Meta CTO Confirms Quest 4 Still on Roadmap, But Launch Pushed to 2027 at Earliest

Meta's CTO has confirmed the Quest 4 is still on the company's roadmap, putting to rest speculation that Meta might abandon standalone VR headsets entirely. However, a 2026 launch is off the table — the earliest arrival is now 2027.

What We Know So Far

• Timeline: 2027 at the earliest, possibly 2028
• Price: Expected around $800, up from Quest 3's $499 launch price
• Controllers: May ship without traditional Touch controllers, relying entirely on hand tracking and eye tracking
• Upgrade scope: Described as a "large upgrade" that will "significantly improve unit economics"

The Controller-Free Gamble

Ditching controllers would be a fundamental shift in how VR works. Meta has invested heavily in hand tracking since Quest 2, and the Quest 3's hand tracking is already good enough for casual use. But precision gaming and productivity still benefit from physical controllers. The move mirrors Apple Vision Pro's controller-free approach — which works for productivity but frustrates gamers.

May 2026 Software Update

In the meantime, Meta rolled out a v2.4 software update the week of May 18 for Quest 3, 3S, Quest Pro, and Quest 2 with incremental improvements to existing headsets.

What This Means for Buyers

If you want VR now, the Meta Quest 3S at $299 remains the best value in standalone VR. The Quest 3 at $596 is harder to recommend given the Quest 4's eventual arrival. For premium mixed reality, the Samsung Galaxy XR offers Android XR at $1,799. Compare all headsets in our AR/VR guide.