Leak reveals sleek design of Meta's upcoming Project Phoenix mixed-reality headset
Images uncovered by UploadVR appear to show Meta's thin Project Phoenix headset, positioned between full VR headsets and smart glasses.
UploadVR released screenshots that seem to originate from the HorizonOS Prescription Lens firmware, offering a first visual glimpse of Meta's Project Phoenix headset. The device appears to bridge the gap between bulky VR headsets like the Quest 3 and lightweight smart glasses such as Ray-Ban AI, with lenses embedded in a thin, glasses-shaped frame. A rear view shows a cable extending from an earpiece, likely intended for an external battery or compute puck, while cameras facing outward and downward are also visible.
The design suggests Meta aims to compete with mixed-reality glasses from companies like Xreal and Viture. The leak arrives shortly before the Meta Connect event scheduled for September 23, though the headset is expected to launch only next year. Google is reportedly pursuing a similar concept with its Project Aura XR glasses, which also rely on an external compute unit.
Why it matters
The leak hints at Meta's next step in mixed-reality hardware, potentially reshaping the market between VR headsets and smart glasses.
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