Meta may have leaked the first look at its slim ‘Project Phoenix’ headset

<figure> <img alt="A leaked image seemingly showing Meta’s Project Phoenix headset via UploadVR" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.uploadvr.com/meta-project-phoenix-headset-first-clear-visuals/&quot;&gt;UploadVR&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/rx_attach_thumb.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Just a couple of weeks before <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/928795/metas-connect-conference-is-scheduled-for-september-23rd-and-24th">Meta Connect</a> starts on September 23rd, <a href="https://www.uploadvr.com/meta-project-phoenix-headset-first-clear-visuals/"><em>UploadVR</em></a> posted images seemingly revealing the design for Meta's "Project Phoenix" headset. The images, which <em>UploadVR</em> says were "found in the HorizonOS Prescription Lens firmware package," suggest Meta may be looking to compete with devices like those from <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/963465/xreal-a01-plus-xbx-ar-glasses-hands-on">Xreal</a> or <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/975870/viture-pro-2-video-ar-smart-glasses-hands-on">Viture</a>. These companies' mixed reality glasses are a bit bulkier than something like Meta's Ray-Ban AI smart glasses, but a step down from a full VR headset like Meta's Quest 3. </p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">This leak shows something that's almost in between larger headsets and smart glasses, with lenses set into a slim, glasses-style fram …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/994055/meta-project-phoenix-headset-leak">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>