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.

According to multiple reports and company statements, Meta’s next-generation headset prototypes include a virtual reality-only device with an ultra-wide field of view, a mixed-reality headset featuring high-fidelity color passthrough, and a “Visual Turing” display prototype. Meta officials have emphasized that these devices are research prototypes, not consumer products, and are not production-ready. The company plans to showcase the prototypes at SIGGRAPH 2025, a leading conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques.

Leak reports highlight the use of 80-megapixel cameras capable of capturing passthrough video at 60 frames per second.

Reports from Business Insider and Heise indicate that Meta is testing a smaller, lighter headset design codenamed “Phoenix,” which resembles a pair of glasses. Sources familiar with the device told Business Insider that the prototype offloads processing and battery components to an external pocket computer, contributing to a reduced size and weight compared with the current Quest 3. YouTube leak coverage has repeatedly described the chassis as significantly smaller and lighter, although Meta has not confirmed any specific weight or final design details.

A key focus of the prototypes is improved mixed-reality passthrough capabilities. One source described the mixed-reality headset as targeting high-fidelity color passthrough, with enhanced depth sensing to enable more realistic blending of virtual and real-world imagery. These camera specifications have not been independently verified by Meta and remain at the prototype research stage.

Regarding the timeline for a potential consumer release, an internal memo cited by Business Insider and Heise reportedly pushes the device’s launch window to the first half of 2027. This represents a shift from earlier expectations of a 2026 release. Other leaks suggest some variants could appear as early as late 2026, but no official launch date has been announced by Meta. Some reports speculate on the possibility of a high-end product preceding a broader consumer rollout, though these remain unconfirmed.

Technical details circulating in leaks mention a next-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon XR chip powering the prototypes. Claims vary between the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 3 and other next-generation XR platforms. Some videos allege substantial GPU performance improvements, but these assertions have not been independently verified. Additional prototype features reportedly include eye tracking and face tracking, which sources say could support enhanced avatar interactions, foveated rendering, and social virtual reality applications.

Display and optics technology are also under development, with leaks suggesting the use of OLED or micro-OLED panels in premium variants. Some reports mention a resolution approaching 4K per eye and an ultra-wide 180-degree field of view on certain prototypes. Pancake lens designs, which allow for a thinner optical path, have been cited as a means to reduce headset bulk and weight. However, these details are based on leaked prototype demonstrations and speculative commentary rather than official specifications.

Meta has publicly acknowledged the existence of research prototypes through its Reality Labs division and confirmed plans to demonstrate these devices at SIGGRAPH 2025. The company has clarified that these prototypes are experimental and not representative of a final consumer product. Previous leaks of Meta headset prototypes include the Quest Pro engineering sample, which surfaced in 2022 after being found in a hotel room. Final branding, consumer specifications, exact weights, camera counts, and retail launch dates for the next-generation headset remain unconfirmed.