Meta’s unveiling of the Orion AR glasses at Meta Connect 2024 marks a major step in augmented reality (AR) technology, yet the company faces challenges on the path to commercial adoption.
Meta is yet to reveal its launch plans. It says shipment will be in the near future. Meta’s development team will take feedback from Meta employees and select external customers, who will be using Orion AR glasses, in order to make the product for commercial use.
Despite utilizing advanced LEDoS (silicon-based Micro LED) technology and weighing just 98 grams, several obstacles must be addressed before the product can be consumer-ready, TrendForce’s recent analysis indicates.
One of the key technical challenges lies in balancing field of view (FOV) and resolution. Orion’s 70-degree FOV, achieved through the combination of a diffraction-type waveguide and JBD’s full-color LEDoS panels, is impressive but still limited by resolution constraints.
The use of silicon carbide (SiC) in the waveguides, a material with applications in military radars and sensors, is subject to export limitations. This regulatory hurdle is expected to push up production costs, potentially driving the price of each unit to nearly $10,000. Battery life, another crucial factor, is also limited to just two hours, necessitating further improvements.
Another significant hurdle is the lack of a robust application ecosystem, essential for mainstream consumer adoption. Meta’s focus with Orion is currently on developers and testers, with no mass production plans in place, signaling that the company is not yet ready to release a consumer version. Without a comprehensive set of apps and services, the glasses may struggle to find a foothold in the broader market.
Production cost is another major barrier. The LEDoS micro-display panels, critical to Orion’s design, are expensive, and large-scale manufacturing remains challenging. These steep production costs and the technical limitations of SiC waveguides will make it difficult to achieve a price point acceptable to a wide consumer base.
Despite these challenges, TrendForce predicts that the AR market will see significant growth, with AR device shipments expected to reach 25.5 million units by 2030. LEDoS technology is anticipated to capture 44 percent of the near-eye display market, as advancements in miniaturization and color conversion hold promise for the future of AR. However, Meta’s consumer-oriented AR glasses may not debut until after 2027, giving the company time to overcome the technical and economic barriers currently limiting the Orion AR glasses.
As the industry moves toward greater integration of AI and AR, Meta will need to accelerate the development of its AR ecosystem and make technological advancements if it hopes to compete in the burgeoning AR market.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
