Meta appears to be capitalizing on the growing interest in mixed-reality wearables by preparing to unveil its first true augmented reality (AR) glasses, codenamed “Orion,” at its Connect 2024 conference. Although the company aims to showcase Orion in the fall, a consumer-ready version of AR glasses is likely several years away from reaching the market.
According to reports from Business Insider, Meta is gearing up to reveal its AR glasses at Connect 2024, with internal pressure to ensure high performance. The prototype Orion glasses have been in development for nine years and are not expected to be released until 2027 at the earliest. Nevertheless, Meta has been gradually unveiling its mixed-reality plans, as seen with Project Aria, an AR glasses prototype tested in real-world environments since 2020.
Connect 2024, typically held in October, provides an ideal platform for Meta to introduce the Orion concept, given its history as a developer conference for showcasing new technologies and products. Last year’s event saw the announcement of Meta’s latest virtual reality headset, the Meta Quest 3.
Despite the abundance of virtual reality headsets and smart glasses in the market, true AR offerings remain limited. Meta’s Orion project aims to bridge this gap by combining the computing power of its virtual reality headsets with the form factor of smart glasses, similar to its existing Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses.
If the reports are accurate, more details about Meta’s AR glasses plans will emerge at Connect 2024 later this year.
