All Mode
Meta Quest has been sidelined, at least for the next year. No, existing Quest devices are not being neglected and remain strong sellers, but Meta is apparently planning on devoting time, money, and energy on a non-Quest device to be released in 2026.
According to leaks, Meta is developing an ultralight headset with tethered compute puck in lieu of focusing on Quest 4. First reported on by The Information in late 2024, Puffin is said to resemble AR glasses and weigh in under 110 grams. While Meta routinely works on multiple headsets and devices simultaneously, with most of them never reaching the prototyping phase, let alone reaching the market, Puffin stands a better than average chance of an eventual release.
Meta Quest 3S has proven a decent, if unremarkable, seller since its release. [Image: Meta]
Nuts, Bolts, Pucks
While much remains unknown about just what technology Puffin will contain and utilize, the tethered compute puck and lack of traditional controllers is significant. Puffin will apparently use a gaze-and-pinch hand-and-eye tracking system as its main control inputs, adding to freedom of movement for the user.
The puck, which Meta is aiming to make small enough to fit comfortably in a user’s pocket, will handle both power and computing needs, freeing the headset itself of the associated burden and weight.
Like what is expected of Puffin, Meta Orion uses a detached compute puck. [Image: Meta]
Abundant Options
Meta’s AI glasses collaboration with Ray-Ban has proven a strong seller, while Quest 3 and Quest 3S sales have seen a gradual post-holiday-season decline. This factor, along with increasing competition in the wearables and ultralight headset field, points to Puffin remaining a major concern for Meta and its customers.
Puffin is reported to run on the same Horizon OS that is found on Quest devices. Horizon OS is also planned to run on Quest-like headsets from Lenovo and Asus, with the latter described by the company as a “performance gaming headset.”
Bringing Meta Puffin into existence highlights the increasingly fluid convergence of virtual and augmented reality technology with human sexual experience. Lightweight devices can be used more readily while a user is engaged in a physical activity, making such a device perfect for porn viewing and augmenting a real-world sexual encounter.