Meta is preparing to launch a new pair of smart glasses this year, which aim to be much closer to their envisioned Orion AR glasses showcased last year. As the release date approaches, reports indicate that employees are being asked to work weekends to meet project deadlines. Currently, Meta is a leading player in the consumer Extended Reality (XR) market, with existing smart glasses available for purchase.
However, these Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses lack a display, relying solely on speakers, a microphone, and a camera for functionality. Despite this limitation, the glasses have enjoyed considerable success, especially after integrating Meta AI support. The ultimate goal for Meta, the Orion glasses, is not yet ready for public release due to high manufacturing costs.
As a stopgap, the company plans to introduce a simplified version of smart glasses later this year. Unlike the Orion, these new glasses, while they won’t feature full Augmented Reality (AR), will have a small display for notifications and some basic applications. Competing products with true AR capabilities are available from companies like Xreal and Solos, but Meta’s offering will focus on reducing reliance on smartphones.
There are concerns about the work environment at Meta, particularly given recent layoffs affecting underperforming employees, including those in Reality Labs, the XR division. This raises questions about the team’s capacity and morale as they push towards the anticipated glasses release. While the proposed launch is tentatively set for October, industry insights suggest there may be the need for delays.
Nevertheless, the pressure on employees to expedite progress continues, reflecting a challenging atmosphere within the company. As Meta strives toward its vision for the future of smart glasses, the outcome of this launch remains to be seen.