Is VR back from the dead? With the Meta VR Glasses I think it might be

Date:
Sat, 26 Sep 2026 14:30:00 +0000

Description:
Rising like a (Project) Phoenix

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Since the Oculus Quest 2 , the VR industry has been chasing a high point that seems impossible to re-summit let alone surpass. I mean, how can you compete with popularity propelled by global pandemic-caused lockdowns and ultra-low costs when people are no
longer trapped in their homes and facing down RAM-crisis-fuelled tech price hikes?

You cant. But the Meta VR Glasses give me hope that'll change, that VR is on an upward swing again. The Meta Quest 3 tried its best, but improved specs, full-color mixed reality, and incredible exclusives like Batman: Arkham
Shadow and Marvels Deadpool VR seemingly werent enough of a draw for people.
I loved the system, but checking the most recent (August 2026) Steam Hardware Survey (which should include the most dedicated, most likely to upgrade players, as the Quest systems arent native PCVR headsets), the Quest 2 still narrowly tops the list despite being pulled from shelves over two years ago and being replaced close to three years ago by the Quest 3. Latest Videos
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The Apple Vision Pro was much hyped before launch, but it seemingly had even less staying power than the Quest 3 thanks to its extremely high price. Samsungs Galaxy XR headset, as much as I like it, is a gadget I wouldnt be surprised if even most techie people didnt know it existed. (Image credit: Shutterstock / Boumen Japet) You could do a whole analytical breakdown on why each device struggled to hit the mark, but as I see it, theres one key issue: value. You may like Ive worn the Meta VR Glasses, and theyre coming to eat Apple's lunch Metas next headset could be what the Quest Pro 2 should have been Meta Ray-Ban Scriber Optics hands-on: superb 2026 smart glasses

The Quest 2 was incredible value. At 299 / $299 / AU$479 its approaching tech impulse-buy territory. You can grab it on a whim and be fairly confident
youll get enough use out of it to justify the price whether youre stuck
inside because of Covid-19 or not even just as a novelty you only get out on occasion, or to see your nan get wowed by some simple demo app.

At $499.99 / 479.99 / AU$799.99 (its original launch price), the Meta Quest 3 is instantly a much harder value proposition to justify. For a start, you
need to spend a lot more time using the Quest 3 before it becomes worth it. But for gamers, the headset costs as much as a PS5 disc edition or a digital-only PS5 plus a game or two and even as a VR enjoyer, its easy to understand why people would favour the Sony console and its incredible performance and game catalogue to fill their time. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Its also still a bit too bulky to wear all day every day for productivity tasks something Meta was ironing out at the time on the software side too. Big screen entertainment wasnt ideal either the Quest 3 lacked many
streaming services, and the few it did have often relied on terrible apps
that were terrible to use and didnt support high-quality streams. (Image credit: Meta) The Vision Pro and Samsung Galaxy XR headset solved some of these issues, but they didnt address headset bulk the Apple Vision Pro actually weighs a good chunk more than a Quest 3 or Quest 2 and theyre also
a lot more expensive (costing $3,499 / 3,199 / AU$5,999 and $1,799 / 1,699 respectively).

To get your moneys worth, youd ideally use these headsets every day to help maximise your productivity across app windows, and to kick back with some entertainment most evenings or at least fairly regularly. But as someone who tried doing this for a week with the Galaxy XR (the lighter of the two), its simply not a comfortable enough experience my neck wanted to give up after a day and a half. What to read next The best VR headsets in 2026: VR gaming's top products from Apple, Meta, PlayStation, and more The first images of Meta's Project Phoenix mixed reality headset leak I want to just love my Meta AI glasses, but I cant get over privacy fears

Theyre both great for using from time to time, but they cost far too much to be something you wear infrequently. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) Emerging from the ashes The Meta VR Glasses, however, hit the nail on the
head in (almost) every regard. At only around 3.52oz /100g, they are a device you can easily wear for hours, and Meta has finally improved its
entertainment and productivity software support.

The only notable negative aspect is the price. $1,299 (pricing TBC in other regions) is cheaper than its current rivals, but still four times more expensive than the Oculus Quest 2. With its weight, I can definitely see myself wearing this headset often enough to make that price justified, but
for less VR-forward folks it might not seem that way especially after our recent flops.

I hope they can give it a try, however, as I fell in love with the Meta VR Glasses instantly, and I expect plenty more fans will materialize once they launch in 2027. (Image credit: Meta) Hardware aside, Im also simply glad to see the return of VR as a descriptor.

I get that technically the VR Glasses are a mixed reality device, but MR
never really took off as a descriptor (its quite similar to the shortening of mister, Mr), and I dont love XR its too generic to really mean anything because it includes AR, VR, MR, and all different ways these technologies can manifest.

VR headsets are a known quantity, and the VR Glasses do feel like the spiritual successor to the Quest headsets Meta and Oculus pioneered. Its a small thing, but I like that VR has returned rising from the ashes in a manner that feels appropriate for the Project Phoenix device. (Image credit: Meta) Rebuilding what it broke? The elephant in the room for many will be
that Meta contributed somewhat to the sense of doom and gloom in VR after it made sweeping cuts through its Reality Labs teams and first-party development studios canning projects in the process.

Weve also seen third-party VR studios close or downsize since Metas announcement as it becomes clear VR isn't in quite the boom period it once was. Showcasing Meta's situation was merely part of a bigger trend of VR struggles, rather than an isolated case of awfulness. (Image credit: Future) Its clear that VR has been generally struggling, but Im hopeful the VR Glasses, in conjunction with Xreal Aura (which ticks a lot of the same boxes) and other future headsets / glasses, will help to bring excitement, accessibility, and users back to VR.

Well have to wait and see, but I think the future of VR is looking a little brighter again. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/virtual-reality-augmented-reality/is-vr-ba ck-from-the-dead-after-the-terrible-year-2026-has-been-so-far-the-meta-vr-glas ses-give-me-hope


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