Despite lacking a marquee high-end product for the holiday season, Meta Connect 2024 introduced a new budget VR headset and teased the long-anticipated “magic glasses” that Meta’s XR experts have been discussing for years. The company also showcased new AI tools for its Ray-Ban glasses and social platforms. The Orion AR glasses, equipped with tiny projectors and various sensors for immersive experiences, display holograms onto the lenses and represent a step towards AR glasses resembling prescription eyewear. Although these glasses won’t be available this year, Meta assures consumers that they are closer to a consumer-ready product than previous AR devices. The Meta Quest 3S, a more budget-friendly VR headset, offers a lower resolution and storage capacity than the Quest 3, but boasts longer battery life and is available for pre-order starting October 15. To replace older models like the Quest 2 and Quest Pro, Meta is discontinuing those and focusing on the Quest 3S as the new budget model. The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are receiving updated AI features, allowing for better voice commands, live translations, and the ability to set reminders based on objects seen. Meta’s AI is expanding to support voice chats and photo editing, alongside partnerships with celebrities like John Cena for chatbot responses. Overall, Meta continues to innovate and push forward with new technology and features showcased at Meta Connect 2024.
