Meta hits pause on Phoenix headset for something shinier

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

Meta has decided its next big mixed-reality headset, codenamed Phoenix, isn’t quite ready to rise from the ashes just yet. 

Instead of rushing the device out, the company is tapping the brakes, telling teams to take their time and polish the future until it gleams. 

The delay comes straight from the top, with Mark Zuckerberg reportedly telling Reality Labs employees to focus on “higher-quality experiences” and build something sustainable, both as a product and as a business. 

An internal memo from Reality Labs VP Maher Saba stressed that the delay isn’t because Phoenix is getting fancy new upgrades, but rather because teams need time to refine details and iron out kinks. 

Presumably, stop the headset from crashing mid-demo like a Windows 98 projector in a high school classroom.

Other Meta hardware leads, Gabriel Aul and Ryan Cairns, echoed the sentiment with big “no pressure but please don’t mess this up” energy, saying the slowed timeline gives everyone more “breathing room.” 

With major UX changes and aggressive development schedules, they emphasized that Meta isn’t willing to compromise on delivering something fully polished, which feels like a subtle jab at, well, most rushed consumer tech launches.

As for Phoenix itself? Reports suggest it’ll look a lot like Apple’s Vision Pro, sleek ski-goggle design, external processing puck, lightweight feel, and will run Meta’s familiar Horizon OS. 

So… Vision Pro vibes, Quest software, Meta swagger.

Instead of Phoenix, Meta is shifting attention to a few other projects landing sooner. 

That includes a 2026 limited edition wearable called Malibu 2 and a next-generation Meta Quest headset, which executives say will come with a major leap in immersive gaming performance.

So, Phoenix will still arrive, just not soon. Meta is choosing patience, polish, and long-term strategy over speed.

A bold move unless Apple drops Vision Pro 2 first. Then all bets are off.