Jibang Consulting: Meta unveils its first AR glasses prototype Orion, with the AR device market expected to reach 25.5 million units by 2030

According to the information from Wise Finance APP, TrendForce estimates that Meta (META.US) consumer version AR glasses are expected to be launched after 2027. However, with the promotion by brand manufacturers, application development will quickly follow suit. It is expected that between 2026 and 2027, mass-produced devices with more mature designs and costs closer to what consumers can afford will be introduced. At that time, head-mounted displays will truly enter a period of explosive growth. Based on TrendForce's estimation in the 2024 report on near-eye display market trends and technological analysis, the AR device market is expected to reach 25.5 million units by 2030, with LEDoS technology accounting for 44% and becoming the mainstream in the market.

At the Meta Connect 2024 conference, Meta publicly unveiled the full-color AR glasses prototype Orion, which adopts LEDoS (Silicon-based Micro LED) technology and weighs only 98 grams. According to TrendForce's latest research, 2024 will be a crucial turning point for these important brands to enter the metaverse near-eye display devices. However, Meta's AR glasses still need to find a new balance between field of view and resolution, as well as a more mature application ecosystem. It is estimated that it may not enter the consumer market until after 2027.

Meta Connect 2024 released its first AR glasses Orion, equipped with various sensors. TrendForce's analysis indicates that the optical design uses diffractive waveguides made of silicon carbide material, combined with JBD's three-piece full-color LEDoS technology, achieving a field of view (FOV) of up to 70 degrees.

As Meta's first AR product for consumers, the Orion prototype is mainly provided to developers and experiencers with no mass production plans yet. From the perspective of large-scale production, TrendForce believes that this AR glasses still face several challenges. For example, the high cost of LEDoS micro display panels, resolution limitations brought by the silicon carbide waveguide material used, which is commonly used in military radar and sensor fields and subject to related export restrictions, further raising the production cost of AR glasses to nearly $10,000 per pair. In addition, the product's battery life is only two hours, leaving room for optimization.

TrendForce points out that AR devices, with their lightweight and miniaturization, are seen as the ideal carrier for AI. The characteristics of LEDoS light source can meet the high brightness, small size, and low power consumption requirements of AR devices, making it an important technological reserve for AR devices. If the LEDoS full-colorization solution can be achieved through vertical stacking or color conversion schemes, it is expected to become the best technical solution for future AR glasses.

In the near-eye display terminal application market, the VR/MR device Apple Vision Pro released in early 2024 has not met market expectations due to its high price. Meta's Orion AR glasses are currently only targeting developers. To transition to the consumer market, Meta not only needs to find a new balance between field of view and resolution but also establish a more mature supporting application ecosystem. TrendForce estimates that Meta's consumer version AR glasses are expected to be launched after 2027 However, with the promotion by brand manufacturers, application development will quickly catch up. It is expected that between 2026 and 2027, mass-produced devices with more mature designs and costs closer to what consumers can afford will be launched. At that time, head-mounted displays will truly enter a period of explosive growth. According to TrendForce's 2024 report on the trends and technological analysis of the near-eye display market, it is estimated that by 2030, the AR device market is expected to reach 25.5 million units, with LEDoS technology accounting for 44%, becoming the market mainstream.