I don’t think the vision itself it’s a technical mistake, they have the money, they made meaningful progress. I think they’ll continue to support it, just there’s not enough new technology the warrant anything “next”, and famously No Moores Law In Optics
The thermodynamics of the processing isn’t getting much better, while the AI workloads ARE getting much bigger. Denser batteries are mooted but not available. They have “maxed out” around here, so they have to stop. Meanwhile there’s just not market (really) for the one they have built. They can remain committed to the concept longer than the market can stay rational.
I think these things will eventually happen, but Meta accidentally stumbled on the likely direction of travel with the Ray Ban things. People who try the FRAME I bought, hacky and slow though it is, immediately “sense” the utility. People get tired of wow from heavy headsets. There’s just not quite enough “there there”.
The good
Generally agreed to be the best technical attempt at a commercial headset
Exceptional space awareness.
The bad
Price: $3,500 is very expensive, especially for a Gen 1 product.
App Store Restrictions: Not available outside the US without an American Apple ID.
Heavy and Bulky: Takes up significant space, uncomfortable for long sessions.
Light Seal Design: Weak magnets, often feels like it’s going to break.
Battery Dependency: Requires the battery pack, no internal battery.
Limited USB-C Port: Only for charging, cannot connect to other devices.
Motion Blur: Using on a train or in motion causes blurriness and nausea.
Field of View: Feels like looking through binoculars, can feel tunnel-visioned.
Heat and Discomfort: Gets heavy and uncomfortable over time, especially for workouts.