Meta and Snap to Unveil Rival AR Glasses In September
The smart glasses industry is set to experience a moment of great innovation, with two of the market's major players set to introduce new advanced models. According to recent rumors, Meta and Snap could announce their new AR (Augmented Reality) glasses as early as next month, marking a major leap forward in wearable technology.
Both companies have considerable experience in this niche, having already launched several generations of products. Meta collaborated with Ray-Ban on its smart glasses , while Snap, Snapchat’s parent company, developed the Spectacles series. The 4th-generation model marked a significant technological leap, introducing displays for AR functionality for the first time. However, it’s been more than three years since their launch, making the time ripe for an update.
According to the latest rumors, the 5th generation of Spectacles could be presented on September 17. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel is expected to show off the new product during the annual Snap Partner Summit in Los Angeles. On the other hand, Meta seems to have even more ambitious plans for its next launch. Mark Zuckerberg's company will present its new wearable device on September 25 during the Connect conference in Menlo Park.
Meta’s project, codenamed “Orion,” promises to be the most advanced AR smart glasses to date. Unlike previous Ray-Ban models, which focused primarily on content creation and voice interaction with Meta’s new AI assistant glasses are expected to feature a display for the first time, opening up a new world of possibilities.
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth teased something similar earlier this year, calling the product "probably the most advanced piece of technology on the planet in its domain. In the realm of consumer electronics, this innovation could be considered the most advanced achievement humanity has ever produced."
As for Snap’s 5th-generation Spectacles, details on potential improvements are still scarce. They’re likely to integrate Snapchat’s My AI assistant as one of the major new features. Snap is expected to produce around 10,000 units of these glasses, while Meta may produce an even smaller number of its Orion AR glasses.
In the end, Snap and Meta are both working on AR glasses that they hope will soon become a regular part of our daily routines. It’s still uncertain when this technology will be compact and affordable enough for the average person. When these new AR glasses are finally unveiled, they’re expected to be a major step forward in augmented reality and will likely grab the attention of both app developers and potential users.
