Meta Platforms has canceled plans to make a premium mixed reality headset to compete with Apple’s Vision Pro headset, Information reported on Friday.
The company, citing two Meta employees, said in the report that this week, following a product review meeting, the company ordered employees in its Reality Labs division to stop working on the device.
The device that was discontinued was internally codenamed La Jolla and was set to be released in 2027, the report said. It was expected to feature ultra-high-resolution screens known as micro OLEDs — the same display technology used in the Vision Pros.
The virtual and mixed reality headset market saw renewed interest after Apple entered the market last year, but the company’s Vision Pro headset failed to sell due to its high price tag of $3,500.
Meta’s Reality Labs division, responsible for developing and marketing the Quest line of headsets, has suffered billions in losses. Despite this, CEO Mark Zuckerberg remains optimistic about the future of augmented and virtual reality technology.
The current line of Quest headsets includes the Quest 2, which retails for $200, and the Quest 3, which retails for $500.
Meta has halted production of the Quest Pro — its most expensive headset at $999 — in 2023 after experiencing poor sales and negative reviews, according to a report by Information.
Meta did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
