Meta has scrapped plans for a long-rumored mixed reality headset to compete with Apple’s Vision Pro. according to a report by Information. The company told Reality Labs employees to stop working on the device after a product review meeting attended by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Meta employees cited.
The headset was internally called La Jolla and was slated for release in 2027. This mixed reality device was allegedly head and shoulders above the Quest 3, with ultra-crisp micro OLED displays. It’s the same screen technology Used in Apple Vision Pro.
The report shows that the main problem is costs. The team wanted to get the device under $1,000, but these micro OLED panels don’t come cheap. The Vision Pro, after all, is $3,500.
Another possible reason for canning a premium device might be that there isn’t much hunger for expensive headphones. Vision Pro sales have been sluggish and Meta’s own pre-existing high-end headset, the Quest Pro, was widely teased. It comes with a price tag of $1,500.
It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean Meta is giving up on VR and MR devices. That’s just putting the kibosh on an expensive, high-end headset. There are a lot of rumors out there Quest 4 is comingAlong with the more budget version of Quest 3. Meta is also said to be developing new AR glasses that will be unveiled next time. Connect event on September 25th.
Meta’s CTO, Andrew Bosworth, reflected the above opinion. He wrote in Threads that the company has “many prototypes in development all the time” and that “decisions like this happen all the time.”
However, the company is changing its strategy slightly. In addition to canceling the aforementioned headsets, Meta is also looking to license its XR software to third-party hardware manufacturers. The platform, called Horizon OS, can be licensed to Indian tech giant Jio as the opening move in this gambit. However, the contract with LG passed.
It’s always possible that the company will revive the high-end headphone concept in the future once the space attracts more consumers. Meanwhile, Quest 4 is said to hit store shelves in 2026.
This article contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission if you click on such a link and make a purchase.
