Meta has recently decided to cancel the development of a high-end mixed-reality headset intended to compete with Apple’s Vision Pro. The decision followed a review meeting led by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The canceled device was expected to launch in 2027 and was planned to feature high-resolution micro OLED displays similar to those used in the Vision Pro. Meta had aimed to price the headset below $1,000, but the high cost of the displays made this goal unfeasible.
Instead, Meta will continue to develop the Quest 4, the successor to the Quest 3, with an anticipated release in 2026. The Quest 3 is currently priced at $500, and Meta is likely to maintain a similar price point for the Quest 4.
The company is also shifting its focus toward software development, having announced the Horizon OS platform for third-party hardware earlier this year, indicating a strategic move away from high-cost hardware to more accessible solutions.
The Vision Pro, which Apple launched to much initial interest, has struggled with consumer appeal. Despite high expectations, enthusiasm for the headset began to wane within a month of its release. This decline in interest led to a reduction in Vision Pro shipments and projections for 2024 sales have been revised downwards, with Apple unlikely to sell more than 500,000 units.
In response to these market challenges, Apple has decided to halt the development of a second-generation Vision Pro at its current high price point. Instead, the company is shifting focus towards a lower-cost model that will feature fewer advanced features and be priced closer to high-end iPhones, aiming to capture a broader market segment.
