Five years ago, a project to build augmented reality (AR) glasses was announced. The goal was to merge digital information with the physical world without compromising presence in either.
Today, Orion is being unveiled as what is claimed to be the most advanced AR glasses ever made. According to the company, Orion bridges physical and virtual realms, placing users at the center for better connectivity and empowerment.
The significance of AR glasses lies in three main areas: they provide digital experiences beyond smartphone screens with large holographic displays; they integrate contextual AI that understands surroundings to meet user needs proactively; and they are lightweight, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use while allowing visibility of facial expressions.
"That’s the north star our industry has been building towards: a product combining the convenience and immediacy of wearables with a large display, high-bandwidth input and contextualized AI in a form that people feel comfortable wearing in their daily lives."
Ray-Ban Meta glasses have shown how hands-free access can enhance digital interaction without needing a phone. However, true AR glasses have been an aspiration within the XR industry—Orion aims to fulfill this by combining large holographic displays with personalized AI assistance in an all-day wearable form.
Years of effort have gone into miniaturizing VR and MR headset technology into lightweight, stylish glasses. "Nailing the form factor, delivering holographic displays, developing compelling AR experiences, creating new human-computer interaction (HCI) paradigms – and doing it all in one cohesive product – is one of the most difficult challenges our industry has ever faced." Despite initial doubts about success rates, Orion's design features components reduced to fractions of millimeters through numerous innovations.
Orion boasts the largest field of view among AR glasses available today. This feature allows immersive uses such as multitasking windows and life-size holograms that blend seamlessly with physical surroundings. Additionally, Orion maintains traditional eyewear aesthetics with transparent lenses so users can still see others' eyes and expressions.
Augmented reality experiences enabled by Orion include smart assistant Meta AI which offers useful visualizations based on real-world context. Users can ask for recipes by looking inside their refrigerator or manage digital calendars during video calls—all hands-free through the glasses.
While not yet consumer-ready, Orion represents an advanced prototype focused on internal development before market release. "It’s one of the most polished product prototypes we’ve ever developed," emphasizing continuous improvement rather than immediate commercialization.
Starting today at Connect event and throughout this year, access to Orion will be extended to Meta employees and select external audiences for further development toward consumer products expected soon. The company aims to enhance display quality, reduce form factor size further, and scale production for affordability.
Future devices from this R&D initiative will continue evolving based on insights gained from prototypes like Orion. From Ray-Ban Meta glasses to Orion’s capabilities now showcased publicly—the potential benefits span increased presence in physical spaces while leveraging digital advantages simultaneously.
