Meta likely to unveil Project Phoenix MR headset and photorealistic ‘hologram’ calls at Connect

# What to expect at Meta Connect

Meta appears set to reveal two tightly linked elements at its Connect developer conference on September 23–24: a next-generation mixed-reality headset codenamed Project Phoenix and a demonstration of photorealistic avatar-based video calls. Reporting and leaked visuals point to a public demo during the keynote that will combine the hardware and avatar work.

# Project Phoenix: slim headset, tethered compute puck

Images and firmware traces published ahead of Connect describe Project Phoenix as a much slimmer, lighter mixed-reality headset compared with previous Meta headsets. A recurring detail in the leaks is a small, pocketable compute puck that tethers to the headset. The puck design shifts processing off the head, which reduces weight on the face and aims to improve comfort for longer sessions.

The leaked visuals include reference to prescription lenses and a sleeker form factor, suggesting Meta is targeting a high-end spatial computing device focused on comfort and productivity rather than a heavy VR-first unit.

# Hologram-like video calls with Codec Avatars

Meta plans to demo a photorealistic, hologram-like call experience using an advanced version of its Codec Avatars during the keynote. Codec Avatars are a long-running Meta project, with work dating back to 2015. The demo is reported to be led onstage by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and CTO Andrew Bosworth.

The planned demo could present shoulders-up or full-body photorealistic avatars projected into mixed reality. The report does not confirm whether the demonstration will be a polished consumer product or a progress showcase of in-development research.

# Why this matters

Meta's previous avatars have tended to be cartoony, a choice tied to earlier metaverse strategy and to reduce computational and capture complexity. Moving toward photorealism would change how Meta positions social presence in mixed reality and could narrow the perceptual gap with competing systems such as Apple's Personas, which are considered among the most accurate and immersive photorealistic avatars.

A real-time photorealistic call experience requires significant capture, encoding, and rendering advances. Combining that software with a lighter, more comfortable headset would make such social features easier for everyday use, provided latency, privacy, and bandwidth considerations are satisfactorily addressed.

# What remains uncertain

The reports make clear a demo is planned, but they do not confirm whether Meta will announce shipping timelines or immediate availability for either the headset or the advanced Codec Avatars. Past Connect presentations have shown in-progress research without a commercial launch, and the current coverage leaves both possibilities open.

# What to watch for at Connect

• Whether Meta provides a commercial availability window or only a research preview for Codec Avatars.
• Technical details about how photorealistic avatars are captured, encoded, and streamed in real time.
• Project Phoenix specifications: weight, field of view, optics (prescription lens support), and the compute puck's role.
• Privacy, data handling, and opt-in procedures for photorealistic avatar capture and use.

Expect live coverage and hands-on reports following the keynote that will clarify whether the demo represents a near-term product or a forward-looking research milestone.