What Could Apple’s Response Be To Meta’s Orion AR Glasses?

Meta's Orion AR Glasses Prototype: A Glimpse Into the Future of Augmented Reality

At last week's Meta Connect developers conference, Mark Zuckerberg unveiled Meta’s first prototype of its Orion AR Glasses project. This marks Meta's debut in the augmented reality (AR) glasses space, and early testers have praised its design and potential.

One of the most notable reviews comes from Ben Thompson, a highly respected industry analyst known for his Stratechery newsletter. As one of the few who had the opportunity to test the Orion AR glasses in person, Thompson offered valuable insights into the technology.

Key Features of Meta’s Orion AR Glasses

After experiencing the glasses firsthand, Thompson highlighted three standout features:

1. Seamless Notification Flow: One of the most impressive aspects was the intuitive notification system. Thompson noted that users could seamlessly interact with notifications by simply moving their eyes and touching their fingers together. This frictionless experience makes multitasking in both the real world and augmented reality effortless.

2. Pinning Apps in Vision: Unlike other AR glasses like Apple’s Vision Pro, the Orion allows users to pin applications not just in physical space, but directly in their line of vision. This ensures apps stay in view, even as you move around, making it a practical feature for on-the-go use.

3. Immersive Gaming: Thompson enjoyed playing two games on the Orion AR glasses — a space-invader style game and a multiplayer version of Pong with another Orion user. Although the glasses currently lack a wide variety of apps, Meta’s focus on expanding this library in the coming years will be crucial to its success.

Enormous Potential for Meta’s Orion AR Glasses

Thompson’s overall takeaway is that Meta’s Orion AR glasses have vast potential. While still in prototype form and likely three years away from commercial availability, he believes Meta is heading in the right direction with this product.

Meta's Vision Vs. Apple's Approach

In his analysis, Thompson also offered valuable perspective on Apple's Vision Pro, noting where it fell short. He suggests that the next iteration of Apple's Vision device should lean toward being a simpler, more affordable VR headset—similar to Meta’s Quest 3 or Quest 3S—with a focus on delivering an immersive entertainment experience. He also speculated that Apple could follow a dual path, with a dedicated AR glasses project likely in development for years.

Apple’s Focus on AR Glasses

The competition between Meta and Apple in the AR space is heating up. Apple CEO Tim Cook, back in 2017, hinted at the importance of augmented reality, stating that AR "would be one of the most important technologies Apple would ever deliver." This suggests that even before launching ARKit, Apple had already been working on its version of AR glasses.

While Apple’s Vision Pro is its most visible AR product to date, it’s clear that Apple has been pursuing AR glasses technology for nearly a decade. Industry insiders believe Apple could introduce its own ready-for-market AR glasses as early as 2026, potentially beating Meta’s Orion to market.

The AR Glasses Race: Apple vs. Meta

Meta has reportedly been developing its Orion AR glasses since 2020, with plans to release them in three years. Meanwhile, Apple’s head start, having begun work on AR glasses as early as 2015, could see them launch their product around the same time.

However, one key factor will determine who wins the AR race: technology readiness. Apple has a reputation for setting high standards when it comes to design, features, and functionality, and it won’t bring its AR glasses to market until these standards are met.

The Future of AR Glasses

When Apple eventually releases its AR glasses, it could lead the market and drive widespread adoption of the technology. While Meta’s Orion has strong potential, Apple’s history of innovation and brand loyalty may give it a competitive edge in the augmented reality space.

As the race for AR glasses heats up, consumers can look forward to exciting advancements in the coming years, with both Meta and Apple striving to redefine how we interact with the digital and real worlds.