Meta Connect 2024 Highlights: Orion AR Glases and $299 Quest 3S VR Headset
Meta Connect 2024 did not unveil a standout high-end product for the upcoming holiday season; however, it did introduce a new budget VR headset and provided a glimpse of the much-anticipated “magic glasses” that Meta’s experts in extended reality have been discussing for nearly a decade. Furthermore, the company continues to advance its development of new AI tools for its Ray-Ban glasses and social media platforms.
Currently, the leading mixed reality devices, such as Apple’s Vision Pro and the Meta Quest 3, are headsets equipped with passthrough video technology. However, the tech industry aspires to miniaturize this technology into a form factor akin to traditional prescription glasses. While it is up to you to determine if the Orion AR glasses meet this criterion, they certainly represent a more compact option compared to other comprehensive AR devices previously introduced.
On a less favorable note, these glasses will not be released this year and lack a confirmed launch date. A leaked roadmap from the previous year indicated a potential arrival in 2027. Nevertheless, Meta announced on Wednesday that Orion would be available “in the near future,” leaving room for interpretation. According to Meta, the prototype of the product is “truly representative of something that could ship to consumers,” rather than being a research prototype that is years away from market readiness.
The glasses are equipped with miniature projectors that project holograms onto the lenses. Meta claims they offer a wide field of view and immersive experiences. The integrated sensors can track voice commands, eye movement, hand gestures, and input from an electromyography (EMG) wristband.
These glasses merge sensory data with AI functionalities. For instance, one can look into a refrigerator and request the onboard AI to generate a recipe based on the available ingredients. Additionally, they will facilitate video calls, messaging on Meta’s platforms, and spatial versions of applications such as Spotify, YouTube, and Pinterest.
