Meta's forthcoming VR headset 'Phoenix' design revealed in firmware leak
Design details for Meta's upcoming high-end VR headset, codenamed Phoenix, have emerged from system firmware. The device is expected to feature a lightweight, open design and utilize an external computing module.
Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta) may have inadvertently revealed the design of its next-generation high-end virtual reality headset, codenamed Phoenix. Leaked assets discovered within Meta Horizon OS firmware showcase a device focused on a lightweight, open form factor, diverging from conventional VR headset designs.
The leaked visuals depict the Phoenix headset with a slender, glasses-like profile, eschewing the typical facial interface for a nose-pad structure. Multiple sensors are visible on the sides and temples of the device. Previous reports suggested features like independent interpupillary distance adjustment and integrated eye-tracking, with calibration steps similar to those seen in Apple's Vision Pro.
A key design element appears to be the use of an external computing module, with a cable extending from the left temple of the headset. This approach suggests a focus on reducing the weight and bulk of the wearable component. The leaked materials also detail a process for integrating prescription lenses via QR code scanning.
The leak comes as Meta approaches its Connect 2026 event. The conference agenda includes a session on "controller-free interaction," potentially hinting at further details regarding Phoenix's advanced eye and hand tracking capabilities. This suggests a continued emphasis on intuitive, non-traditional input methods for future VR hardware.