Meta’s rumored “Phoenix” XR smart glasses may look sleek on your face, but they likely won’t carry all the computing inside the frames. Reports and new mockup renders suggest Meta will offload processing to a portable compute puck—a small device you clip to your waistband and keep with you while wearing the glasses.
A render shared by Noridoesvr (who claims prototype exposure) shows a puck that looks compact and practical. It appears pocket-friendly, includes a clip, and doesn’t scream “bulky gadget.” Still, this puck could become the make-or-break detail for mainstream adoption, because it adds one more device to charge, carry, and manage.
Why Meta Needs a Compute Puck for XR Glasses
Building true XR glasses means packing serious performance into something that sits comfortably on your nose. That’s hard. High-resolution displays, cameras, sensors, and real-time computer vision all demand compute power, and compute power generates heat. If you cram too much into the frames, you risk weight problems, short battery life, and thermal discomfort.
That’s why a tethered approach makes sense. Instead of forcing your glasses to be a full computer, Meta can shift the “hot and heavy” parts into a puck. This keeps the glasses lighter, reduces pressure on your face, and can improve long-session comfort—especially compared to larger headsets that feel exhausting over time.
Meta vs. Google: Tethered Glasses Are Becoming the Standard
Meta isn’t alone here. Google and Xreal have also explored a puck-based concept with Project Aura, using a wired accessory to enable a “big virtual screen” experience with Android apps. The pitch is simple: you get a more powerful XR experience without turning your glasses into a heater strapped to your head.
But there’s a tradeoff. A puck means cables, body-worn hardware, and awkward ergonomics. If the puck includes a fan, heat management becomes even trickier—because nobody wants warm air venting toward their torso all day.
Eco-Friendly SEO Angle: Efficient XR Can Reduce Waste
A compute puck can actually support sustainability if companies design it responsibly. Offloading compute can reduce energy waste by keeping the glasses lightweight and power-efficient. A modular puck also allows upgrades without replacing the entire headset, which can cut e-waste. Pair that with repairable parts, longer software support, and efficient on-device processing, and XR hardware can become more durable and less disposable.
Bottom line: the puck might feel annoying, but it may be the realistic path to comfortable XR glasses for the next few years.
