Metas big Connect showcaseis slated for Wednesday, September 25.
CEO Mark Zuckerbergs favored Horizon Labs division hasregularly burned through billions of dollarsdeveloping upcoming mixed reality hardware.
Connect will be full of new AI enhancements and their connection to Metas hardware slate.
The rumored Meta Quest 3S may have less passthrough capabilities as the Meta Quest 3, but cost less. New glasses, however, may still look like Ray Bans.© Photo: Meta
The big question is whether well see any third party headsets sporting Horizon OS make a debut as well.
Whats Next for Metas AR/VR Hardware Slate?
On September 17, Ray-Bans owner EssilorLuxotticadeclaredthey would continue their partnership shipping branded smart glasses.
Either way, Meta will probably be keen to talk up itsAI chatbot integrationsinto Ray-Bans and Orion.
The other big hardware announcement will likely be a Meta Quest 3S.
The lite headset brieflyappeared in the Quest Storebefore being taken offline.
This 3S headset may be a few hundred bucks cheaper than the $500 Quest 3.
The tradeoff is Meta could potentially limit its passthrough capabilities.
A person on Reddit posted supposed ad for the Quest 3S.
It includes a new look with twin external sensors and a supposed starting price of $300.
Earlier this year, Metaopened up its Android-based Horizon OSfor separate OEMs to headsets.
According to Zuckerberg, Asus and Lenovo are supposedly crafting their own headsets.
Meta ishedging on a more open ecosystemto draw more people into VR.
Compare that to Apples walled garden with its Vision headsets.
The newcomer to the spatial market is reportedly planning to release acheaper headset by 2026.
What About AI at Meta Connect 2024?
Metas social media projectscontinueto take heatfor theirconsistent rolein the fraught U.S. election.
The idea behind this is for influencers to create chatbots to talk to fans for them.
Its a surreal and dystopic vision of social media, to be sure.
Meta will (hopefully) reveal exact timing for the event by next week.
Update 09/20/24 at 1:47 p.m.
ET: This post was updated to include a rumored leaked trailer featuring the Quest 3S.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
Meta Pissed Off Everyone With Poorly Redacted Docs
Meta is being very transparent on accident.
Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey, too.
