Meta Project Phoenix: Slim Mixed Reality Headset Leaked
Images found in HorizonOS firmware reveal Meta's slim Project Phoenix headset design, positioned between smart glasses and VR headsets ahead of Meta Connect on Sept 23.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- UploadVR discovered Project Phoenix images inside the HorizonOS Prescription Lens firmware package.
- The device is much smaller than Meta's Quest headsets but bulkier than Ray-Ban AI glasses.
- A wire extends from the earpiece, likely connecting to an external battery or compute puck.
- The product has been in development and is anticipated to launch next year.
Just weeks prior to the start of Meta Connect on September 23rd, UploadVR published images that seemingly unveil the design for Meta's upcoming Project Phoenix headset. The images were reportedly discovered within the HorizonOS Prescription Lens firmware package, indicating that Meta is preparing to enter a new segment of mixed reality devices.
The leaked imagery showcases a form factor that sits right between larger standalone headsets and lightweight smart glasses, featuring lenses embedded within a slim, glasses-style frame. A rear-angle shot reveals a wire extending from one of the earpieces, which is suspected to connect to an external compute puck or battery pack.
Adopting an external compute puck design allows tech companies to significantly reduce the weight and thermal load resting directly on the user's face, a crucial engineering hurdle for comfortable all-day wearable computing devices.
Additionally, the device appears to feature outward-facing and downward-facing cameras integrated directly into the earpieces for spatial tracking and environment interaction. While Project Phoenix has been in development for some time, it is not slated for a commercial release until next year.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Once released, Project Phoenix is positioned to compete directly against mixed reality offerings from brands like Xreal and Viture. Meanwhile, tech rivals such as Google are also reportedly working on similar hardware, including their own Project Aura XR glasses featuring wired external compute units.
Source: The Verge
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