The device known as Project Phoenix is a new form factor for Meta.
Meta seems to have unintentionally introduced its next mixed reality headset a little earlier than expected. Images of the device, known as “Project Phoenix,” have surfaced and provide a pretty detailed look at the lightweight headset.
The images were originally published by DownloadVRwhich found the files in a released HorizonOS Meta app called “HorizonOS Prescription Lens”. The app, which has since been removed, appears to be aimed at people who need prescription inserts for the device. But even though Meta appears to have released the app as a sort of “placeholder”, DownloadVR found that it contained image files clearly showing the headset from different angles.
The images seem to correspond to what we have been hearing about the mixed reality device for over a year. “Phoenix” is a different form factor than other Quest-branded hardware we’ve seen from Meta. It’s more similar to glasses-like devices like Xreal’s Aura headset. And one of the images clearly shows a cable, which lines up with previous rumors that Phoenix relies on a captive connection to a separate puck.
One view we can’t see in the new images is what the helmet looks like from the front, so there are still some details we don’t have. But it’s likely that the faceplate will include some sort of camera setup, much like Xreal’s Aura, since the device would rely on similar hand-tracking controls rather than a dedicated controller. As DownloadVR note, Meta is planning a session at Connect that will cover “a practical guide to controller-less interaction,” which would certainly fit in with what we just saw.
Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But speaking of Connect, it now seems possible that we could get our first official look at Phoenix during Meta’s annual developer event, which kicks off on September 23. The event, which began as a conference dedicated to virtual reality, was last year in light of virtual and mixed reality news as the company’s display-compatible smart glasses were the star of the show. We still expect to hear a lot about the company’s smart glasses this year. But given the timing of Horizon’s updates that led to these images, it looks like Meta might have something big planned for the event.
However, it’s less clear whether we’ll actually be able to see the headset in action. Previous reports suggested the device wouldn’t be ready until the first half of 2027, after the company pushed back its original timeline. But even if Meta doesn’t plan to sell the headset until next year, it could still make sense for them to introduce the device at Connect.
