According to The Information, Meta is reportedly abandoning its plans to develop a high-end mixed-reality headset intended to compete with the Apple Vision Pro. This decision comes despite earlier reports that the headset, codenamed La Jolla, was expected to launch around 2027.
According to The Information, Meta began developing the La Jolla headset in November but instructed employees to halt work on the project this past week. The high cost of the MicroOLED partly influenced the decision displays that the La Jolla headset would have used.
This move indicates that Meta may be rethinking its commitment to high-end VR. The initial goal was to keep the headset’s price below $1,000, but this became increasingly challenging due to the high production costs of MicroOLED displays. Additionally, the $3,500 Vision Pro has struggled to gain traction with both customers and developers, casting doubt on the demand for a high-end rival. The situation is further complicated by the Quest Pro, which launched at $1,499, received poor reviews, and quickly lost visibility.
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth addressed the news on Threads, stating, “We have numerous prototypes in development at any given time, but not all of them make it to production. We advance some and discard others. Decisions like these are routine, and stories focusing on a single decision rarely provide the full context.”
Despite this, Meta still intends to release additional headsets and mixed-reality technology soon. The Verge has previously reported that a more budget-friendly Quest headset, codenamed Ventura, might launch later this year. Additionally, Meta is expected to unveil new AR glasses at its Meta Connect event next month. Rumors also suggest that the Quest 4 will come in both standard and premium versions, with a release slated for 2026.
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