Meta pushes back launch of ‘Phoenix’ mixed reality glasses to refine features

Meta has reportedly postponed the release of its mixed-reality glasses, codenamed ‘Phoenix’ from a primary goal in 2026 to 2027.

As reported by Business Insider, the prime motive behind this delay is to get the details right and ensure the product is accurate in terms of high-quality rather than immediately moving towards launch.

The company had planned to release the new device in the second half of 2016, but it is pushing back its timeline to the first half of 2027.

According to a memo viewed by Business Insider, metaverse leaders Gabriel Aul and Ryan Cairns said rescheduling the release date back is “going to give us a lot more breathing room to get the details right.”

They further explained, “There’s a lot coming in hot with tight bring-up schedules and big changes to our core UK, and we won’t compromise on landing a fully polished and reliable experience.”

The Phoenix mixed reality glasses have safety glasses and are connected to a puck to help power them, according to two employees who have seen the device and spoke confidentially as they are not authorized to talk to the press.

According to two employees, the model resembles Apple's mixed reality glasses Vision pro.

There was some pessimism among leaders about the puck, but they chose to retain it to keep the glasses lighter and more comfortable, and to prevent it from overheating.

In a recent meeting with CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Reality Labs (RL) leaders received feedback on their plans for 2026, which he said, “focused on making the business sustainable and taking extra time to deliver our experiences with higher quality.”

He was further of the view that prolonged periods are not an opportunity for us to add more features or take on additional work.

Meta has intriguing plans to release a limited-edition wearable device code-named “Malibu 2” in 2026.

Meta has already started working on its next-generation Quest device, a product that Aul and Cairns wrote will be centered on immersive gaming and represent a substantial enhancement in capabilities from its existing devices and significantly improve unit economics.

According to recent reports, Meta has specifically modified its metaverse unit and tapped Aul, who led products for Meta Horizon, and Cairns, who was previously in charge of virtual reality hardware, to co-lead its efforts.

Meanwhile, the company is considering reductions of up to 30% within its Reality Labs division, which would reportedly affect its employees working on its virtual space platforms.

Nonetheless, the company has enlarged its AI hardware push by acquiring Limitless, a startup that makes AI-powered devices. Meta announced the acquisition on Friday.

This delay is a robust connection that Meta is not willing to take any sort of risk with compromised quality on the future of the metaverse.