Key Points:
- Meta is to bring a new XR headset to market by 2026, code-named “Loma,” with a glasses-like, lightweight form factor.
- The headset will be powered and processed using an external compute puck, with a target price in the under $1,000 range.
Key Facts:
- The headset is to weigh approximately 110 grams—significantly lighter than devices such as the Meta Quest 3.
- Processing and battery operations will be supported by an independent, pocket-sized puck device.
- Input will be controlled through sophisticated eye and hand-tracking, with no physical controllers involved.
Key Background :
Meta is getting ready to launch a next-generation extended reality (XR) headset internally codenamed “Loma,” a departure from its earlier all-in-one VR devices. The new device will become the company’s attempt at redefining user comfort and usability by transitioning to a tethered design. Rather than packing all the computing power and battery inside the headset, “Loma” will incorporate a light display module in the form of smart glasses, while the computing and battery parts will be outsourced to an external device that is called a compute puck and is carried in one’s pocket.
This module-based strategy allows the headset to be as light as 110 grams, significantly lighter than the heavier Meta Quest 3, which tips the scales at over 500 grams. Despite the minimalist approach, Meta is set to maintain high performance and deep graphics by loading the compute puck with strong hardware. The splitting of the display and computer components is regarded as a strategic step towards ensuring greater comfort and wearability, especially for extended use in employment, gaming, or virtual media contexts.
“Loma” is also set to displace traditional handheld controllers with advanced eye-tracking and hand-tracking features. This will enable people to engage more naturally with digital environments, consistent with industry-wide trends toward eliminating the boundaries between mixed reality and photorealistic, smooth experiences.
In a bid to fuel consumer interest and distinguish the device from rivals—most prominently Apple’s Vision Pro—Meta is said to be moving to secure partnerships with top entertainment studios. These deals would enable the development of exclusive XR experiences tailored for the new hardware, providing users with strong incentives to come aboard early.
With a projected release date of 2026 and a cost under $1,000, Meta’s next headset portends to remain in the vanguard of XR technology. Its sleek, modular design seeks not only to compete head-to-head with high-end mixed reality headsets but also to demonstrate Meta’s vision for the future of immersive, wearable technology.
