Meta returns to VR with lighter glasses and IMAX support
At its Connect event, Meta unveiled new VR Glasses featuring a much lighter design and the first official IMAX Enhanced certification for a VR device. The glasses will launch next spring priced at $1,299.99.
Meta used its Connect event on Wednesday to announce Meta VR Glasses, its latest attempt to bring virtual reality into the mainstream. The company says the new glasses are five times lighter than the Meta Quest 3 and, unlike its previous bulky headsets, look much closer to a regular pair of glasses.
Built from magnesium alloy, the glasses run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite processor. Power comes from an external computing puck that doubles as the battery, small enough to fit in a pocket so the glasses can be used away from home.
Entertainment focus
The device is aimed primarily at media consumption. Micro-OLED panels built into the lenses deliver a 5K display at 37 pixels per degree, along with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, letting users download and watch films directly.
One standout feature is compatibility with IMAX-captured content — Meta is billing the glasses as the first-ever IMAX Enhanced certified VR device, enabling the expanded aspect ratio associated with the IMAX viewing experience. The glasses also support 3D content and films that incorporate a user's physical surroundings into the viewing experience.
Meta also announced a partnership with Disney: starting in November, Disney+ subscribers will be able to stream select titles, including certain Marvel films, in 3D, with surroundings transformed by immersive environments, dynamic effects and spatial audio for a VR-gaming-like experience.
The glasses come with Meta AI built in, letting users issue voice commands or hand gestures to control the device — for example, starting a movie just by asking.
Meta VR Glasses are set to launch next spring, starting at $1,299.99.
