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Meta Platforms, led by Mark Zuckerberg, is gearing up to release a new generation of mixed-reality glasses. These upcoming glasses, codenamed “Puffin,” are expected to be much smaller and more user-friendly than Meta’s current Quest headsets. According to an August 27 report from The Information, Puffin is slated for a 2027 launch, with internal sources at Meta revealing these details.
Unlike existing headsets, Puffin will not require handheld controllers. Users will be able to control the device using simple hand gestures, similar to Apple’s Vision Pro, which already offers this feature. However, while the Apple Vision Pro is a bulky, expensive headset priced at $3,500, Meta’s Puffin is expected to be more compact and affordable, potentially appealing to a wider audience.
Mixed reality technology blends the physical world with virtual elements, enabling users to interact with both digital and real-world objects. The Puffin glasses aim to enhance this experience, making it more accessible and convenient.
Two months ago, Zuckerberg hinted that Meta’s next breakthrough product would resemble “smart glasses” with advanced features like holographic displays, built-in cameras, microphones, and speakers. He emphasized that these new glasses would be much sleeker than current VR headsets, bridging the gap between the display-less Ray-Ban Meta glasses and the bulkier headsets designed for virtual reality.
In an interview, Zuckerberg explained that these glasses would offer full-field-of-view (FOV) holographic displays, allowing for real-time communication, information overlays, and a heads-up display similar to what you’d see in video games or military gear. He made it clear that these glasses would look like regular eyewear, not headsets, focusing on user comfort and practicality.
Despite its ambitious plans, Meta’s Reality Labs division continues to face financial challenges. Since its creation in 2019, Reality Labs has spent over $59.9 billion on research and development. In Meta’s Q2 earnings call on July 31, the division reported $353 million in sales. Despite ongoing losses, Meta’s Chief Financial Officer Susan Li remains optimistic, expecting the division’s operating losses to decrease significantly as new products, like Puffin, come to market.
