Today, the Meta group markets mixed reality headsets and connected glasses. But its ultimate goal is to replace smartphones with augmented reality glasses. And that’s why it spends billions of dollars every year on research and development. In 2024, Meta finally lifted the veil on its first prototype of augmented reality glasses, called Orion.
Unfortunately, the general public will still have to wait, since Orion is still only a prototype, but not a commercial product. “Orion is not just a window into the future, it is a look into the very real possibilities that are within our reach today”explained the Meta group, in the announcement of this prototype. And according to an article published this week, Meta would consider marketing its augmented reality glasses from 2027.
Augmented reality glasses will have the advantage of being compact and portable, unlike headsets like the Meta Quest 3, or Apple’s Vision Pro. This is why this type of product is generally considered to be the category that could replace smartphones in the coming years.
Meta fully on the hardware
Otherwise, in its presentation of the Orion prototype, the Meta group also indicated that, in the next five years, we can expect to see new products based on its research and development efforts. And Bloomberg’s recent article perhaps gives us a glimpse of the products Meta could launch.
For example, Meta would be working on new connected glasses that would be similar to the concept of augmented reality glasses. In essence, it would be an improved version of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses that would have a screen. This screen would display applications, notifications, as well as photos taken by the glasses. And this product could arrive as early as this year.
Connected watches, wireless headphones
The Bloomberg article also indicates that Meta is still interested in connected watches. And the group could even offer wireless headphones equipped with cameras. These sensors would allow the AI proposed with the headphones to process information from the outside world.
But, as usual, as this information does not come from an official source, caution is required for the moment. In any case, the Bloomberg article gives us an overview of Meta’s ambitions in hardware.
- Meta offers mixed reality headsets and connected glasses, but its ultimate goal is to market real augmented reality glasses capable of replacing smartphones
- According to an article from Bloomberg, the group would have the ambition to commercialize this technology from 2027
- Other products would be in the pipeline, such as connected glasses with a screen, or connected watches and wireless headphones