A pair of AR glasses from Meta could beat Apple strictly in the launch date, but it too is having some fair share of problems with its development. Due to multiple setbacks, the unveiling may happen in 2027 from now, making it several years behind the Apple Vision Pro.

Meta’s supply chain has been unable to deliver quality displays for the AR glasses, causing a delay in the launch

Unlike the Apple Vision Pro, which features two 4K microLED screens for the ultimate immersion experience, Meta ran into problems with its display supplier Plessey, according to The Information. Apparently, Plessey failed to make its own microLED panels bright enough for Meta’s AR glasses, forcing the latter to abandon this component entirely. Instead, the company is said to switch to LCos, or liquid crystal on silicon, which is already proven in the market and costs significantly less than microLED.

Unfortunately, the brightness details of LCos were not shared in the report, hinting that while the AR glasses could be cheaper now that it has been rumored to drop microLED technology, but the lowered resolution could degrade the immersion experience compared to the Apple Vision Pro. This could reduce the edge that future AR glasses will have over the competition, but it is not surprising to hear about such setbacks.

Apple, too is no stranger to these roadblocks, and even though the technology giant successfully unveiled the $3,499 Vision Pro, the company’s first AR headset is not expected to officially launch until early 2024, and that too in limited locations. On the subject of AR glasses, Apple has suffered immensely in this area, with the pair at least four years awayas currently, the technology has not advanced to a stage where a pair of smart glasses can remain energy efficient and lightweight at the same time.

Several Chinese manufacturers have attempted to develop their own version of smart glasses, but press images show that their exterior is severely bulky, which might become uncomfortable for wearers after prolonged use. As for Meta’s version, there is no other information related to the hardware or any other technology used, so we will relay any updates we can, to our readers, in the future.

News Source: The Information