UploadVR images appear to show Meta's slim 'Project Phoenix' headset
Images published by UploadVR and said to come from a HorizonOS firmware package appear to show the design of Meta's slim Project Phoenix headset, about two weeks before Meta Connect begins on September 23.
The pictures show a device that sits between a full headset and a pair of smart glasses, with lenses set into a slim, glasses-style frame rather than a bulky visor. A shot taken from behind shows a wire extending from one of the earpieces, possibly for a battery or a compute puck. Outward- and downward-facing cameras also appear to be built into the earpieces.
If that design reflects the final product, Meta would be moving into territory occupied by Xreal and Viture. Those companies' mixed reality glasses are a bit bulkier than something like Meta's Ray-Ban AI smart glasses, but a step down from a full VR headset such as the Quest 3. The images place Project Phoenix closer to the slim end of that range.
Project Phoenix has been in the works for a while, according to UploadVR, and is not expected to launch until next year. Google is also developing a pair of XR glasses, Project Aura, in a similar vein, with an external compute puck wired to the frames.