After announcing a cut of up to 30% to its Metaverse budget, Meta is developing a mixed reality (MR) headset codenamed "Phoenix," with the release date postponed from the second half of 2026 to the first half of 2027. This is mainly due to CEO Mark Zuckerberg's request for the team to spend more time ensuring business sustainability and providing a higher quality user experience.
Meta has begun selling virtual reality (VR) headsets and Ray-Ban smart glasses. Although they sound a bit different, these smart glasses are designed similarly to the Apple Vision Pro and come with an external "power puck" to reduce the weight of the glasses and address heat dissipation issues.
Regarding Phoenix mixed reality glasses, a Meta executive meeting decided to delay the release date because Zuckerberg asked the team to spend more time ensuring business sustainability and providing a higher quality user experience.
Metaverse business leaders Gabriel Aul and Ryan Cairns stated that the delay will give the team more time to refine the product details, thus pushing the release date from the second half of 2026 to the first half of 2027.
Meta also plans to launch a limited-edition smart wearable device codenamed "Malibu 2" in 2026 and has begun developing a new generation of Quest VR devices, focusing on improving immersive gaming experiences and economic benefits. However, no further details have been released. These adjustments indicate that Meta is striving to find more effective development strategies in the face of market challenges.
(Image source: Meta)
