"Looks like two steps back for VR to me": Tom's Guide readers react to Meta's new VR Glasses

(Image credit: Tom's Guide) Meta revealed its new VR Glasses at Meta Connect 2026, and Tom's Guide readers had strong reactions to the new glasses.Most of the responses debated whether or not these glasses even count as VR or seemed excited to try out Meta's new product."Can’t wait til they are more affordable. I have a quest 3 and I use it mainly for exercise via fitness apps. But I have neck issues and I have been patiently waiting for headsets to get less bulky and lighter," one commentor said about the glasses and their $1,299 launch price.Field of View (Image credit: Tom's Guide)Of the comments we received that were negative the majority were focused on light leakage and the 70-degree Field of View."Looks like two steps back for VR to me. 70 fov may be enough for AR, not for VR," Mario Basiola said. "All that light leakage may be good enough for AR, for VR it breaks immersion. These are AR glasses, not VR.""VR doesn't have to be all encompassing like we are used to," one commenter responded.The concern is that 70 degrees is far less than the 110 degrees on the Meta Quest 3, leading to a less immersive environment.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.VR headsets also tend to fully block out your surroundings, which does help make games and movies more immersive.Meta's VR Glasses intentionally have peripheral gaps, meaning you should see light and your surroundings from the base of the glasses and the sides. I was told by a spokesperson that this was done on purpose after surveying VR headset users who wanted some peripheral vision.Our reader's don't appear to agree with that. "It looks a bad idea for anything requiring immersion. The light leakage will be horrendous."The price (Image credit: Tom's Guide)While not everyone cares about the FOV or light leakage, even the most positive comments are cautiously excited but have doubts about the price."This is a huge step indeed, but it has to get cheaper, not more expensive. Now if you want to keep gaming, you have to be rich or make choices again."And yes, the $1,299 price is high, especially compared to the $549 Quest 3 VR headset. And its apparent base price is higher than the $1,049 for the Steam Frame, though the 1TB variant of Valve's headset costs $1,299 as well.Many of these comments came from the Tom's Guide Facebook page. Give us a follow there if you use that social platform. If not, you can also find us on Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.And if you're feel free to let us know what you think about the Meta VR Glasses in the comments below! Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. More from Tom's GuideWhat was missing from Meta Connect 2026? An apologyRay-Ban Meta Audio hands-on — an attempt to allay privacy concernsRay-Ban Meta (gen 3) smart glasses — lots more styles, longer battery life, but same privacy controls Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him. He also handles all the Connections coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game since it released.Something to share? Send secure tips on Signal: scyo1.55.