Meta unveils $1,299 VR glasses with external computing puck at Connect 2026

Meta VR Glasses launch at Connect 2026

Meta on Wednesday unveiled a $1,299 virtual-reality device called Meta VR Glasses at Meta Connect 2026, with sales scheduled for spring 2027. The headset puts displays, cameras, and sensors into a glasses-like form factor while moving the processor, cooling fan, battery, and other computing components into an external pack that can clip to a pocket or rest on a table. Meta frames the launch as a shift toward lighter wearable hardware and positions the new line as a step toward profitability for its headset business.

Weight, design, and price positioning

At roughly 100 grams, Meta VR Glasses weigh about one-sixth as much as Apple's Vision Pro and about one-fifth as much as Meta's own Quest 3S, a reduction the company attributes to the external-pack architecture. Apple keeps only the battery external on the Vision Pro, and Meta's previous Quest models housed all components in the headset. Meta priced the device at $1,299, undercutting Apple's headset, and Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth said Meta owes Apple "a little bit of a debt of gratitude" for helping legitimize split architectures. "I think they definitely were pioneers on some of those pieces for us and did the heavy lifting," Bosworth said in an interview.

Displays, processor, and battery life

The glasses use micro-OLED panels described as a 5K Infinite Display and are powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite processor. The external puck delivers up to three hours of continuous high-resolution media playback and supports 45-watt fast charging. Meta describes the system as five times lighter than its Quest 3 headset, a comparison the company used at the Menlo Park demonstration that included watching immersive NBA highlights and navigating the redesigned Meta operating system.

Software features and app ecosystem

The device includes features shared with the Vision Pro and existing Quest headsets: immersive video playback, office applications, the ability to serve as an external monitor for a Mac or PC, web browsing, gaming, video conferencing, and a voice assistant. Users can also create a private multi-screen workspace, with flat surfaces functioning as virtual keyboards and touchpads. More than 75 games are expected to support hand-gesture controls at launch, and Xbox Cloud Gaming will provide additional titles, positioning the device beyond VR gaming alone.

Status and next milestone

Meta VR Glasses go on sale in spring 2027 at $1,299.99, making that launch window the next verifiable milestone for the product. Meta also used Connect 2026 to announce plans to convert some of its AI-powered smart glasses into FDA-cleared over-the-counter hearing aids with personalized hearing profiles and speech amplification, a separate initiative tied to its Muse personal AI agent.