Tech
We now have dates for Meta’s forthcoming Quest headsets
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 bona fide 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.