or years, augmented reality glasses promised more than they could deliver. Now, with AI unlocking a new set of capabilities, Meta is changing its headsets to get in the game.
Meta recently unveiled its Meta VR Glasses, which package what its traditional Meta Quest headsets can do into a significantly more compact form factor, abandoning the massive head-mounted contraption for something that looks much more like glasses. Meta also unveiled more natural ways to engage with the headset using gestures, which were the biggest standout in my demo.
To navigate the experience, you can also use native eye tracking. While this isn't unique to this device, it works very well and intuitively. Additionally, you don't even need to keep your hands in the frame, so with eye and hand gestures (index tap and thumb swipe), you can move and navigate the virtual experience conveniently. The VR/AR experiences are rich with detail, which makes sense given Meta’s deep experience in the space. One of my favorite Quest experiences, courtside basketball viewing, was excellent on these smaller glasses, likely thanks to their 5K Micro-OLED Infinite Display, which delivers 37 pixels per degree.
Comfort is where I have my qualms. At 100 grams, the glasses are far lighter than the 515-gram Meta Quest 2, but they’re front-heavy enough that they feel like they could slip off. I suspect that’s because the arms are as slim as regular sunglasses, and I’d gladly trade that look for a more even weight distribution. Portability is my other concern. I’d ideally wear these whenever I want a bigger screen on the go, but the pocket-sized computing puck gets in the way. Don’t get me wrong, it’s remarkable that Meta packed this many capabilities into a sunglasses form factor, but I may just be spoiled by Snap Specs.
The Snap Specs are a true facial computer with no pucks or additional accessories, and they have impressive graphics, too. While they weigh a bit more (132 grams for the 47mm frame size and 136 grams for the 52mm frame size) the weight is well distributed onto the arms. That does make them more bulky, but as said above, I think it is worth it to forgo the puck. However, the trade-off is that the Snap device costs $2,195, compared to $1,299 for Meta's version. Between these glasses and competitors like XREAL Aura, one thing is for sure: the lighter, more portable era of XR/AR is here.
Our Deeper View
AI is reshaping the AR/VR space in three important ways. First, it makes portable multi-screen setups more portable than ever. And since many professionals and developers now run multiple agents at once and need visibility into what each one is doing, these XR/AR glasses can offer that on the go. Second, AI makes apps far easier to build, which should lead to more immersive, worthwhile experiences and applications developed for the headsets. Finally, AI works best with context about what you’re seeing, doing, and hearing. Nearly all of these glasses already pack a host of sensors to track you and place you in space, and that same data can give your AI assistant the context it needs to be genuinely useful.