Meta and Snap are preparing to unveil their latest augmented reality (AR) glasses, marking a significant step forward in the wearable technology and AR market. Both companies are set to showcase their new products, Meta's "Orion" and Snap's "Spectacles," at upcoming events.

Meta's AR Glasses: Orion

Meta, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is expected to reveal its first true pair of AR glasses, internally known as "Orion," at the Connect 2024 developer conference. This event is a key platform for Meta to introduce new products and research projects. The Orion glasses have been under development for nine years, and there is significant internal pressure to ensure high performance at the unveiling. The glasses are part of Meta's broader strategy to dominate the extended reality (XR) space, which includes virtual reality (VR) and AR technologies , .

Snap's AR Glasses: Spectacles

Snap, under the leadership of CEO Evan Spiegel, is also gearing up to introduce its new AR glasses, known as "Spectacles." These glasses are part of Snap's ongoing efforts to innovate in the AR space, building on previous iterations of Spectacles that have been used to capture and share short video clips. The new version is expected to offer enhanced AR capabilities, although specific details about the features and release date are still under wraps .

Market Implications

The introduction of these AR glasses by Meta and Snap is likely to have significant implications for the AR market. Both companies have invested heavily in AR technology, and their new products could set new standards for what AR glasses can achieve. However, neither company plans to sell these glasses to the public immediately, suggesting that they are still in the prototype or testing phase. This cautious approach may be due to the high costs and technical challenges associated with developing advanced AR hardware .

In conclusion, the upcoming unveiling of AR glasses by Meta and Snap represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of AR technology. As these companies continue to refine their products, the potential for AR to transform how we interact with the digital world becomes increasingly tangible.