Meta details lightweight VR Glasses with IMAX Enhanced certification
Meta has introduced Meta VR Glasses, a new virtual-reality device it says will be available next spring from $1,299.99. Announced at Connect, the glasses are positioned around entertainment and are claimed to be five times lighter than the Meta Quest 3.
The device departs from Meta's bulkier headset format with a glasses-like design made from magnesium alloy. Processing and battery capacity sit in a separate computing puck, allowing users to carry the unit in a pocket while using the glasses away from a fixed setup.
Premium display and cinema features
Meta VR Glasses use micro-OLED panels embedded in the lenses. Meta specifies a 5K Infinite Display with 37 pixels per degree, alongside Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support. Users will be able to download and watch films on the device.
Meta calls the product the first IMAX Enhanced-certified VR device. The company says the certification will enable viewers to experience the expanded aspect ratio associated with IMAX-captured films, a format intended to deliver a distinctive high-resolution viewing experience.
The company is also targeting 3D and mixed-reality-style film experiences. Meta says some content can incorporate a user's physical surroundings into viewing, transforming the space with immersive environments, dynamic effects, 3D visuals and spatial audio.
Disney+ content and voice control
Meta has partnered with Disney, and says Disney+ subscribers will be able to stream selected films in 3D from November, including certain Marvel titles. That media emphasis extends Meta's hardware portfolio beyond the more affordable smart-glasses line represented by Meta's affordable smart glasses launch, while placing a higher-priced device around immersive viewing.
Meta AI is built into the glasses and can accept voice requests for tasks such as starting a movie. Meta also says hand gestures can be used to issue commands, adding alternatives to conventional controllers for media navigation.
What businesses should assess
The announcement supplies specifications and a planned starting price, but Meta has not detailed broader enterprise workflows for the device. Teams considering immersive media, demonstrations or premium content delivery can assess the separate-puck design, display specifications, supported audio and video formats, and the availability of Disney+ 3D titles against their own audience and deployment requirements before planning an investment.