Meta has pushed the launch of its Phoenix mixed-reality glasses to 2027. The adjustment follows an earlier plan targeting late 2026. The company aims to deliver a fully polished device instead of rushing to market. Phoenix has been engineered to weigh about 100 grams, while offering practical computing power and lower-resolution displays compared to premium headsets. The delay is meant to improve performance, strengthen reliability, and optimize the user experience before a global rollout.
Balancing Innovation and Cost Control
The Phoenix headset merges augmented and virtual reality, enabling real and digital elements to interact in a single space. The device fits into the broader product portfolio under Reality Labs, which already develops Quest headsets and smart glasses. Yet the project now sits against a backdrop of tighter spending. Budget cuts of up to thirty percent are expected for Meta’s metaverse efforts. As a result, the company is prioritizing products with clearer market readiness and longer-term adoption potential.
Positioning for Future Mixed-Reality Leadership
Meta continues to refine its hardware ecosystem as competition intensifies across the XR landscape. The shift in launch timing allows added development flexibility while advancing usability, comfort, and ecosystem integration. Although the new glasses will not match the computing power of the highest-end devices available today, the company aims to capture broader consumer interest once the technology becomes more accessible.
