Martin Rumenov Meta has unveiled VR glasses that move the battery and processing hardware out of the eyewear and into a pocket-sized, tethered unit. In a hands-on preview for The Independent, tech editor Alex Lee found the design surprisingly immersive, though its narrower field of view remains a trade-off.
A Smaller Way Into VR
Rather than building everything into a conventional headset, Meta has placed the glasses’ battery and Snapdragon Reality Elite processor in a separate device it calls a “puck”. Lee said the glasses felt light on his face and stayed in place during his demo.
The reduced size comes with a visible compromise: the virtual image did not fill his entire field of view, and he could see the edges of the display. Even so, he found the experience engaging enough that the limitation did not dominate his time with the device.
The glasses run on the same operating system as Meta Quest and are expected to support the Quest catalogue. Meta says 75 titles will be optimized for eye and hand controls at launch; Quest controllers can also be connected for games that need them.
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Hands-On Controls and Entertainment
Users can look at an item and pinch their thumb and finger together to select it. Sliding a thumb along the index finger handles scrolling, without requiring users to hold their hands up in front of them. Lee tested the controls in Dragon Grove, a puzzle game that let him move around and interact with a virtual tree in a view of the room around him.
Gaming was only part of the demonstration. Lee also watched video on a large virtual screen and tried an immersive NBA broadcast that gave him a courtside perspective. Meta says it plans to offer more than 100 immersive live sporting events annually after launch, with partners including MLB, NBC Sports, TNT Sports and UFC.
The glasses use two micro-OLED displays with a stated density of 37 pixels per degree and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Meta is also promoting IMAX Enhanced support and a “VR Enhanced” film format that can extend visuals beyond the virtual screen. Those entertainment features looked promising in the demo, but their value will depend on the content available when the glasses arrive.
Work, Battery and Price
Meta also showed the glasses connected to a laptop to create three virtual screens. Lee tried a keyboard and trackpad projected onto a tabletop and found both responsive in his brief session. The company says hologram video calls are planned, though he did not test that feature.
Meta rates the tethered battery for up to three hours of continuous high-resolution media playback and says it supports 45W charging. A longer test will be needed to assess comfort, eye strain and real-world battery life.
The Meta VR glasses are scheduled to go on sale in the US in spring 2027 for $1,299. UK pricing has not yet been announced. Lee’s first impression was enthusiastic: the glasses made VR feel more practical beyond the living room, even if their field of view and long-term comfort still need closer examination.
