Meta Responds to Claims of Outsourcing XR Headset Designs

A new piece from The Information recently claimed that Meta is shifting some of its headset design tasks to external partners as it moves part of its production from China. However, Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, has countered these claims, asserting that their headsets will still be designed internally.

The Information’s report, shared through SeekingAlpha, suggests that Meta plans to transfer half of its Quest headset production from China to Vietnam. This move is apparently intended to sidestep hefty import tariffs that might soon be imposed by the incoming U.S. administration under President-elect Donald Trump.

Meta is allegedly preparing to increase its reliance on Goertek, a Chinese original design manufacturer known for its work in the XR industry, for designing components like lenses and displays. These developments could see Meta handing more responsibilities to Goertek, focusing on a long-term partnership that looks beyond manufacturing to include design insights, as Meta aims to concentrate more on its software offerings.

Dispelling the circulating rumors, Bosworth took to X, stating that despite the claims, “We continue to design our headsets in house and have no plans to change that.” He emphasized that while Meta maintains partnerships with manufacturers, the way they do business hasn’t changed significantly.

In another post, Bosworth described the ongoing collaboration with Goertek, highlighting that while they have been a reliable partner, the nature of their collaboration remains constant. “As parts of our stack become more established, we’re appreciative of Goertek’s role in carrying those designs forward, but this has always been our approach, even as we expand the scale.”

According to an insider piece from The Information, Goertek has begun working on the outer shell design for the upcoming mixed reality headsets from Meta. They are also stepping up their involvement in research and development for other Meta projects, like the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

Earlier in the year, Goertek infused $280 million into its subsidiary in Vietnam, which, based on a disclosure to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, specializes in the manufacture of consumer electronics like headphones, smartwatches, and VR and AR gadgets.