Meta hints at future headsets and AI-driven video immersion
Meta’s latest earnings call slid VR into the background as CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighted the growth of Meta’s smart glasses, which have reportedly seen sales more than triple in the past year. Still, the company reaffirmed that it remains invested in next-gen hardware and potential AI integrations for VR, signaling that the research and development push in Reality Labs is far from over.
During the discussion with investors, CFO Suan Li stressed optimism for VR’s long-term prospects while noting that consumer adoption for VR has generally grown more slowly than wearables. She explained that Meta is continuing to invest in building future headsets but is rebalancing Reality Labs’ portfolio to reflect slower-than-expected consumer uptake.
Two devices have leaked as potential next steps for the headset line, eyed for 2026 and/or 2027. One is reportedly a Quest 4–style upgrade: a larger, more conventional headset with both high-end and lower-end variants, mirroring the Quest 3 and Quest 3S approach. The other is what I’m calling the Quest Pro 2: an ultra-light, glasses- or goggles-like form factor that shifts heavy lifting to a pocket-sized puck for battery and compute, with a stronger emphasis on productivity rather than gaming.
The AI upgrade Meta is exploring could be equally transformative. Zuckerberg floated a sci-fi scenario in which any video you’re watching could be tapped and you could jump into it. While don’t expect this to arrive imminently, the idea would push Meta’s AI-powered tools beyond VR into mobile and Horizon-based experiences, enabling worlds generated from photos and memories to fuel immersive social spaces across platforms. Such capabilities could help Meta close the gap with rivals like ChatGPT and Gemini, which are already shaping the AI landscape.
In short, Meta’s comments offer a tease more than a timetable: new hardware references and ambitious AI concepts without firm launch dates. For VR enthusiasts, it’s a glimmer of momentum rather than a reset, even as competition from devices like the Steam Frame and other players looms on the horizon.