According to a recent leak, the Meta Quest 4 may not be released until 2027. However, the business may release a new headset in 2026, albeit it will not be a Meta Quest, as the series is presently known.
The Meta Quest headset line has been a success for the company, bringing wireless virtual reality to the masses in an accessible format. The most recent releases are the Meta Quest 3 line, which includes the Quest 3S, however with the Meta Quest 3 approaching its second release date anniversary, some are looking ahead to see what Meta will come up with next.
Unfortunately, Meta Quest fans may have to wait a little longer, since two leaks suggest that the headset will not be released until 2025 or 2026. According to VR enthusiast Luna, the current plan is to push the Meta Quest 4 back to 2027 in favor of a new, high-end Meta headset that will be released in 2026. This appears to be confirmed by Brad Lynch, who stated that the next Valve VR headset Deckard will be available by the end of 2026, but not the Meta Quest 4.
Yes, I too have heard whispers that Meta may swap the release schedule and debut their new high-end device in 2026, rather than Quest 4. Quest 4 would then ship a year later.
— Luna (@Lunayian) June 2, 2025
What Happened to the Meta Quest 4?
Prior leaks and exposes from Reality Labs employees indicate that Meta often has numerous prototypes in the works at any given moment, with many of them being scrapped for various reasons. Two prototypes, believed to be the Meta Quest 4 and Meta Quest 4S, were allegedly canceled, although no explanation has been provided. Meta may also believe that its prototyped headsets haven’t improved sufficiently from the Quest 3/3S to justify releasing a successor at this time, instead focusing on a completely new design of Meta headset that might be released in 2026.
Currently, the new “Puffin” Meta headset design is identical to the Apple Vision Pro, and it may not be intended for full-fledged VR gaming experiences. Instead, it could be Meta’s next attempt to create a headset that it thinks will be used for productivity objectives such as team communication and mixed reality work. The most intriguing aspect of the headset’s design is that the battery and processing hardware will apparently be relocated to an external puck, which will ideally be placed in a user’s pocket, significantly lowering the amount of weight and bulk on the user’s head and neck.
Having said that, programs at Meta are continuously evolving, so these leaks could be disrupted in the future. For now, it appears that the Meta Quest 3 will be one of the top VR headsets for the duration of 2025.
