While the report didn’t reveal much about hardware, this is the first time we’ve heard about specific timelines for the devices. The Quest 4 will purportedly have a standard and premium version, referred to internally as “Pismo Low” and “Pismo High.” Meanwhile, a higher-end version codenamed “La Jolla” is set for 2027 and is meant to compete with the Apple Vision Pro. Unmentioned in the report is Ventura, a more affordable headset that The Verge previously reported may come out later this year.
Aside from Quest headsets, Meta is also expected to launch a pair of AR glasses with a bonafide display. However, The Information report notes that there’s some doubt surrounding those glasses. Unlike the current Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, this pair will reportedly weigh a hefty 70g and feature a “bulky design” due to the display. That chunkiness, the report notes, means they likely won’t carry the Ray-Ban branding. Ray-Ban’s parent company EssilorLuxottica purportedly wasn’t a fan.
If true, the issue of bulky design wouldn’t be surprising. Most AR glasses with displays have struggled with the same problem. Currently, it’s a challenge to miniaturize displays to a size that’s comfortably wearable, while also maintaining minimally viable battery life and power. As a result, most companies that have attempted AR glasses have left style by the wayside — which itself has been a major barrier to consumer adoption.
