Meta previewed lightweight VR glasses featuring a 5K micro-OLED display, an external processing puck, and a 100-gram design during its annual Connect conference, targeting a spring 2027 release priced at $1,299 USD.
Meta has rethought its hardware strategy for virtual reality, shifting away from standalone headsets toward a lightweight eyewear design. The upcoming device weighs roughly 100 grams, making it significantly lighter than the standalone Meta Quest 3. By moving computing power, the battery, and 128GB of expandable storage to an external puck, the company trimmed the load on the user’s head.
Hardware Specs, Display Quality, and Entertainment Features
The new VR glasses use a 5K micro-OLED Infinity Display delivering 2.5K resolution per eye. While the field of view spans a relatively narrow 70 degrees, open sides and a passthrough camera keep users connected to the physical environment. Powering the system is a Snapdragon Reality Elite chip, while a 45W fast-charging setup over USB-C replenishes the battery. Users control the interface entirely through hand gestures, mirroring the control scheme of competing devices.
Entertainment integration forms a core part of the pitch. Meta positioned the eyewear as the first IMAX Enhanced certified virtual reality device, allowing users to stream movies from Disney+ in their native aspect ratios. Selected films like Avengers: Infinity War and Star Wars: A New Hope will feature VR Enhanced versions with 3D effects and spatial audio. Additional 3D content is planned from TV streaming platforms including HBO Max, Paramount+, and Peacock.
Ray-Ban Meta Audio and Gen 3 Glasses Expands the Lineup
Alongside the VR preview, Meta announced an extensive expansion of its everyday AI glasses lineup in partnership with EssilorLuxottica. The new Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses weigh 43 grams and pack acoustic drivers and AI capabilities into a retro-inspired Clubmaster and classic rectangle Burbank frames. They offer up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, with an extra 48 hours stored in the included case. They start at $349 USD and ship October 13.
The company also rolled out the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) generation starting at $449 USD, featuring Aviator, Zena cat-eye, and Wayfarer styles. Gen 3 includes a 6-microphone array that filters out more than 90% of background noise, a 12-megapixel camera capable of 3K Ultra HD video, and a customizable action button for instant access to Meta AI. Later in the year, the glasses will enable users to record and experience videos in Dolby Atmos with 360-degree spatial sound.
Ecosystem Push and Competitor Dynamics
The forthcoming spring 2027 release places Meta’s VR eyewear in direct conceptual competition with Apple’s headset line, though at a significantly lower price point. At $1,299 USD, Meta’s wearable costs less than half of the Apple Vision Pro, which retails for $3,699. While Apple relies on an internal laptop-class M5 chip and higher-resolution 4K-per-eye displays, its heavier 800-gram chassis stands in sharp contrast to Meta’s puck-tethered, 100-gram frame.
Broader Industry Timelines and Future Releases
Apple continues working on its own hardware roadmap, including lightweight smart glasses targeted for late 2027. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s initial glasses concept is expected to follow Meta’s playbook by featuring audio, camera, and smart capabilities without a video display screen. Apple engineers are also exploring a revamped headset under codename N224—projected for late 2028 or early 2029—that similarly investigates offloading internal components to an external puck, despite internal debate over the tethered battery experience.