Meta’s Connect conference last week highlighted a lack of major announcements for mixed reality and virtual reality, with a notable exception being a fireside chat with director James Cameron.
- Meta’s Connect conference had no big Quest announcements.
- Pimax’s Dream Air headsets weigh less than 200 grams.
- Samsung is releasing Project Moohan XR headset.
- Sales of VR headsets declined in 2024.
- Meta’s Reality Labs revenue declined 6% in May.
- Meta’s Ray-Ban Display costs $800.
Despite the absence of major updates, hardware advancements continue. Pimax’s upcoming Dream Air and Dream Air SE headsets, delayed until December, feature impressive specifications including a weight of less than 200 grams and 4K resolution in each eye.
Pimax’s headsets will include a motorized self-tightening headstrap, which adjusts the lenses automatically for user comfort. Samsung is also preparing to release Project Moohan, which may compete with Apple’s Vision Pro.
Sales of VR headsets declined for the third consecutive year in 2024, even with the introduction of Apple’s XR devices and Meta’s Quest 3S headset priced at $299. Meta’s Reality Labs revenue fell 6% due to decreased Quest sales.
While Pimax’s headsets are tethered to a PC, the Vision Pro is expensive and requires an external battery pack. The Quest 3S, despite being a good option, presents challenges like discomfort during extended use.
Emerging devices like Meta’s Ray-Ban Display offer immediate appeal with their lightweight design and practical features, contrasting with the bulkiness of VR headsets. The future of XR and VR headsets remains uncertain as they may be more niche than anticipated.
Originally reported by gizmodo.com as “VR Headsets Are Better Than Ever and No One Seems to Care” on 2025-09-24 20:00:00.
