Meta and Snap are gearing up to unveil their latest augmented reality (AR) glasses, marking a significant step forward in wearable technology. Both companies are set to showcase their new devices in September, sparking excitement in the tech community.
Meta's Orion AR Glasses
Meta, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is expected to reveal its first true pair of AR glasses, internally known as "Orion," at the Connect 2024 conference on September 25th in Menlo Park. These glasses are rumored to be a major leap in consumer electronics, with Meta's CTO Andrew Bosworth describing them as "the most advanced thing we've ever produced as a species" in this domain.
Key features of Meta's Orion glasses may include:
- A wide field of view with AR overlay
- Sleek design with a thickness of 5mm or less
- Hologram display with built-in projectors and sensors
- Integrated radio, speakers, and cameras
- Up to 4 hours of battery life
While the exact release date and price remain unknown, these glasses represent Meta's ambitious vision for the future of AR technology.
Snap's 5th Generation Spectacles
Snap, not to be outdone, is preparing to unveil its 5th generation Spectacles on September 17th at the annual Snap Partner Summit in Los Angeles. This announcement comes more than three years after the release of their 4th generation model, which introduced displays for AR functionality for the first time.
While details about the new Spectacles are limited, we can expect:
- Integration of Snapchat's My AI assistant
- Improved AR capabilities building on previous generations
- A limited production run of around 10,000 units
The Future of AR Wearables
Both Meta and Snap are pushing the boundaries of AR technology, aiming to create devices that seamlessly integrate into our daily lives. However, it's important to note that neither company intends to sell these glasses to the general public immediately. Instead, they will likely be distributed to select developers and partners, similar to Snap's strategy in 2021.
As the AR glasses market continues to evolve, we can expect fierce competition not only between Meta and Snap but also with other tech giants like Apple, who are rumored to be developing their own AR devices.
The upcoming announcements from Meta and Snap promise to offer a glimpse into the future of augmented reality and how it might transform our interaction with the digital world. As we await these reveals, it's clear that the race to dominate the AR glasses market is heating up, potentially ushering in a new era of wearable technology.
Citations:
https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/21/24224862/meta-snap-ar-glasses-orion-spectacles-zuckerberg-spiegel
https://www.nomtek.com/blog/ar-glasses
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/snap-meta-prepare-showcase-ar-glasses/724937/
https://heyupnow.com/en-eu/blogs/news/snap-and-meta-launch-their-ar-glasses-in-september
https://www.morphic.sh/articles/w1qJAst
