Meta Takes Another Swing at VR Glasses, This Time With IMAX on Board
Meta is renewing its long-running quest to make virtual reality a mainstream reality. At its Connect event on Wednesday, the company unveiled Meta VR Glasses, its newest entry into the VR market. This time, the pitch feels more compelling: a dramatically lighter form factor paired with a slate of new entertainment integrations โ including, allegedly, IMAX compatibility.
A Design That Actually Looks Like Glasses
According to Meta, the glasses are five times lighter than the Meta Quest 3, and they look far more like a normal pair of glasses than the bulky headsets the company has released before. Built from magnesium alloy, they run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon Reality Elite processor.
The glasses are powered by a separate computing puck that doubles as the battery. The idea is that users can simply slip the puck into a pocket, making the glasses genuinely usable on the go.
An Entertainment-First Display
The device is largely entertainment-focused. Micro-OLED panels are built directly into the lenses, delivering what Meta calls a 5K Infinite Display with 37 pixels per degree, along with Dolby Vision and support for Dolby Atmos audio. Users will be able to download and watch movies directly on the glasses.
The IMAX Angle
Perhaps the most intriguing feature is how Meta is positioning the glasses as a premium way to enjoy IMAX-captured films. The company calls them the "first IMAX Enhanced certified VR device ever." In practice, that means Meta claims its glasses will be one of the only ways to experience the expanded aspect ratio that defines the distinctive high-resolution IMAX viewing experience.
3D, Spatial Effects, and a Disney Partnership
The glasses also support 3D experiences โ including films that integrate a user's physical space into the viewing experience. Meta says it has teamed up with Disney, and that starting in November, Disney+ users will be able to stream select films โ including certain Marvel titles โ in 3D.
Beyond passive viewing, Meta says users will be able to watch specific movies while their surroundings are "transformed with immersive environments, dynamic effects, stunning 3D visuals, and spatial audio" โ essentially turning a film into something closer to a VR gaming experience.
Meta AI and Voice Control
The glasses will also ship with Meta AI, the company's virtual assistant, built in. That means users can talk to the glasses and automate various tasks by voice command. For example, Meta says you'll be able to start a movie just by asking. Hand gestures offer another way to issue commands.
Pricing and Availability
Meta says the glasses will be available next spring, with a starting price of $1,299.99.
via TechCrunch