Meta Unveils $1,299 VR Glasses With External Compute Pack, Ships Spring 2027

The external compute pack is the real story here: it signals that Meta is willing to split the form factor to chase comfort and sustained performance, not just portability. That matters because it puts Meta's design closer to a tethered-console model than to Apple's battery-only compromise, which could reset expectations for what a mainstream headset should feel like on the face. Whether developers treat the pack as a feature or a friction point, and how it affects real-world use outside the home, is the open question to watch.