include a gaming-focused Quest successor and an ultralight mixed-reality headset, reflecting the company’s continued investment in VR technology.
Meta executives provided additional details on the company’s next-generation virtual reality headsets during the Q4 2025 earnings call and in subsequent interviews. Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth confirmed that Meta is “building multiple next-generation headsets” and emphasized the company’s ongoing investment in VR technology. Chief Financial Officer Susan Li echoed this sentiment, telling investors Meta is “building future headsets,” explicitly using the plural form to indicate more than one device is in development.
Meta has at least two devices on its roadmap, including a gaming-focused Quest successor and an ultralight mixed-reality headset, both positioned as next-generation hardware beyond the current Quest 3 model.
According to Bosworth, Meta has at least two devices on its roadmap, which he linked to internal leaks circulating in 2025 and 2026. These include a gaming-focused Quest successor and an ultralight mixed-reality headset, both positioned as next-generation hardware beyond the current Quest 3 model. UploadVR reported that Meta plans to share more information at the upcoming Meta Connect event, scheduled for October 2026, where further details are expected to be announced.
Internal memos and executive comments reviewed by Business Insider, Tom’s Guide, and UploadVR describe the gaming-focused headset as a “large upgrade” over Quest 3. Meta executives Gabriel Aul and Ryan Cairns reportedly characterized this device as designed for immersive gaming experiences. The headset, often referred to as a Quest 4-class device, is expected to launch no sooner than late 2027. Meta sources indicate that the company will no longer heavily subsidize this model, suggesting a higher retail price compared to previous Quest headsets. This shift aims to improve unit economics, according to CFO Susan Li.
Earlier prototype designs codenamed “Pismo Low” and “Pismo High,” which represented a Quest 3S-like model and a high-end Quest 3 successor, were reportedly canceled as Meta regrouped around a new next-generation design. Reporting suggests that this gaming-focused Quest 4-class headset will coexist alongside a separate premium mixed-reality device, indicating a dual-product VR lineup rather than a single flagship product in the 2027 timeframe.
The second major device in development is an ultralight mixed-reality headset codenamed “Phoenix.” Multiple leaks and reports from Forbes, TechTimes, and UploadVR describe Phoenix as a premium VR/AR headset designed around a tethered compute and battery puck, rather than on-headset processing. This architecture allows for a significantly slimmer and lighter form factor. The headset is expected to feature eye-tracking, high-quality passthrough capabilities, and modular battery options, targeting advanced mixed-reality use cases rather than purely gaming.
Internal memos cited by UploadVR and Tom’s Guide indicate that Phoenix’s launch has been delayed to the first half of 2027. Meta Vice President Maher Saba is noted as acknowledging this schedule shift. Pricing leaks suggest Phoenix will be positioned above the gaming-focused Quest 4, with a price range estimated between $599 and $799. The companion Quest 4 headset is projected to target a lower price band, around $499 to $599, aimed at mainstream gamers.
Meta’s leadership has publicly rejected the notion that the company is scaling back VR investment. Bosworth stated that while Meta’s VR business has been put into a “more sustainable shape,” the company continues to “invest quite a bit” in future headsets. CFO Susan Li reiterated the company’s optimism about VR’s future and highlighted the strategic move away from aggressive hardware subsidies toward more sustainable unit economics.
Broader context from a 2023 internal AR/VR roadmap presentation, reported by The Verge, shows Meta planning three new Quest headsets alongside full-fledged AR glasses for a 2027 public launch. The AR glasses, developed under the codename “Orion,” are part of an “Innovation” hardware line aimed at early adopters. The roadmap also includes a “Scale” line of less advanced smart glasses and a second-generation neural interface smartwatch expected to launch in 2027. These developments illustrate Meta’s intention to build a comprehensive spatial computing ecosystem encompassing VR headsets, AR glasses, and companion wearables.
Technical details emerging from leaks and internal documents describe a focus on reducing headset weight and improving comfort by relocating processing and battery components to external pucks. This design approach is evident in both the Phoenix headset and candidate Quest 4-class devices. Phoenix prototypes reportedly integrate eye-tracking and advanced mixed-reality passthrough to support features like foveated rendering and more seamless blending of virtual and real environments. Internal presentations also mention a future high-end headset codenamed “La Jolla,” which aims to deliver photorealistic codec avatars, underscoring Meta’s long-term commitment to enhancing visual fidelity and social presence in VR.
Meta’s next-generation VR headsets are expected to deliver significant upgrades over Quest 3 in display quality, form factor, and mixed-reality capabilities. The company plans to announce more information at Meta Connect in October 2026, with shipments anticipated in 2027. This timeline supports the characterization of multiple next-generation headsets launching within the same year, reflecting Meta’s multi-tiered VR strategy.
