According to engadget, Meta is delaying the debut of its next mixed reality glasses, codenamed “Phoenix,” pushing it from 2026 to the first half of 2027. The news comes from internal memos, including one from Maher Saba, VP of Meta’s Reality Labs Foundation. Execs Gabriel Aul and Ryan Cairns stated the delay will provide “breathing room” to deliver a more “polished and reliable experience.” The glasses are reported to have a goggle-like design with an external power source, similar to Apple’s Vision Pro. In a related memo, Meta is also working on a “limited edition” wearable called “Malibu 2.” This follows Meta’s recent acquisition of the AI wearable startup Limitless, signaling a broader push into wearables beyond VR.
The polish problem
Here’s the thing: “polished and reliable” is corporate-speak for “it’s not ready.” And honestly, that’s probably a good call. Rushing a high-profile, complex hardware product to market is a recipe for disaster, especially when your main competitor, Apple, has set a (very expensive) bar for fit and finish with the Vision Pro. Meta’s track record with hardware is… mixed. Remember the Quest Pro? It launched with a sky-high price and a vague purpose, and it basically fizzled. Taking more time to avoid that fate is smart. But it also raises a question: what exactly are they trying to perfect that needs an extra year?
Beyond the goggles
The more interesting tidbit here is the mention of “Malibu 2” and the Limitless acquisition. This tells me Meta’s hardware ambitions are spreading out. They’re not just about strapping a computer to your face anymore. Smart glasses like the Ray-Ban collabs are one path, but an AI pendant is a completely different form factor and use case. It seems like Meta is throwing a lot of wearable ideas at the wall to see what sticks. Is that a sign of a vibrant R&D pipeline, or a lack of focus? Probably a bit of both. They’re clearly looking for the next big thing beyond the phone, and they have the cash to experiment.
The 2027 landscape
So a 2027 launch. That feels like an eternity in tech time. Where will Apple be by then? Probably on a second or even third-generation Vision device. Where will the overall XR market be? This delay gives Meta time, but it also cedes the narrative. Apple gets to define the high-end mixed reality conversation for the next three years uncontested. Meta’s play might be to come in later with a more affordable, or perhaps more socially-focused, alternative. But the risk is that by 2027, the “wow” factor might have worn off, or the category might have settled into a niche. They need Phoenix to be a knockout, not just another headset.
