In a recent report from The Information, it has been revealed that Meta’s highly anticipated augmented reality (AR) glasses, initially planned to feature high-end displays, will instead come with older glass lenses and display technology. The decision to downgrade the technology used in the glasses is said to be a strategic move by Meta as it prepares to release its first consumer-facing AR glasses, codenamed Artemis, in 2027.
According to The Verge, Meta will first release a first-generation pair of AR glasses for select developers and internal testing next year. These glasses are expected to include the higher-end MicroLED displays and lenses made with silicon carbide, allowing for a wider 70-degree field of view. However, for the consumer version, Meta has chosen to use Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) displays, a display technology that has been used since the 90s for movie projectors. LCoS is not known for its brightness, which is a crucial aspect for AR products as they need to be able to project graphics onto the real world even in bright environments.
Another aspect that Meta is reportedly downgrading for its consumer AR glasses is the field of view. The glasses will use a glass waveguide, a component that allows light to travel through the glasses and into the user’s eyes. This choice limits the field of view to 50 degrees, whereas Meta had originally planned to use silicon carbide, which would have allowed for a wider 70-degree field of view. This downgrade could potentially make it harder for Meta’s glasses to stand out among competitors such as Microsoft’s second-gen HoloLens and the Magic Leap One, which also have a 50-degree field of view.
Despite these downgrades, Meta’s first consumer AR glasses are still expected to have some high-end features. The developer version will include the higher-end MicroLED displays and lenses with silicon carbide, providing a wider field of view. However, these advanced features will not be available to the general public initially.
Furthermore, Meta is making changes to the “oval-shaped wireless puck” that comes with the glasses. The puck, which is said to include a battery, 5G modem, and a touchpad, will no longer feature a lidar sensor as originally planned. The lidar sensor would have allowed the device to detect the user’s surroundings and import 3D objects, including faces and bodies, into the digital world. It is unclear why Meta made this change, but it could be related to cost or technical challenges.
With these changes and downgrades, Meta is likely aiming to make its AR glasses more affordable and accessible to a wider range of consumers. By using older display technology and reducing the field of view, Meta may be able to lower the cost of production and make the glasses more attractive to potential buyers. However, it remains to be seen how these changes will affect the overall user experience and whether Meta’s glasses will be able to compete with other AR products on the market.
In conclusion, Meta’s decision to downgrade the technology used in its first consumer AR glasses is a strategic move to make the devices more affordable and accessible. While the glasses will not feature high-end displays or a wide field of view, they are still expected to offer some advanced features for developers. It will be interesting to see how consumers and developers respond to Meta’s AR glasses when they are finally released in 2027.
