Tags: AR

Apple has reportedly deprioritized work on a cheaper version of its Vision Pro headset, redirecting resources toward AI‑enabled smart glasses. The move, revealed in a Bloomberg report citing internal sources, signals a strategic pivot as the company seeks to compete in a market where lighter, more affordable wearables are gaining traction. Analysts comment that Apple’s Vision Pro has struggled with price, bulk, and limited use cases, prompting the shift toward a Meta‑style smart‑glass design slated for 2027 and a higher‑resolution lens model for 2028. The decision reflects both financial pressures and a desire to stay relevant in the evolving AR space. Read more

Rokid’s smartglasses provide a lower‑cost, binocular AR experience that rivals Meta’s Ray‑Ban Displays. Featuring dual microLED waveguides, a green‑only display, 1,500‑nit brightness, and built‑in AI powered by a Qualcomm AR1 chip and ChatGPT, the glasses support notifications, voice memos, turn‑by‑turn directions, live translation, and real‑time captions. Weighing just 49 grams, they include a 12 MP camera, five microphones, and tiny speakers. Battery life delivers up to six hours of continuous music playback, and a magnetic USB‑C connector handles charging. Priced at $549 on Kickstarter with deliveries expected in November, the Rokid Glasses represent a compelling, lightweight entry into the wearable computing market. Read more

Meta has unveiled a Wearable Device Access Toolkit that will let developers tap the vision and audio capabilities of its upcoming AI‑powered smart glasses. The toolkit, currently in preview, offers access to on‑device sensors and open‑ear audio, enabling new hands‑free experiences. Meta is opening a waitlist for early access, with a limited preview slated for later this year and broader publishing expected by 2026. Early partners such as Twitch and Disney’s Imagineering R&D team have already explored use cases, ranging from livestreaming to park‑visitor assistance. Read more

Meta unveiled a new Ray‑Ban branded smart glasses system featuring a built‑in display on the right lens and a wrist‑worn Neural Band that interprets subtle hand gestures. Announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg at Meta Connect, the product—called Meta Ray‑Ban Display—will be available for purchase within weeks and is positioned as a consumer‑ready step in Meta’s push to bring AI‑powered wearable technology to the market, complementing its existing VR lineup and aiming to broaden user interaction beyond smartphones. Read more

Meta Connect 2025 showcased a range of new products and services. The centerpiece was the Meta Ray‑Ban Display, adding a full‑color screen to the popular Ray‑Ban smart glasses, along with Gen 2 Ray‑Ban models featuring longer battery life and higher‑resolution video. Oakley introduced the Vanguard sports‑oriented glasses with enhanced speakers and fitness integrations. For Quest users, Meta unveiled Horizon TV, bringing Disney+ and future Dolby Vision support, while James Cameron presented an exclusive Avatar clip. The event also introduced Horizon Engine and Horizon Studio, new tools aimed at developers and creators. Read more

Meta unveiled its second‑generation Ray‑Ban smart glasses at the Connect conference. The new “Gen 2” model, priced at $379, adds a longer battery life of up to eight hours, a charging case that provides an additional 48 hours of power, and faster charging to 50 percent in 20 minutes. It features a 12‑megapixel camera capable of 3K Ultra HD video at up to 60 fps with HDR, 32 GB of storage, and an IPX‑4 water‑resistance rating. Available in the same three frame styles—Wayfarer, Skyler and Headliner—the glasses also support polarized, transition and prescription lenses. Meta highlighted new software features such as “conversation focus,” which improves voice clarity in noisy environments. Read more

Meta Connect 2025 is set to spotlight the company’s next wave of smart eyewear, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg and CTO Andrew Bosworth hinting at a new device codenamed Celeste. The rumored glasses would blend Ray‑Ban style frames with a single‑eye peripheral display for notifications and camera previews, and could carry a premium price tag. Meta may also tease an upgraded line of Ray‑Ban and Oakley smart glasses, while a potential smartwatch‑like controller remains uncertain. On the VR side, no new headset is expected, but rumors of a Quest Pro 2 with an external compute puck continue to circulate. Read more

Meta Connect 2025, the company’s annual AR, VR, AI and metaverse showcase, featured a lineup of announcements that highlighted the next generation of smart glasses, new AI capabilities, and future metaverse software. Mark Zuckerberg opened the event with a keynote, followed by developer sessions. The centerpiece, dubbed Hypernova, is the first consumer‑ready Meta glasses with a display, paired with a gesture‑control wristband. AI updates included broader language bots and hints about the delayed Llama 4 model, while Horizon Worlds received a preview of AI‑driven NPCs and third‑party VR headset collaborations. Read more

Google has hidden code in the latest Android app that enables an augmented‑reality overlay of Google Maps data within Gemini Live’s camera view. The feature can display place names, ratings and other map information directly on the screen when the phone points at a street or landmark, and even offers audio responses for specific queries. Android Authority has activated the prototype, describing it as a basic but functional preview. The addition builds on Gemini Live’s existing visual‑guidance tools and could extend to smart‑glass platforms, though a public rollout timeline remains unannounced. Read more

Meta’s Ray‑Ban smart glasses have sparked interest but are hampered by short battery life, limited prescription support and the lack of built‑in displays. Upcoming models such as Oakley‑branded glasses promise longer battery runs, while competitors like Rokid and Snap are experimenting with magnetic prescription inserts and display‑enabled lenses. Concerns over privacy, camera use and data collection remain prominent. Industry insiders suggest waiting for the upcoming Connect conference before committing to a purchase, as the next wave of AI‑powered smart glasses could address many of today’s shortcomings. Read more