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During the Meta Connect 2024, the company introduced its first AR glasses, called the Orion. These glasses revolutionise display technology with silicon-carbide architecture, enabling holographic projections of varying dimensions to blend with the physical environment. Showcasing the goodness of the Orion, CEO Mark Zukerberg said that the glasses will be equipped with AI voice assistance, hand-tracking, eye-tracking, and a wrist-based neural interface that allows users to control functions using brain signals. It looks like the Meta Orion is designed to take over smartphones in the future.
Unlike previous Ray-Ban smart glasses, Orion merges real-world visuals with digital elements through advanced AR capabilities. Let’s delve deeper.
CEO Mark Zukerberg explained the workings of Orion on Instagram
Bringing fiction to reality, Orion is a type of face computer that we have been witnessing with Marvel’s Iron Man. The Orion has the largest field of view in the smallest AR glasses form to date. It is capable of unlocking several high-level tasks that have never been seen before. From multitasking windows and big-screen entertainment to life-size holograms of people – all digital content that can seamlessly blend with your view of the physical world. Meta also emphasises that the glasses are lightweight and versatile, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, enabling face-to-face connection, even remotely.
But the unique selling point here is, these smart glasses truly mimic regular glasses, in both look and feel. The glasses have a complete transparent lens, unlike MR headsets or other AR glasses. So, you can still see other people’s eyes and expressions.
Coming to the features, Onion is deeply integrated with Meta AI. It understands what you’re looking at in the physical world and can help you with useful visualisations. For example, you can open your refrigerator and ask for a recipe based on what’s inside. Or video call a friend while adjusting a digital family calendar as you wash the dishes.
Orion allows you to take a hands-free video call to catch up with friends and family in real time, and you can stay connected on WhatsApp and Messenger to view and send messages. The introduction of Meta Orion glasses will reduce your effort to need to pull out your phone, unlock it, find the right app, and let your friend know you’re running late for dinner – you can do it all through your glasses.
The Orion system comprises three parts: a “neural wristband” for controlling them; and a wireless block that resembles a large battery pack for a phone. While standalone, the glasses rely on proximity to the puck (approximately 12 feet) for full functionality.
While Meta latest innovation, the Orion looks great on paper and even during the demo, the hardest part is to make it a part of everyday life. Meta aims to ship its first commercial AR glasses to consumers in 2027.
Meta has also introduced an entry-level version of its Quest line of mixed-reality (MR) headsets– Quest 3S. During the Meta Connect 2024, the company disclosed that the Quest 3S will come in two storage variants: 128GB and 256GB. It also revealed that the lower variant will be priced at $299.99 (roughly Rs 25,000) and the higher one at $399.99 (roughly Rs 33,000).
Quest 3S
The Quest 3S uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR 2 Gen 2 chipset. The processor is same as its predecessor, the Meta Quest 3, launched last year. The newest Meta MR headset features double the graphical performance of the Meta Quest 2. It also features fresnel lenses and a slimmer design than the Quest 2. It also sports two RGB cameras and an action button to engage pass through mode to allow you to see virtual objects in your meatspace.
The Quest 3S is scheduled to hit the shelves on October 15. With the launch, the company is discontinuing its older Quest 2 and high-end Quest Pro devices, while also dropping the price of the more powerful Quest 3 it introduced last year from $649.99 to $499.99 (roughly Rs 42,000).
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