Meta has reportedly stopped working on developing a premium mixed reality headset after Apple struggled to sell its own expensive offering in the category.
After Meta planned to launch a new product to compete with Apple’s Vision Pro, the company asked employees at its Reality Labs to stop working on the project, Reuters reported on Friday (August 23), citing a paid article by The Information based on information from unnamed sources.
Meta did not immediately respond to PYMNTS’ request for comment.
The company’s now-discontinued device was codenamed “La Jolla,” was scheduled to launch in 2027, and was expected to feature ultra-high-resolution screens using the same display technology used in Apple’s headset, the report said.
The price of the hard-to-sell Apple Vision Pro is reportedly $3,500.
According to the report, Meta currently offers two headsets, the $200 Quest 2 and the $500 Quest 3.
The company stopped production of the $999 Quest Pro in 2023 due to weak sales and poor reviews, the report said.
In July, it was reported that Apple was pausing work on its next high-end Vision Pro and instead focusing on a cheaper, less full-featured version of the mixed reality headset. The cheaper headset is set to be unveiled before the end of 2025, while the Vision Pro’s successor has been put on hold.
Shortly after the original Vision Pro was launched in February, it was reported that comfort, headaches and eyestrain were among the main reasons early adopters returned their headsets. Aside from comfort, some users also reportedly expressed disappointment with the product’s perceived lack of productivity relative to its price.
Meta announced in April that it would open up the Horizon OS operating system that powers its Meta Quest Metaverse headsets to third-party hardware makers. The goal is to extend Metaverse experiences beyond Meta’s general-purpose Quest devices to more purpose-specific devices.
By working with technology partners from the start, Meta aims to ensure that Horizon OS becomes the benchmark for mixed reality applications and provides a robust platform for future enterprise users who may use these partners’ products at work.
