Meta is working on an ultra-light XR headset: Report

According to a recent report, Meta has shifted strategies and is currently developing a new type of ‘ultra-light’ mixed reality headset.

Just last week, Meta decided to cancel their project for a high-end VR headset, known as La Jolla. This device was initially seen as a potential rival to the Apple Vision Pro, but the underwhelming response to Apple’s product caused Mark Zuckerberg and Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth to reassess their plans.

The new project, codenamed Puffin, has replaced the previous one. According to reports, the Puffin headset resembles a large pair of glasses but weighs less than 110 grams. Despite its lightweight design, it is equipped with pancake lenses and passthrough cameras, similar to the ones found on the Meta Quest 3.

In order to achieve this, Meta plans to relocate a significant portion of the hardware, including the battery and processing components, into a compact, puck-shaped device that will be connected to the headset. The goal is for the processing puck to be compact enough to easily fit into a pocket, according to Meta.

According to The Information, Puffin could potentially become the lightest VR headset with full functionality if the reported data is correct.

As a frame of reference, the Meta Quest 3 has a weight of approximately 400g, even without the inclusion of its straps and additional accessories. The battery by itself has a weight of about 70g.

Interestingly, the Puffin does not have any controllers and relies on a combination of eye-tracking and finger-tracking to operate its gesture-controlled interface, similar to the use of these features in the control of the Apple Vision Pro.

The lack of controllers implies that the Puffin is not designed for gaming purposes. It is more probable that it will be promoted as a tool for media consumption or productivity.

Lightweight VR and AR devices have a variety of applications in various industries, such as training, remote collaboration, and providing IT or engineering support from a distance. They have also been utilized in medical environments as a form of “distraction therapy”for patients, with positive results.