Meta has unveiled a prototype of its augmented reality smart glasses, Orion, which appear less bulky than most other AR headsets. The new model offers holographic information display on the lenses and features AI-based functionalities. A consumer version is expected to be released soon.According to the company, Orion are "the most advanced augmented reality glasses ever created" and the result of "breakthrough inventions across nearly every field of modern computing." One of the key features of the device, as reported by Engadget, is the use of miniature projectors to display holograms on the lenses. Unlike previous AR products like Magic Leap, Microsoft HoloLens, or Google Glass, Orion glasses are far less bulky and don’t isolate the user from the real world, as VR headsets do.
Meta claims that Orion glasses are lightweight and function both indoors and outdoors. The glasses enable "digital experiences that aren’t confined to the smartphone screen," overlaying holographic elements onto the real world. They use Micro LED projectors that, through waveguides, project images onto silicon carbide lenses.Additionally, Orion is integrated with Meta AI. For instance, if you look into your fridge while wearing the glasses, the AI assistant can suggest a recipe based on the available ingredients. There are also simpler, useful features, like real-time speech translation. The glasses come with a wireless module that processes most of the data and transmits apps and content to the device. The controller is compact enough to fit comfortably in a pocket.
Meta claims that Orion has the largest field of view (around 70 degrees) among the smallest AR glasses available today. This wide field of view allows for immersive capabilities such as multitasking windows, big-screen entertainment, and life-sized holograms of people. The glasses support eye-tracking, allowing users to control them simply by looking at different elements. In addition, a special bracelet with an EMG sensor provides gesture control.Orion’s functionality includes the ability to make video calls, view, and send messages via Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. In images released by Meta, holographic versions of apps like Spotify, YouTube, and Pinterest are also visible.
Currently, Orion is available only to Meta employees and select testers for further product refinement before mass production. The company emphasizes that this is not just a research prototype, but one of the most developed product prototypes Meta has ever created, and it is truly something that could be released for consumer use on a large scale. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has noted that one of the future goals for the device is to reduce its cost to make it accessible to a broader audience.While the exact release date for the consumer version of Orion has not yet been announced, Meta plans to launch its first AR glasses for the mass market soon. A previous roadmap leak suggested 2027 as a potential release date.
