According to reports, Meta is planning to release its next-generation flagship virtual reality (VR) headset, the Quest 4, in 2026. Meanwhile, a visionary professional competitor – seemingly Quest Professional 2 – is rumored to be in development for 2027.
Meta plans to release two consumer-facing virtual reality (VR) headsets in 2026, according to reports from Wayne Ma and Kalley Huang. Dubbed Pismo Low and Pismo Excessive, these mysterious codenames likely refer to the upcoming Quest 4 and its more affordable counterpart, Quest 4S. If reports prove accurate, it may be as long as two years since the highly anticipated release of a more affordably priced ‘Quest 3S’ is expected to be unveiled in September, following the original Quest 3’s debut three years prior.
Past these headsets, Meta is allegedly preparing to launch a cutting-edge Augmented Reality professional-grade offering by 2027, internally dubbed “La Jolla”. While the corporate’s initial professional headset, Quest Professional, underwhelmed with its price and limited features, Apple’s $3,500 Pro headset has shattered the price barrier, marking a significant turning point in virtual reality innovation?
Even a $2,000 professional-grade headset from Meta would seem reasonably priced in comparison. Meanwhile, Apple has set a benchmark by providing a clear glimpse into what productivity in an XR headset entails.
As Meta’s metaverse ambitions continue to unfold, reports suggest that the company is taking a more frugal approach by reining in spending within its Reality Labs division, which focuses on extended reality (XR) and metaverse development. According to reports, Meta is seeking to reduce Actuality Labs’ expenses by approximately 20%, a move aimed at addressing the significant gap between rising costs and stagnant revenue that has persisted for several years.
As reported, this development has paralleled significant restructuring within Actuality Labs, including the departure of more than a dozen senior executives, according to claims.
The report further claims that Meta is poised to release its inaugural augmented reality glasses in the coming year, albeit with an intriguing caveat: the device will feature a display solely within “the appropriate lens” of the glasses, hinting at a sophisticated smartglasses experience akin to the Meta Ray-Ban 3.
