The Unveiling
Meta Platforms Inc. META has reportedly decided to discontinue its development of a headset that was intended to rival Apple Inc.‘s AAPL Vision Pro.
The Backstory
What Happened: The project, internally dubbed La Jolla, was part of Meta’s four-year strategy for virtual and mixed-reality headsets. The development of La Jolla, which began in November 2023, was abruptly canceled in mid-August 2024, as reported by AppleInsider.
The decision to abandon the project was made during a product review meeting attended by Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth, according to a report by The Information. Bosworth later commented on Threads, stating that many prototypes are in development at all times, but not all make it to production.
Shades of Reflection
“Decisions like this happen all the time, and stories based on chatter about one individual decision will never give the real picture,” said Bosworth.
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While the exact reasons for the cancellation are not known, it is speculated that cost issues may have played a part. According to the report, Meta was focused on keeping the cost of the La Jolla headset under $1,000, a target that proved unachievable.
A Glimmer of Hope
Despite the project’s cancellation, sources within Meta suggest that the La Jolla headset could be revived in the future, and technology developed for it may be used in other products, according to the report.
Meta did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.
The Ripple Effect
Why It Matters: Earlier in the year, Zuckerberg had expressed skepticism about the mainstream success of augmented reality (AR) glasses, particularly those without “full holographic displays,” in a subtle jab at Apple Vision Pro.
Furthermore, Meta’s CTO Bosworth had also joined the chorus, highlighting several issues with Apple Vision Pro, essentially dismissing the reports about Cupertino’s first-generation mixed-reality headset being technologically superior.
Meanwhile, Apple’s Vision Pro is reportedly struggling to find its ‘killer app’ to justify its $3,500 price tag.
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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Kaustubh Bagalkote