Meta unveils Orion augmented reality glasses

Meta has revealed Orion, its most advanced augmented reality (AR) glasses to date, marking a significant step in wearable tech. First announced five years ago, the AR glasses aim to seamlessly integrate the digital and physical worlds, offering users a more immersive and interactive experience.

Orion’s Evolution from Smart Glasses Meta previously introduced Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which allowed hands-free access to digital features such as AI assistance, connecting with friends, and capturing moments without using a smartphone. While Ray-Ban Meta provided display-less AI-powered glasses, Orion takes it further by integrating a holographic display, creating a more immersive experience.

Cutting-Edge AR Display Meta has worked extensively to miniaturize virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies into lightweight, stylish glasses. Orion represents a major achievement in this miniaturization, packing advanced technology into a small, wearable form. It offers the largest field of view for AR glasses yet, enabling a range of immersive experiences such as multitasking with holographic windows, big-screen entertainment, and lifelike holograms.

What sets Orion apart is its design, which resembles regular glasses with transparent lenses. Unlike most MR headsets, users can still see others’ eyes and expressions, fostering better social interactions while using AR.

Photo: Meta

Augmented Reality Experiences Orion comes equipped with Meta AI, a smart assistant that interacts with the physical world. For example, it can suggest recipes based on what’s in your refrigerator or assist in making adjustments to a digital calendar during a video call. Users can make hands-free video calls, send messages, and stay connected through WhatsApp and Messenger, all without needing to reach for their phone.

Meta’s development teams are continually enhancing the experiences offered through Orion, with a focus on creating more immersive social interactions.

While Orion is still in development and won’t be available to consumers yet, Meta emphasizes that it is a highly polished prototype close to final production quality. Instead of rushing to market, the company is focusing on internal development to push the boundaries of AR technology further.

Meta has opened access to Orion for internal teams and select audiences to gather feedback and continue improving the product. The company is focused on refining the AR display, reducing the form factor, and scaling production to make the glasses more affordable. Meta plans to release new AR devices in the coming years, building on the foundation laid by Orion.