GoKawiilMeta appears to have unintentionally shown off its upcoming mixed reality headset a bit ahead of schedule. Images of the device, which has been known as "Project Phoenix", have surfaced and they provide a fairly detailed look at the lightweight headset.
The images were originally published by UploadVR, which found the files in a HorizonOS app Meta released called "HorizonOS Prescription Lens." The app, which has since been removed, seems to be intended for people who need prescription inserts for the device. But while Meta seems to have released the app as a kind of "placeholder," UploadVR found that it included image files that clearly show the headset from different angles.
The images seem to match what we have heard about the mixed reality device for more than a year. "Phoenix" is a different form factor than other Quest-branded hardware we've seen from Meta. It looks more similar to glasses-like devices like Xreal's Aura headset. And one of the images clearly shows a cable, which lines up with previous rumors that Phoenix will rely on a tethered connection to a separate puck.
One view we can't see in the new images is what the headset looks like from the front, so there are still some details we don't have. But it's likely the front will include some kind of camera setup, much like Xreal's Aura, since the device will reportedly rely on similar hand-tracking controls rather than a dedicated controller. As UploadVR notes, Meta is planning a session at Connect that will cover "a practical guide to controller-free interaction," which would certainly fit with what we've just seen.
Meta didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. But speaking of Connect, it now seems possible we could get our first official glimpse of Phoenix at Meta's annual developer event, which kicks off September 23. The event, which started as a dedicated VR conference, was light on VR and mixed reality news last year since the company's display-enabled smart glasses were the star of the show. We're still expecting to hear a lot about the company's smart glasses this year. But given the timing of the Horizon updates that led to these images, it does seem like Meta could have something big planned for the event.
Whether we'll actually get to see the headset in action, though, is less clear. Previous reports have suggested the device won't be ready until the first half of 2027 after the company pushed back its original timing. But even if Meta isn't planning to sell the headset until next year, it could still make sense for them to tease the device at Connect.