# Meta Orion AR Glasses: A Preview of Smartphone Evolution
Meta, the organization previously recognized as Facebook, recently held its Connect 2024 event, where it introduced a variety of new innovations and products. Among the most thrilling revelations was the announcement of Meta’s Orion AR glasses, a prototype that aspires to transform our engagement with technology and potentially supersede the smartphone in its current form. These augmented reality (AR) glasses are not yet available to consumers, yet they present an exciting glimpse into the future of wearable tech.
## What Are the Meta Orion AR Glasses?
The Meta Orion AR glasses are the inaugural generation of augmented reality eyewear from Meta, crafted to project digital content onto the real world. Unlike the cumbersome virtual reality (VR) headsets we know, including Meta’s own Quest series or Apple’s Vision Pro, the Orion glasses maintain a more compact design, though they still fall short of looking like standard eyeglasses.
These glasses are still in the prototype phase and are not yet marketed as a consumer product. Nevertheless, Meta’s ambition is evident: these glasses seek to supplant the smartphone by providing a hands-free, immersive experience that seamlessly integrates digital information into your visual field.
## The Components of Orion
The Orion AR glasses consist of three primary components:
1. **The Glasses**: The eyewear incorporates thick frames that contain seven cameras and various sensors. These cameras capture the surrounding environment, enabling the glasses to superimpose digital content onto the actual world. The lenses are made from silicon carbide, and micro LED projectors project images directly in front of the user’s eyes. The glasses provide a 70-degree field of view, offering ample space to display a considerable amount of digital content, although the resolution is not quite as clear as that of Apple’s Vision Pro.
2. **The Neural Wristband**: This wristband functions as a controller for the glasses. It resembles a smartwatch devoid of a display and can detect various hand and finger movements. This functionality allows users to navigate the AR interface through gestures, rather than relying on conventional input methods like touchscreens or buttons. Eye-tracking technology is additionally included, allowing users to interact with the interface using their gaze.
3. **The Processing Puck**: The third element is a small, puck-shaped computer that manages the processing power and operates the system for the glasses. This puck needs to be carried along since the glasses themselves lack the processing power to operate independently.
## Meta’s Vision for Tomorrow
Meta’s introduction of the Orion AR glasses clearly signals that the company envisions a future where smartphones are no longer the principal devices for engaging with the digital realm. Instead, AR glasses like the Orion could become the new norm, providing a more immersive and convenient means of accessing information and communicating.
Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has expressed his strong belief in the capabilities of AR and VR technologies to revolutionize our lives and work. The Orion glasses play a vital role in this vision, and although they are not yet prepared for widespread production, Meta is devoted to refining the technology and increasing its accessibility in the future.
## How Does Orion Measure Up Against Apple’s Vision Pro?
While Meta’s Orion AR glasses are still in the prototyping phase, Apple has already rolled out its Vision Pro, a mixed reality headset that combines both AR and VR features. The Vision Pro presents a considerably more advanced and refined product, boasting higher resolution displays and a more integrated presentation of digital content into the real world.
Nonetheless, the Vision Pro is also considerably bulkier compared to the Orion glasses, resembling a conventional VR headset rather than a pair of glasses. The Orion, while not as streamlined as average eyeglasses, is significantly smaller and lighter than the Vision Pro, weighing just 100 grams.
Both Meta and Apple are evidently striving toward a common goal: developing a wearable gadget that could ultimately replace the smartphone. However, Meta’s strategy with the Orion glasses is more oriented towards AR, whereas Apple’s Vision Pro serves as a more versatile device that can toggle between AR and VR functionalities.
## Challenges on the Horizon
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the Orion AR glasses, several notable challenges must be addressed by Meta before the glasses can transition into a viable consumer product. One of the most significant obstacles is cost. Reports indicate that producing a single unit of the Orion glasses currently costs around $10,000, which is nearly three times the price of Apple’s Vision Pro. This high expense is mainly attributed to the costly silicon carbide lenses utilized in the glasses.
Another issue is the design. While the Orion glasses are much smaller than the Vision Pro, they remain too cumbersome for everyday wear. Meta has recognized this concern and is actively working on further miniaturizing the components to enhance comfort and aesthetics.
Lastly, there is the software dilemma. Unlike Apple and Google, which have extensive experience in developing operating systems for mass-market devices, Meta lacks this history.
