Meta VR Glasses to stream Disney, select IMAX films in 3D

Meta has announced Meta VR Glasses, a virtual reality device shaped like a pair of glasses. It weighs about 100 grams and goes on sale in spring 2027 for $1,299.99.

Meta said the glasses are five times lighter than its Meta Quest 3 headset. That is mainly because the device is split in two. The glasses hold the sensors and display, while a separate puck handles computing, battery and storage. The puck connects by an optical tether and clips to a pocket or bag.

There are no head straps. Open sides and a passthrough camera let wearers see what is happening around them.

The glasses have a 5K micro-OLED display with 37 pixels per degree and pancake lenses built for the device. They support Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos spatial audio is built into the frames. The device runs on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Reality Elite processor.

Meta said the puck’s battery lasts up to three hours of continuous high-resolution media playback and supports 45W fast charging.

Meta AI is built into the operating system. Wearers control the glasses by voice, eye movement and hand gestures, with no controllers needed.

Meta said the device is the first VR product to be certified IMAX Enhanced. It will be one of the few ways to watch some films at home in IMAX’s expanded aspect ratio.

From November, Disney+ subscribers in select countries will be able to stream films including Marvel’s The Avengers and Black Panther in 3D. When the glasses launch, a Disney Immersive Cinema by ILM app will show VR Enhanced versions of Avengers: Infinity War and Star Wars: A New Hope.

Other streaming partners include Prime Video, YouTube, DIRECTV, AMC+, Crunchyroll, Plex and Tubi. Meta said Peacock, HBO Max and Paramount+ were offering their 3D catalogues for the first time.

Meta will offer hundreds of films to rent or buy on Meta Quest in the US later this year. It said thousands of titles would be available internationally by the time the glasses launch. Meta is also working with director James Cameron and Lightstorm Vision on blockbusters to be released in 3D for the first time in 2027.

For sport, Meta said more than 100 immersive live events a year would be available once the glasses launch, through MLB, NBC Sports, TNT Sports and UFC. ESPN’s Immersive Sports, which offers 8K streaming and 180-degree views, starts with college football on Meta Quest this year.

Upcoming immersive titles include Open Season, which follows NBA player Draymond Green and launches on September 29. Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, a concert film co-directed by Billie Eilish and James Cameron, will be available in 3D on Quest in November.

For work, the glasses can show several virtual screens and turn a table into a keyboard and touchpad. They also connect to Mac and Windows computers wirelessly or over USB-C.

More than 75 games that can be played with hand gestures alone will be available at launch. The glasses can also run the Meta Quest catalogue, work with Touch Plus controllers and stream games through Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Meta is also adding a hologram feature for video calls, which shows a photorealistic version of the user with real-time expressions. The company said it works with calling apps including WhatsApp and Zoom.