Meta's $1,300 VR Glasses Show What a Lighter Mixed Reality Device Looks Like

Meta's $1,300 VR Glasses look like the Vision Pro sequel Apple should be making

Finally, someone made lightweight VR specs.

Design and Pricing

After a few leaks, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed the company's next-generation Meta VR Glasses at its Connect event. Arriving in Spring 2027, they look like oversized sunglasses (similar to display frames from Xreal and others), paired with an external power and computing pod, like the Apple Vision Pro. The Meta VR Glasses also have onboard cameras to detect the wearer's hands for gesture-based controls. While they're not cheap at $1,300, they're a far cry from the Vision Pro's original $3,500 cost, or its current $3,700 price. And at first glance, they look exactly like how a true successor to the Vision Pro might appear — a pair of unobtrusive and lightweight VR glasses at a more palatable price.

Meta is pitching the VR Glasses as an all-in-one entertainment and productivity device. Just like the Vision Pro, you can watch movies on enormous virtual screens, or connect to your computer to multitask with multiple windows floating in front of you. The VR Glasses are launching together with more than 75 hand-powered games, and you can also connect a pair of Touch Plus controllers to play existing Quest VR games.

Hardware Specifications

The Meta VR Glasses are powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite processor, the XR2 Gen 3, and feature a 5K (2,412 by 2,288 pixels) 120Hz micro-OLED display. It relies on six external cameras for color passthrough and motion tracking, and also has four internal eye-tracking cameras. With a 70-degree horizontal field of view, the Meta VR Glasses won't fill your eyes with VR as much as the Vision Pro's 100-degree FOV, but it's significantly higher than most display glasses. Meta's wired computing puck, which looks compact enough to slip in a pocket, holds 12GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (along with a microSD card slot for more content).

On their own, the Meta VR Glasses weigh 100 grams, or about 0.2 pounds. That's only a tad heavier than Xreal's One Pro AR display glasses, and significantly lighter than the Vision Pro's headset, which weighs between 1.3 to 1.7 pounds. Meta's compute puck weighs an additional 300 grams (0.6 pounds), slightly lighter than the Vision Pro's equivalent components. Judging from the product photos, you won't be able to wear the Meta VR Glasses over your own spectacles, but custom prescription frames can be ordered.

Features and Media Support

Full-color pass-through lets you see the real world alongside VR experiences; the interface is entirely built around hand gestures; it's unlocked via biometric iris recognition; and you can virtually chat with friends using a digital "Hologram" recreation of yourself.

Meta appears to be supporting 3D movies similarly to the Vision Pro: The Meta VR Glasses will have hundreds of 3D films available to buy or rent, and you'll also find 3D content in streaming apps like Disney+ and Peacock.

Additionally, the company is adopting elements similar to Apple's Immersive Video Format — Meta says National Geographic will be launching a new app next year with 180-degree 3D Video. A new "VR Enhanced Cinema" format will let you watch 3D movies with effects that bleed into your real-world space. The company says Avengers: Infinity War and Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope will be available in the VR format next year.

Trade-offs and Market Position

Unlike the similarly-priced $1,050 Steam Frame, the Meta VR Glasses are evolving the idea of what a VR headset can be. It likely won't be as immersive as headsets that completely envelop your field of vision, but for most people, it may be worth losing that immersion to have a device that's easier to wear without messing up your hair as badly as a typical bulky VR headset.

The biggest downsides for the Meta VR Glasses are its $1,300 price and the fact they come from Meta, a company that faces scrutiny over privacy. Since these are dedicated VR specs, they may not carry the exact same public privacy concerns as camera-equipped smart glasses, but public perception of wearable cameras remains a challenge.

Apple's leadership maintains that the Vision Pro is part of a long journey. However, recent organizational changes and the launch of hardware like the Meta VR Glasses highlight growing competition to deliver mixed reality hardware that is lighter, more affordable, and consumer-friendly.