Meta’s annual flagship conference dedicated to extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence, Meta Connect, officially kicks off today, drawing intense interest from developers, tech enthusiasts, and industry analysts alike. As one of the most anticipated technology events of the year, the multi-day conference serves as Meta’s primary stage to showcase its latest hardware breakthroughs, software evolutions, and long-term strategic vision for the metaverse and ambient computing.
The most significant announcements are widely expected during the opening keynote address, where company leadership is slated to pull back the curtain on its highly anticipated "Phoenix" mixed reality (MR) headset, alongside a brand-new generation of smartglasses. With industry insiders and tech observers closely tracking every leak and rumor leading up to the event, today’s presentations promise to set the tone for the future direction of consumer hardware and spatial computing.
Watch the Meta Connect Keynote on September 23rd at 4PM PT
For those unable to attend the conference in person, Meta is streaming the events live to a global audience. The marquee opening keynote is scheduled to broadcast on September 23rd at 4:00 PM Pacific Time.
The big question hanging over the hardware side of the presentation centers on the mysterious "Phoenix" device. While leaks and supply chain rumors have circulated for months, industry observers are eager to learn how Phoenix will fit into Meta’s existing product ecosystem. Specifically, it remains entirely unclear whether Phoenix will be officially positioned as the "Quest 4," representing the next major iteration of Meta’s mainstream standalone consumer line, or if it will carve out a distinct product category—much like the Quest Pro did when it positioned itself separately from the Quest 1, 2, and 3 lineups.
Furthermore, a compelling strategic dilemma remains: if Phoenix ultimately targets a higher-end or enterprise-adjacent market and is not designated as the next-gen consumer Quest, will Meta also use the stage to reveal a separate, dedicated consumer Quest headset? With reporters and industry analysts stationed on the ground at Connect, complete coverage and real-time updates are expected to answer these lingering hardware questions as the news breaks.
Watch the Meta Connect Developer State of the Union Keynote on September 24th at 10AM PT
The momentum continues into the second day of the conference on September 24th, when Meta shifts its primary focus toward the software creators and engineers who power its ecosystem. The Developer State of the Union keynote is scheduled to kick off at 10:00 AM Pacific Time.
While the opening day caters heavily to consumer-facing hardware and broad strategic announcements, day two is designed to address the technical backbone of the platform. Attendees and remote viewers can expect deep dives into the latest developer tools, software development kits, proprietary programs, and native features intended to streamline and accelerate content creation. Given Meta’s heavy corporate pivot toward artificial intelligence in recent years, a major emphasis is anticipated around AI-based tooling designed to make it significantly easier and more efficient for developers to build rich, immersive content for Meta’s growing portfolio of glasses and headsets.
Beyond the marquee presentations, the comprehensive Meta Connect agenda features a diverse schedule of specialized sessions organized across four primary tracks: Virtual Reality, AI Glasses, Artificial Intelligence, and the Horizon platform. Meta has confirmed that all official sessions will be recorded and made available to view on-demand online shortly after their conclusion, ensuring that developers and fans worldwide can access the technical briefings and strategic discussions at their convenience.