I came across an article discussing how Meta has invested over $100 billion into virtual and augmented reality, along with smart glasses. I’m curious about the comparison made to Apple’s investments, specifically the claim that they’ve spent $20 billion to $30 billion on the Vision Pro headset. Isn’t it likely that Apple’s total investments in AR/VR are much higher? It feels off to compare such a small part of Apple’s spending to Meta Reality Labs.
Apple’s investments can be integrated into other technologies like Spatial Audio, Camera, and Apple Silicon CPU. This means the R&D costs specifically for Vision Pro might not be as high as they seem. Apple is actually monetizing results from Vision Pro development even before its release, while Meta seems to be just burning cash.
That makes sense. Apple’s ability to leverage immersive technologies gives them an edge. To truly compare R&D spending, we should look at what Meta Reality Labs is doing and find similar projects in other companies. Meta’s R&D includes things like the Portal smart display as well. It’s not straightforward to compare everything.
Do you think we might be closer to mass adoption of consumer smart glasses if Magic Leap had accepted Meta’s $2 billion offer back in 2014?
I’m unsure where Meta fits in when comparing Apple’s iOS to Google’s Android for future smart glasses. The operating system and apps are crucial, especially if they’re connected to a phone.
Meta could collaborate with ASUS to create a phone that pairs well with their glasses and lightweight headsets.
Android for smart glasses seems more like a concept, while Meta has a full reality OS at this stage.
Do they have that functionality on the Ray-Ban glasses, though?
They have it on the Orion glasses. We’ll see what features are included in the Ray-Bans come September.
Would you buy a phone running Meta Reality OS? Should it be compatible with both Apple iOS and Android?
That’s a good question. Nowadays, I mostly use WhatsApp, Instagram, and my web browser. I might not need full compatibility if it has all the essentials.
If smart glasses become the next smartphone, then Meta’s investment will have been worth it.