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Microsoft might get back into the mixed reality headset category despite a rough exit, if a South Korean supply chain leak is accurate.
The Elec sources claimed Microsoft has ordered micro OLED displays from Samsung to make “next-generation mixed reality devices” that could be ready as soon as 2026.
While most details aren’t available, the Microsoft headset would reportedly be focused on “enjoying or watching content” instead of exploring the metaverse. This would be a consumer-oriented device rather than a productivity tool like HoloLens.
As Road to VR noted, Microsoft currently doesn’t have much of a footprint in the mixed reality space. Division chief Alex Kipman left Microsoft in mid-2022 after misconduct allegations, and a round of layoffs this June affected the HoloLens team, which went through unspecified restructuring. HoloLens 2 is still on sale despite having launched in 2019, and a follow-up isn’t expected soon if at all.
Microsoft also said in December 2023 that it was dropping support for the Windows Mixed Reality platform. It effectively ceded territory to Meta, HTC, and others that either have their own platforms or embrace rivals like SteamVR. Since then, Microsoft has shown an openness to bringing its software elsewhere, including productivity apps on the Apple Vision Pro and Windows Volumetric apps on the Meta Quest.
If true, the rumor suggests Microsoft would reenter the mixed reality headset market in a way that anticipates (and reacts to) its competitors’ moves. Apple is widely expected to make a more affordable Vision headset that could ship by late 2025. Google and Samsung still say their platform will be unveiled before the end of this year, while Meta’s Quest 4 and Quest Pro 2 could respectively arrive in 2026 and 2027. Microsoft might revisit the field right as it’s entering the mainstream.
