Report: Meta Quest 4 planned for 2026 in two versions
Meta Quest 3 is less than a year old, and rumors are already swirling about the next generation of the VR headset.
The Information, which has often been right in the past, spoke to several people who have worked on Meta's hardware projects. According to them, Meta plans to release several major AR and VR products in the next three years.
- Meta's first AR glasses are scheduled for a 2026 launch (codename: Hypernova).
- Also planned for 2026 is Meta Quest 4 in standard and premium versions (codenamed Pismo Low and Pismo High).
- A high-end Quest to compete with Apple Vision Pro (codename: La Jolla) is scheduled for release in 2027.
According to a number of other credible reports, a cheaper Meta Quest 3, called the Quest 3S, is also planned for release this fall.
Meta's first AR glasses: too bulky for success?
The report includes more details about Hypernova. Meta's first AR glasses are said to weigh 70 grams and have a thick frame, which current and former Meta employees say is likely to turn off consumers.
Eyewear manufacturer EssillorLuxottica, which launched the Meta Ray Ban Smart Glasses with Meta, did not partner with Meta on this project. The company is said to have "balked" at the design, according to two people who worked on the project.
Meta employees say the bulky design is a result of physics and that it is not possible to further miniaturize the technology, according to The Information.
Zuckerberg introduces cost-cutting measures
The site also reports that cost-cutting measures are coming to Reality Labs. The division, which develops VR and AR technology, will have to cut costs by 20 percent by 2026.
Meta has invested $55 billion in Reality Labs since 2019, and so far, has had a comparatively low return on investment from VR products.
The Information reports that a dozen directors and vice presidents of Reality Labs were let go at the end of June. They include Caitlin Kalinowski, who led the development of AR glasses hardware, and Steve McClure, who had the same role for smart glasses. Both teams now report directly to Paul Greco, vice president of AR hardware development.
The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring of Reality Labs.
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