Meta's Orion AR glasses: "We start getting into the limits of physics"
Meta gives insights into the development of the Orion AR glasses and explains how the wireless pocket computer ensures that the headset remains slim and lightweight.
Meta has shared new details about its Orion AR glasses project, focusing particularly on why they needed to create a separate wireless pocket computer to make the headset work. The insights reveal just how challenging it is to pack advanced AR technology into a wearable form factor.
According to Meta's Director of Product Management Rahul Prasad, AR development is bumping up against fundamental physical constraints. "When you’re building something like this, you start getting into the limits of physics. For the last 50 years, Moore’s Law has made everything smaller, faster, and lower power," he explains. "The problem is that now you’re starting to hit limits on how much heat you can dissipate, how much battery you can compress, and how much antenna performance you can fit into a particular sized object."
Orion's Puck: From necklace to pocket computer
The pocket computer, nicknamed "Puck" internally, wasn't originally planned as a core component. "We knew the puck was an extra device we were asking people to carry," says Jared Van Cleave, Product Design Engineering Manager. "so we explored how to turn the bug into a feature."
A concept drawing shows the early idea of an omega-shaped neckband as the computing unit for Meta's AR headset. | Image: Meta
The strategy seems to have paid off. The Puck manages to pack substantial computing power and custom AI chips into a compact form factor. According to Prasad, it's what makes Orion's capabilities possible in such a slim glasses design.
The development process took years of iteration. What started as an omega-shaped collar physically wired to the glasses evolved once Meta's Reality Labs Wireless team figured out how to make the connection wireless. This breakthrough opened up new possibilities for a handheld or pocketable design.
While the team explored various potential uses for the Puck, including as a 6DOF controller for AR games or an anchor point for holographic calls, they ultimately kept it simple. The final design has no physical buttons and focuses solely on providing computing power and battery life for the glasses.
Orion: Not everyone's convinced
The AR industry hasn't universally embraced Meta's claims about Orion. Display expert Karl Guttag, who hasn't yet tested the device, remains skeptical. He suggests Meta might be concealing flaws in the prototype and points to potential issues with eye-glow effects, light transmission, and resolution.
Meta acknowledges there's more work to be done. The company says it's focusing on improving display quality, further reducing size, and making the technology more affordable. They're planning to launch a simplified consumer version of AR glasses in the coming years, likely still relying on the Puck approach to keep the glasses themselves slim and lightweight.
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