{"id":767478,"date":"2026-09-11T17:24:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T17:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/767478\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T17:24:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T17:24:09","slug":"metas-next-headset-looks-an-awful-lot-like-googles-aura-xr-glasses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/767478\/","title":{"rendered":"Meta\u2019s Next Headset Looks an Awful Lot Like Google’s Aura XR Glasses"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been a long time coming, but we may finally have a real glimpse at Meta\u2019s next \u201cheadset,\u201d if you want to call it that. Thanks to assets found in a Quest firmware update (per UploadVR<\/a>), we have a solid glimpse at what Meta\u2019s \u201cProject Phoenix<\/a>\u201d looks like, and if you\u2019ve seen Xreal and Google\u2019s Aura XR glasses<\/a>, then things might seem a bit familiar.<\/p>\n

The media found inside the firmware update doesn\u2019t reveal much about any capabilities of Project Phoenix, but it does show off how prescription lenses are applied to the headset and how the headset\u2019s QR code can be scanned. The leak clearly shows a glasses-like form factor with nose pads and sensors on the outside of the temples and underneath the arms.<\/p>\n

See Meta Quest 3 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

Images also show that the headset is tethered, though that\u2019s no surprise\u2014leaks have foreshadowed the fact that Project Phoenix is wired for a while now. One thing that isn\u2019t pictured is the separate compute puck to which Project Phoenix is expected to be tethered. If it\u2019s anything like Xreal\u2019s Aura glasses, it\u2019ll be roughly phone-sized with some added heft. There have been previous leaks showing Phoenix\u2019s puck, though those were models based on prototypes, so there\u2019s a chance the final version may be different.<\/p>\n

First look at the compute unit for Meta’s 2027 Project Phoenix VR glasses!<\/p>\n

I modeled this based on physical prototypes I\u2019ve seen. Note the waistband clip and the cooling exhaust on top. The design will likely change, but this represents some variants currently being tested. https:\/\/t.co\/M0KgoTPlEU<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/IJPszfLfJg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nori \ud83e\udd88 (@noridoesvr) February 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

There\u2019s still plenty that remains a mystery about Project Phoenix, like what Meta envisions you using the headset for, for example, how much it will cost, and when it will be released, but the headset is expected to function similarly to the Quest 3<\/a>, meaning it will use XR passthrough instead of AR like Snap\u2019s Specs glasses<\/a> or Meta\u2019s Project Orion.<\/p>\n

The good news is we may have answers to lots of those questions soon. Meta Connect, the company\u2019s annual hardware showcase, is just around the corner, and if leaks like this are any indication, Meta might finally reveal more about Project Phoenix, and luckily Gizmodo will be on-site if that reveal comes to pass.<\/p>\n

See Meta Quest 3 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n