ByteDance is engaged on a light-weight Pico headset with a tethered puck just like Meta’s ultralight headset, The Info stories.
In its newest report, Juro Osawa and Wayne Ma from The Info cite three sources as informing them ByteDance, Pico’s mum or dad firm, is engaged on a “light-weight combined actuality gadget” resembling a pair of goggles. The unnamed headset is claimed to make use of a tethered compute puck in an identical method to Meta’s ultralight Horizon OS headset, aiming to scale back the gadget’s weight.
Although the design and specs have not been finalized but, this upcoming gadget is described as having an identical form and dimension to Bigscreen Past. The Info additionally stories that ByteDance is creating “specialised chips” just like the R1 Chip used for Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.
Whereas it was beforehand reported in late 2023 that Pico 5 had been cancelled to discover making a high-end Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional competitor, Osawa and Ma advise that Pico’s focus has now shifted away from this. As a substitute, ByteDance is taking an identical method to the ultralight Horizon OS headset.
Pico 5 Has Reportedly Been Canceled
Pico 5 has reportedly been canceled as ByteDance shifts its focus to an additional out high-end headset to compete with Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.
We have reached out to ByteDance for official touch upon this report, and we’ll replace this text if we study extra.
ByteDance has by no means been one to shrink back from following Meta’s instance. Final yr noticed it launch the primary direct competitor to Quest 3 with the Pico 4 Extremely, utilizing the identical Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset with its specs boasting elevated RAM and battery dimension however a decrease most refresh fee.
As for Meta’s personal ultralight Horizon OS headset, The Info states that it is now scheduled to reach in 2027. This conflicts with our personal sources, backed up by The Wall Road Journal and VR fanatic Luna, that Meta hopes to launch this headset by the tip of 2026. Whereas it was previously codenamed Puffin, Osawa and Ma state the brand new codename is ‘Phoenix.’
Meta Prioritizing Extremely-Gentle Headset With Puck Over Conventional Quest 4
Meta is prioritizing transport an ultralight Horizon OS headset with a tethered compute puck in 2026, and may not ship a brand new conventional type issue Quest till 2027.
Since then, different particulars have emerged about Meta’s open-periphery Horizon OS headset. The Wall Road Journal reported it could possibly be priced “lower than $1000” and that Meta is discussing with Hollywood corporations like Disney and A24 about creating immersive video content material for it.
Datamining from Luna additionally suggests this might assist automated IPD adjustment, that means the lenses transfer robotically to match the separation of your eyes fairly than needing handbook adjustment. This might doubtlessly use a facial unlock system too, just like the iris scanning authentication technique used on Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.
Fellow VR fanatic Brad Lynch additionally suggested one candidate headset mannequin makes use of 0.9-inch micro-OLED shows. Nevertheless, Meta is exploring a number of show system approaches for Puffin/Phoenix with differing worth factors, that means that is liable to vary till it chooses which one to ship.
Meta’s Subsequent Headset May Have Micro-OLED & Computerized IPD
Meta’s ultralight headset might have micro-OLED panels, automated IPD adjustment, and iris unlock, potential leaks and datamining counsel.
