Meta Hits Pause on Quest 4: Why Quest 3 Might Be the Last of Its Kind

Meta Pivots: No Quest 4 Until (At Least) 2027

Credible sources report that Meta has paused development on its upcoming Quest 4 headsets—codenamed Pismo Low and Pismo High. Instead, the tech giant is redirecting its focus to a new device internally known as “Puffin.”

Rumors suggest that no new Quest-style headset will launch until 2027—if ever. That makes the Quest 3 the current—and possibly final—flagship in Meta’s VR lineup for the foreseeable future.

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What Exactly Is Puffin?

Puffin is said to be an ultra-light, open-periphery headset with a tethered compute puck, running the same Meta Horizon OS as Quest devices. Think: a bulky pair of smart glasses weighing under 110 grams, not a full headset.

According to UploadVR, Meta is experimenting with multiple display systems at varying price points and has yet to finalize the display tech for the Puffin. The design philosophy borrows from Apple’s Vision Pro, in its more modular setup and controller-free interaction system.

This suggests Puffin will lean more toward mixed reality (MR) than full-on VR, though nothing’s set in stone yet.

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Why the Sudden Change in Direction?

Several theories are circulating:

• The absence of a Snapdragon XR3 chipset.
  
  
• Weaker-than-expected Quest sales in Q1 2025, especially when compared to Q1 2024 (a dip partially offset by strong Ray-Ban Meta glasses sales)
  
  

Whatever the reason, it’s clear that Meta is treating the Quest 3 as the peak of its current VR hardware generation.

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So What Does This Mean for You?

Casual VR Users

You're in good hands. The Quest 3 is future-proofed enough to last years. If the Quest 2 is still going strong, the 3’s mixed reality pass-through, top-tier hand tracking, and sharp display should serve most use cases well.

Hardcore VR Enthusiasts

You’ll need to look beyond Meta. ASUS’ upcoming ROG headset (codenamed Taurious) is rumored to blend ROG-grade performance with Meta’s Horizon OS and app ecosystem.

Meanwhile, PCVR continues to thrive:

• Bigscreen’s Beyond 2 improves on an already beloved first-gen design, offering lightweight comfort, OLED clarity, and eye tracking—ideal for serious VR gamers.
  
  
• Valve’s Deckard, still unconfirmed, is rumored to be a hybrid standalone/PCVR device supporting both flat gaming and VR experiences.
  
  

What This Means for Developers

There’s actually a silver lining. With the Quest 3 locked in as the main Meta headset for the next few years, developers can focus and optimize for one stable platform, rather than constantly adjusting for new hardware.

That gives devs time to fully exploit the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2+ chip, refine experiences, and let the software ecosystem mature without worrying about early obsolescence.

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TL;DR – The State of Immersive Tech in 2025

• No Quest 4 or new Quest-like headset expected before 2027
  
  
• Meta is shifting toward lighter, MR-focused devices like Puffin
  
  
• Mixed reality is the new battleground, not full-on VR
  
  
• The market is evolving into a spectrum:
  
  
  
  • Lightweight, AI-assisted smart glasses (Ray-Ban Meta, etc.)
    
    
  • Glasses-like MR devices (Xreal Air, Meta Puffin)
    
    
  • Full headsets (Quest 3, Beyond 2, Apple Vision Pro)

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Final Word

While the rest of the XR industry finds its footing, we’ve already found ours.

African Technopreneurs remains your go-to source for VR, MR, and extended reality devices across Africa. Our storefront, 180by2, offers a curated selection of cutting-edge gear—from smart glasses to full-blown VR setups.

We also offer advisory services, product demos, and procurement consulting for anyone looking to explore the future of immersive media.

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