Next month, the two fierce rivals in social media, Snap and Meta, will showcase their AR glasses in a highly anticipated display, revealing their visions for the future computing platform. Snap's CEO, Evan Spiegel, will take the stage first, scheduled to unveil the fifth generation of Spectacles on September 17 at the annual partner summit in Los Angeles. Following that, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg will debut their AR glasses, codenamed Orion, on September 25 at the Connect conference.
Although Snap and Meta have their unique approaches to the development of AR glasses, both companies face a common challenge — the current technology is not yet fully mature for large-scale market promotion.
Therefore, according to insider information, neither of these glasses will be available for sale. Snap will adopt a strategy similar to 2021, distributing the upgraded Spectacles to specific developers and partners, with an estimated production volume of less than 10,000 units. Meta's Orion glasses are expected to have an even smaller production number.
This hardware showdown not only showcases the innovation pursuits of these two companies but also reflects the difficulties encountered during the popularization of AR technology. Although both companies are striving to develop more advanced products, the reality is that consumers may need to wait a while longer to see these innovative results in the market.
Whether future AR glasses will become the next significant computing platform remains to be seen, but undoubtedly, the competition between Snap and Meta will inject new vitality into this field.
Key Points:
📅 On September 17, Snap will release the fifth generation of Spectacles, followed by Meta launching their first AR glasses, Orion, on September 25.
🔧 Neither company plans to sell the glasses immediately after the presentation; Snap will distribute them to specific developers and partners.
📉 The current AR technology is not yet ready for widespread adoption, hence the low production numbers, with both Snap and Meta facing challenges in technological maturity.