Meta Unveils Plans for Six New Mixed Reality Devices in 2025

Meta’s executives are heavily invested in AI wearables, with the company planning to launch six new mixed reality devices this year, according to a leaked memo. Despite the challenges faced by the tech industry in embracing the concept of the "metaverse," Meta is pushing forward with its vision for AI-powered wearables.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s Ambitious Goals

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has already promised investors that the company aims to ship hundreds of millions of AI glasses, with the goal of eventually selling "billions" of them. This ambitious goal is reflected in the leaked memo from Meta’s Reality Labs head Andrew "Boz" Bosworth, titled "2025: The Year of Greatness." Bosworth claims that the company is "pushing our advantage by launching half a dozen more AI-powered wearables."

Meta’s Hardware Record

The plans for six new AI wearables in a single year would smash Meta’s hardware record for any other year. In 2024, the company launched its revamped Ray-Ban Meta glasses and the Meta Quest 3S. Zuckerberg teased "third-generation" smart glasses technology during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call. Recent reports from Bloomberg have hinted that Meta is working on a pair of sports-centric Oakley-styled AR glasses for athletes.

Mixed Reality Glasses

The other products could simply be different glasses styles, much like the Ray-Ban smart glasses that come in "Wayfarer," "Skyler," and "Headliner" varieties. However, Bosworth further mentioned "we need to drive sales, retention, and engagement across the board but especially in MR [AKA mixed reality]." This hints that Meta wants to drop more products with displays, akin to Project Orion true AR glasses the company showed off at Meta Connect last year.

No New VR Helmets in Sight

What this doesn’t suggest is any new VR helmet in the works. Bloomberg previously reported Meta is working on two new Quest headsets, one of which might be a sequel to the short-lived Quest Pro. Either way, the glasses seem more of a shoo-in for 2025.

Horizon Worlds: A Legendary Misadventure?

The plans for "Greatness" also include Horizon Worlds, Meta’s first attempt at a "metaverse" living world that was so dull it made the 2003 game Second Life seem like a roller coaster thrill ride by comparison. Bosworth continued, "Horizon Worlds on mobile absolutely has to break out for our long term plans to have a chance." The memo is full of hyperbole and corporate speech, but nowhere does Bosworth even mention the word "metaverse," which is interesting considering the entire company was named after that previous attempt to become "visionaries" in tech.

The Future of Smart Glasses

Smart glasses make much more sense from a usability standpoint, though we have yet to see a pair that makes good on the promise of wearable computers. Apple was reportedly working on a similar pair of mixed-reality spectacles, though the latest hints from reliable sources suggest the company killed off its planned AR glasses. The company was reportedly stumped by the need for processing power and battery life. Considering Apple’s missteps, Meta needs to prove it can do more than offer an AI chatbot for your face.