Future of Augmented Reality Glasses: Meta vs. Snapchat

Meta and Snapchat's AR glasses showcase groundbreaking technology, but neither is ready for public release yet.

### Exploring the Future of Augmented Reality: Meta Orion vs. Snapchat AR Spectacles
* 👓 In 2024, I had the rare opportunity to test both the **Meta Orion Smartglasses** and **Snapchat AR Spectacles**, which are not yet available to the public but showcase **incredible technology**.
* 🔍 The Meta Orion glasses represent a **three-part system**, including the glasses, a wireless computer puck, and an EMG wristband that tracks **electrical impulses for gesture controls**, creating a **unique augmented reality experience**.
* 🖥 I experienced three demos with the Meta glasses: scrolling through Instagram with **floating windows**, using AI to **identify smoothie ingredients**, and playing a shared **3D Pong game**, all while enjoying **seamless overlays of digital content** onto the real world.
* 🔋 Despite their impressive capabilities, the Meta glasses face challenges such as a **two to three-hour battery life** and a high estimated retail price of around **$25,000** due to advanced materials and technology.
* 📱 In contrast, the Snapchat AR Spectacles integrate all technology within the glasses, **eliminating the need for a separate computer puck**, but they **weigh more** and have a **shorter battery life of about 45 minutes**.
* 🖼 The Snapchat glasses offer a **higher resolution display** but a **narrower field of view** compared to Meta's, making them feel **more restrictive during use**, yet they feature an **electrochromic tint** for **improved immersion and readability**.
* 🛠 Unlike the Meta glasses, which are a **high-end tech demo**, the Snapchat AR Spectacles serve as a **developer kit**, allowing users to **create applications for Snap OS** and fostering **innovation in augmented reality experiences**.
* 🌐 While both products are not ready for market, they hint at a future where AR glasses could **transform how we interact with the world**, potentially **reducing our reliance on smartphones**.

I Tried Real Augmented Reality Glasses!

Marques Brownlee

The speaker has tried the rare Meta Orion Smartglasses and Snapchat AR Spectacles, both of which are not yet available to the public.

These glasses represent different approaches to achieving augmented reality, with Meta using a three-part system of glasses, a wireless computer puck, and a wrist strap for input.

The experience of using the Meta Orion glasses is described as surreal, with digital elements overlaying the real world, making it feel like something out of science fiction.

Innovative Tech: EMG Wristband and Smart Glasses

The smart glasses provide a multi-window experience with video calls and social media, using hand tracking and a unique EMG wristband for gesture control.

The wristband measures electrical signals from the brain to the fingers, offering 80% accuracy in mapping gestures to controls.

The glasses also feature AI integration and AR, providing real-time ingredient tracking and smoothie recipe suggestions.

Innovative Glasses for a Shared 3D Experience

The glasses offer a sci-fi-like experience with labels popping up over objects and enabling a shared 3D space for users.

The technology behind them includes custom-designed sensors, micro-LED projectors, and a unique frame material for optimal heat distribution.

With a battery life of two to three hours, the glasses provide a lightweight and comfortable fit while delivering impressive graphics and a 70-degree field of view.

Meta's augmented reality glasses are not being shipped for sale, with the company focusing on iterating the product for future versions.

The Snapchat AR Spectacles, on the other hand, have all the hardware integrated into the glasses, eliminating the need for a separate computer puck.

The two products differ in materials, build, and display, with the Spectacles using black plastic for weight-saving and offering a different resolution and field of view.

The Snapchat glasses have a higher resolution and sharper menus than the Meta glasses, but offer a smaller field of view (46 degrees vs.

The Snapchat glasses feature a unique electrochromic tint for improved readability and immersion, while also providing a developer kit for app creation.

The Meta glasses, on the other hand, feel more like a high-end tech demo and are not intended for retail.

Snap's AR Glasses: Early Impact and Future Potential

Snap's AR glasses are now available, offering a range of apps and shared space experiences without the need for QR codes.

The glasses' unique mapping feature allows users to see and manipulate the same 3D objects in real time.

While the technology is still developing, the potential use cases for AR glasses, such as learning instruments and enhancing airplane views, are exciting for the future.