According to a recent piece from The Information, Meta is reportedly shifting a portion of its headset design to external sources as it begins to relocate some of its production efforts outside China. In response to these claims, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, has firmly denied that any design aspects are being outsourced, emphasizing that their headsets will continue to be developed internally.
The report highlights that Meta is planning to transition half of its Quest headset production from China to Vietnam, a strategic move aimed at dodging the hefty import tariffs expected to be imposed by upcoming US policies under President-elect Donald Trump.
In addition, it was mentioned that Meta might be transferring more of its component design to Goertek, a well-known Chinese original design manufacturer (ODM). This company is recognized for crafting both prototypes and manufacturing devices for various enterprises in the XR industry.
The narrative further suggests that Meta has engaged Goertek and other companies with the goal of having them develop its headsets by the year 2030. This aligns with Meta’s anticipated shift towards concentrating more on its profitable software sector. In this scenario, Meta would reportedly outline objectives for Goertek, allowing them to offer multiple design choices for Meta to select.
Addressing these points, Andrew Bosworth, who leads Meta’s XR-focused Reality Labs, took to social media recently to dismiss these design rumors. He commented, “Someone seems keen on spreading these design rumors to multiple news outlets, but they’re simply untrue. We’ve designed our headsets internally and plan to continue doing so. While we do work with manufacturers, the fundamental nature of those collaborations remains unchanged.”
In a subsequent message, Bosworth clarified that their partnership with Goertek remains consistent and not evolving into any new practice. “To clarify, Goertek has been a valued collaborator. As parts of our technology become more standardized, we’re pleased they can manage designs across various headsets. This is how we’ve always collaborated, even as we expand.”
Furthermore, a Meta source informed The Information that Goertek has begun designing the outer shell for upcoming Meta MR headsets. They are also taking a more significant role in research and development for other Meta products, including the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Earlier this year, Goertek funneled $280 million into its Vietnamese subsidiary, which reportedly specializes in producing consumer electronics like headphones, smartwatches, and VR/AR devices, according to their filing with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
