A New Meta Quest Most likely Will not Occur in 2026

When you’re a fan of VR, I most likely don’t must let you know that zeal for {hardware} appears to be on the downslope. Not solely was there no new Quest headset out of Meta Connect this yr—a convention that’s traditionally been dedicated to VR stuff—however rumors counsel subsequent yr could possibly be extra of the identical.

In keeping with a report from UploadVR, new Quest headsets have been pushed again till 2027 on the soonest, together with the corporate’s rumored ultra-light headset and the Quest 4, a successor to the Quest 3, which got here out in 2023. In keeping with UploadVR, the Quest 4 might not come out till 2028, which admittedly appears like eons away in gadget years.

Regardless of the delay, memos considered by UploadVR counsel some huge issues within the pipeline for the Quest as soon as each headsets are lastly launched. On the ultra-light facet of issues, the “Quest Air,” because it’s being tentatively referred to internally, will reportedly be coupled with a compute puck that acts because the headset’s mind. Theoretically, offloading all of the computing might drastically cut back the load, making for a tool that feels much less annoying to put on over lengthy intervals. Whether or not it will likely be highly effective and secure sufficient to truly take pleasure in is anybody’s guess, however a minimum of you may not want to coach your neck muscle groups earlier than you put on it.

The Quest 4, alternatively, is reportedly shaping as much as be a “massive improve” to the Quest 3, in accordance with memos, and can seemingly land as extra of a competitor to the Apple Vision Pro than a budget-focused headset just like the Quest 3S. Talking of budgets, UploadVR additionally factors out that headset pricing might drastically change within the subsequent technology, with a memo stating that the Quest 4 will “considerably enhance unit economics.” Both which means Meta has in some way discovered a option to make all of this {hardware} for a decrease price, or it plans on elevating costs to try to squeeze a revenue. Personally, my cash is on the latter, particularly as a result of the memo reportedly states that Meta needs to be extra centered on “making the enterprise sustainable.”

Couple all of this with the truth that Meta could also be on the precipice of drastically reducing its budget for Reality Labs, the division of the corporate that oversees VR/XR {hardware}, and it begins to make extra sense. It appears like a nasty signal for the Quest, and that will not be completely inaccurate, however a slowdown does really feel inevitable. Actuality Labs has blown by way of tens of billions of {dollars} since 2022, which isn’t precisely a standard tempo for a {hardware} market like VR/XR that also feels very area of interest. I don’t suppose anybody anticipated Meta to maintain that burning a lot money without end.

Enterprise Insider additionally studies that Meta has delayed the release of its “Phoenix” pair of XR glasses to “get the small print proper.” Does that imply Meta is souring on AR glasses already? More than likely not, given how closely it pushed into the class of wearables this yr through the Meta Ray-Ban Display and Oakley-branded smart glasses. I’ll admit, delays throughout the board for brand spanking new Quest {hardware} aren’t encouraging, however I believe the truth that new {hardware} continues to be even within the dialogue is definitely a superb signal. That being mentioned, roadmaps can at all times change. Tune in subsequent time when Meta abandons {hardware} completely for AI slop?