Meta Platforms cancels high-end mixed reality headset plans - The Information

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META ) has canceled plans for a premium mixed-reality headset aimed at competing with Apple's Vision Pro, according to a report from The Information on Friday.

The publication said the project, internally known as "La Jolla," was halted after a product review meeting involving CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other top executives.

The headset, which began development in November and was slated for a 2027 release, was expected to feature advanced micro OLED displays similar to those used in Apple's Vision Pro.

However, keeping the device's cost below $1,000 proved challenging due to the expensive display technology, said The Information.

This decision comes as Meta shifts its strategy from solely building hardware to licensing its XR software, Horizon OS, to other companies.

The Information notes that Meta has been exploring partnerships, including talks with Indian tech giant Jio, though previous deals, such as one with LG, have fallen through.

Despite canceling "La Jolla," Meta is still said to be developing lower-range headsets, like the Quest 4, set for a 2026 release.

The existing Quest lineup includes the Quest 2 and Quest 3, which retail for $200 and $500, respectively.

Meta had previously halted production of its $999 Quest Pro due to poor sales, but refocused on high-end devices following Apple's Vision Pro announcement, leading to the now-canceled "La Jolla" project.

As Meta increases its focus on artificial intelligence, it's cutting costs in its Reality Labs division.

The company is also prioritizing its Ray-Ban smart glasses, which have outperformed expectations.

Meta plans to showcase its augmented reality glasses at its Connect developer conference in September, although these won't be publicly available for several years due to ongoing development challenges, according to The Information.

Source: Investing.com