Zuckerberg and Meta Envision a Future Without Phones with Orion, Their Mixed Reality Glasses

Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, didn't catch the smartphone wave but revolutionized social media with his bet on a university directory called Facebook. Years later, he amassed billions of users. Now, with his social platforms in decline, surrounded by accusations of fake news, misinformation, and strong competition (especially TikTok), the tech magnate doesn't want to miss the new waves or at least one. In his case, what the Meta leader has dubbed the metaverse.

Zuckerberg continues with his bet on other realities, despite having already squandered billions of dollars on his universe's bottom line. In 2016, during his visit to Barcelona at the Mobile World Congress, the Facebook founder presented a dystopian future by entering the halls of Fira de Barcelona with an auditorium equipped with virtual reality glasses. Ten years later, he has once again taken to a stage but this time 'riding' on augmented reality 'drawn' by Orion.

This brilliant constellation of the solar system is what aims to illuminate Meta's future. It has served as inspiration for the engineers at the Reality Labs division to create a prototype that they claim are "the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen," in Zuckerberg's own words. A device that mimics plastic-framed glasses that can currently be found in any optician's shop but hides its best-kept secret inside.

The system developed by the Reality Labs team allows projecting multiple virtual screens in front of someone, quickly responding to messages or video chatting with someone and playing games. "It won't be necessary to take out your mobile phone," Zuckerberg assured on the stage of Connect, Meta's annual conference at its headquarters in California (United States).

This new reality is possible through tiny projectors installed in the arms of the glasses that emit waves onto silicon carbide lenses that reflect light into users' eyes forming volumetric images. "In technology designed by Meta," the company advances, but which is already used by many startups and not-so-startups.

The system on which Orion 'builds' this other reality is similar to what Snapchat uses in its Snap Made AR Glasses or what Magic Leap promised in its videos with whales and cachalots in sports halls. Or it is also known by Google after buying North.

In Meta's case, the engineering team bets on neural control thanks to a wristband attached to the wrist, which was already presented three years ago. "They are incredible and are a glimpse of a future that I think will be exciting," Zuckerberg advanced. Although he calmed down those present in California. "There is still much to fine-tune."

It is still unknown how many Orions exist, at least one, which was used by the tech magnate on stage. No further details have been given for now. It is known that it will not be a short-term device for everyone since it will be intended for developers but they will have to wait to know its price. Although industry sources point out that it will have several zeros in its final sale price. A recent report indicates that the manufacturing cost per unit exceeded $10,000.

Meta did not enter the smartphone battle but seems to want to retire them as evidenced by Zuckerberg's phrase during the presentation: "No need to take out your phone." Now he puts his bet on mixed reality on the table in a market where major hardware manufacturers like Apple and Samsung have laid their cards on the table.

The Cupertino giant presented almost a year ago its mixed reality 'helmet', a different approach from Meta's that resembles more Snap's with glasses that allow seeing users' eyes at all times. "And we are working to make them smaller and lighter," it advanced. Meanwhile, Meta has achieved an unexpected provisional success on its way to augmented reality with its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses equipped with a camera.