Meta delays its ‘Phoenix’ mixed-reality glasses to 2027 as leadership prioritizes quality, reliability, and a sustainable hardware strategy.
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| Inside Meta’s strategic decision to postpone the Phoenix mixed-reality glasses to 2027 for improved reliability and ecosystem alignment. Image: CH |
Tech Desk — December 7, 2025:
Meta’s decision to push back the launch of its long-anticipated mixed-reality glasses, known internally as ‘Phoenix’, from late 2026 to the first half of 2027 underscores a strategic pivot toward stability and hardware refinement over rapid rollout. The delay was communicated in an internal letter by Maher Saba, vice president of Meta Reality Labs Foundation, while additional notes from senior metaverse executives Gabriel Aul and Ryan Cairns emphasized the need for more development time.
The executives said the extension was necessary because multiple complex features are being built simultaneously, and rushing could compromise the user experience. Their priority, they stressed, is ensuring the final device is “clean and reliable” rather than delivering it on the earliest possible date.
People familiar with Phoenix’s prototypes describe the device as lightweight, goggle-like, with a separate external power pack designed to address heat buildup—an approach that differentiates it from, yet visually aligns it with, Apple’s Vision Pro. This engineering choice signals Meta’s efforts to move toward more comfortable, extended-use mixed-reality hardware.
Saba noted that the Reality Labs team recently briefed CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who reiterated that sustainable business structures and product quality outweigh speed. He also warned employees that the extended timeline should not be treated as an opening to add new features. Instead, teams must focus on completing existing plans to ensure stability and a clearer launch roadmap.
The Phoenix postponement does not halt Meta’s broader hardware ambitions. The company still intends to release ‘Malibu 2’, a limited-edition wearable, in 2026 as part of its growing AI and mixed-reality ecosystem. Its form remains undisclosed. Meta is also developing a new generation of Quest headsets, designed specifically for immersive gaming and aimed at delivering significant upgrades while lowering production costs through refined industrial design.
By delaying Phoenix, Meta signals a deliberate shift: rather than competing on launch dates, it intends to compete on reliability, comfort, and integration across a wider device ecosystem. The move gives competitors additional time in the premium XR market, but it may ultimately position Meta for a stronger and more sustainable entry when Phoenix finally arrives in 2027.