Meta Discovers relief as it finds no immediate concern regarding its Vision Project
Revamped Robot:
The affordable Meta Quest 3 eagerly replaced the premium Meta Quest Pro in the market, priced at a mere half of its predecessor. New reports, now endorsed by Meta executives, suggest that the tech giant has no intention of launching another high-end, pricey headset, due to its questionable worthiness. Mark Zuckerberg himself stated that the $500 Quest 3 trumps the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro in every pertinent aspect. Why mess with a costlier rival?
Allegedly, Meta is working on numerous AR/VR projects, including smart AR glasses – just like Apple, the competition. One such project bearing the code name La Jolla, a 2027 release Pro-level headset, has reportedly been discontinued based on anonymous sources. According to the insider info, the Meta Quest 4 is still under development, with a potential release in 2026.
The La Jolla headset was intended to mirror Apple's Vision Pro, boasting micro-OLED displays. Meta aimed to produce a headset of comparable capability to the Vision Pro at a cost below $1,000. However, the company couldn't find a means to match the costs for such high-quality displays, according to The Information's tipsters.
Meta's CTO Andrew Bosworth subtly confirmed The Information's report on Threads: "We consistently work on numerous prototypes, some of which don't make it to production... stories centered on one individual decision will never provide the whole picture."
Meta grapples with balancing the AR development cost while aiming to lead the industry. Though the term "metaverse" isn't echoing as much as before, Meta's VR-oriented Reality Labs division is still burning through billions. In its latest quarterly earnings report, Meta acknowledged a $4.5 billion loss in its second quarter alone for Reality Labs.
According to previous reports from The Information, Zuck is becoming more conscious of the cash his company is pouring into AR. The two-pronged VR strategy for Meta now involves becoming the sugar daddy of AR software while continuing to produce top-tier VR hardware.
Last week, Meta introduced the ability to use an HDMI link for mirroring any compatible device at 1080p. Improved hand tracking performance and industry-leading tracking are now just around the corner. On the other hand, Vision Pro sales in the U.S. have slowed down, even as Apple ventures into Europe and Asia. Cost is a significant factor, and Meta might be contemplating this while weighing the readiness of the public to buy a VR headset costing over $3,500 or even $1,000. Apple is reportedly planning a cheaper Vision headset that may not be as flashy as the Vision Pro.
Rather than pouring more money into a more expensive Quest, Meta would likely be better off enhancing the capabilities of its cheaper headsets. Cutting the expense may not halt the financial drain entirely, but if Meta can be the pioneer to master AR glasses, perhaps it can ignite public interest.
- The Meta Quest 3, a more affordable alternative to the Meta Quest Pro, has reportedly led Meta to reconsider launching another high-end, pricey headset, since the tech executives find it questionable in terms of worthiness.
- Contrary to reports suggesting the discontinuation of the Meta Quest 4, insider information indicates that the project is still under development, with a potential release in 2026.
- Despite the cancellation of the La Jolla headset, which was intended to rival Apple's Vision Pro, Meta's CTO Andrew Bosworth has confirmed the company's continuous work on various AR/VR prototypes.
- As Apple prepares a cheaper Vision headset, Meta might be considering the public's readiness to buy a VR headset costing over $3,500 or even $1,000, potentially favoring enhancing the capabilities of its cheaper headsets rather than investing in a more expensive Quest model.
