The first clear visuals of Meta’s next headset have been found in Horizon OS firmware.
It has been widely reported by multiple reputable sources that Meta is working on a premium, ultralight, open-periphery headset with a tethered compute puck, intended to occupy a similar high-end position to Meta Quest Pro, but in a much sleeker form factor. The project and its underlying layers have appeared under the codenames Phoenix, Stanley, and Loma.
UploadVR published an extensive report on the device last month, and I highly recommend that you read it if you wish to know more.
Everything We Know (So Far) About Meta’s Next Headset
Here’s everything we know (so far) about Project Phoenix, Meta’s next headset.
In August 2026, Meta released a free app called HorizonOS Prescription Lens. Many users noticed it via the new section of the Horizon Store and found it strange, as it seemed to be a system-reliant package and did not appear in the App Library after being downloaded.
Upon inspection, this app was served to devices as a ZIP file rather than a standard APK, so opening it and viewing the assets inside required no additional tools beyond a standard file manager. At the time, the app mostly appeared to be a placeholder package that allowed testers to pair prescription lens inserts with the Phoenix headset, with few actual assets inside.
Now, in September, Meta has updated the package, and it contains clear visuals of the device, showing how prescription lens inserts are attached and detached, as well as how their QR code is scanned.
The visuals clearly depict a slim headset with glasses-style nose pads instead of a face interface, with sensors visible on the sides and undersides of the temples.
A separate visual showcases a user holding a prescription lens QR code up for the device to scan. It also shows the device from behind, with the compute puck’s cable attached to the end of the left temple.
Meta Connect 2026 draws near, and the company’s agenda shows a session titled “A practical guide to controller-free interaction.” Given Phoenix’s focus on eye and hand interaction, this suggests Meta’s next-generation headset plans could be revealed in more detail.
