Meta's AR glasses represent my vision for the future of Apple Vision.

Meta hosted a special event on Wednesday, unveiling updates for its platforms and introducing some new products. Among the announcements, one stood out the most: the Orion project. While Orion isn’t a product ready for store shelves yet, it’s a working prototype that showcases Meta’s vision for augmented reality (AR) glasses. These glasses align closely with the future I envision for Apple Vision.

Leaving aside Meta's business practices, the focus here is purely on the technology they revealed. AR glasses aren’t new—remember Google Glass from about a decade ago? However, AR and VR have evolved significantly since then. Meta's acquisition of Oculus led to the development of its own mixed reality headsets, and Apple introduced Vision Pro last year with impressive technology. Despite this, none of these devices have achieved widespread popularity.

Meanwhile, one category that continues to grow in appeal is smart glasses. After trying the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, they’ve become one of my go-to accessories due to their stylish design, built-in camera, and AI assistant. For me, smart glasses are akin to the Apple Watch—seamless, unobtrusive technology that integrates into my daily life. Unlike the more advanced but bulkier mixed reality headsets like Vision Pro, smart glasses are discreet, comfortable, and suitable for outdoor use.

While Apple is reportedly developing its own smart glasses, their release seems years away. In the meantime, Meta has entered the smart glasses race, and their Orion prototype is impressive.

What’s notable about Meta’s Orion glasses is their appearance—they look like regular eyewear. While a bit bulkier than Ray-Bans, they don’t feel like cumbersome headgear. Instead of using displays and passthrough cameras, Orion glasses feature Micro LED projectors within the frames that reflect images onto the lenses, allowing you to see the real world directly. This creates a more natural viewing experience compared to traditional mixed reality headsets, which often feel like looking through a digital filter.

Orion also includes multiple cameras and sensors, enabling the glasses to recognize and interact with the surrounding environment. This allows users to place virtual windows and objects around them, much like Apple’s Vision Pro, creating the sensation of interacting with holograms in the real world.