Meta is betting big on virtual reality. The company just announced the Meta VR Glasses, a pair of $1,300 glasses that can stream YouTube, ESPN, Peacock, and much more. They go on sale next spring.
The glasses are packed with content from across the entertainment and sports world. Prime Video, YouTube, Peacock, HBO Max, Paramount+, DIRECTV, AMC+, Crunchyroll, Plex, and Tubi are all confirmed to be available. The sports lineup is just as crowded: NBA, MLB, ESPN, NBC Sports, TNT Sports, and UFC.
Pivot Toward Wearables
Meta’s turn toward wearables started after a rough patch in the “metaverse.” Horizon Worlds was an expensive failure, and the company pulled back. Instead, it opened pop-up stores filled with Quest headsets, smart glasses, and other wearable tech. Last year, Meta broke ground on a flagship L.A. location.
The Design Partnership
The Meta VR Glasses borrow design cues from several major players. After partnering with Ray-Ban parent company EssilorLuxottica SA for its Orion line, Meta learned how to make sleek, stylish smart glasses. That aesthetic shows up in the new product.
The glasses also feature a detached “puck,” which lightens the weight of the glasses themselves.
The Price Question
At $1,300, the Meta VR Glasses are not cheap. But Meta hopes the deep content lineup justifies the cost. The glasses aim to compete with Apple’s Vision Pro line, and they offer a similar range of apps.
DIRECTV, ESPN, and the other sports channels are part of the package, which gives the glasses a broad appeal beyond pure entertainment.
The Entertainment Lineup
The entertainment apps on the Meta VR Glasses cover a wide range of tastes:
- Prime Video
- YouTube
- Peacock
- HBO Max
- Paramount+
- DIRECTV
- AMC+
- Crunchyroll
- Plex
- Tubi
The Sports Channels
The sports lineup is just as extensive:
- NBA
- MLB
- ESPN
- NBC Sports
- TNT Sports
- UFC
That is a lot of content for one pair of glasses.
The Pop-Up Push
Meta’s push into wearables has not been quiet. The company opened pop-up stores filled with Quest headsets, smart glasses, and other wearable tech. Last year, Meta broke ground on a flagship L.A. location.
The Free Video Game Problem
Roblox is the primary vehicle through which consumers experience the metaverse, whether they realize it or not. For now, the Meta VR Glasses are a $1,300 gadget that mostly streams other companies’ video.
The Long-Term Bet
Meta has partnered with James Cameron, and that deal could supply the original content the company needs. In theory, it could build substantial hype and demand for the wearables line. But that is a long-term bet.
For now, consumers can get an early look at the Meta VR Glasses. The company says the product represents a long-term investment in wearable products.
The Bottom Line
The Meta VR Glasses are a real product with a real price tag. They are a long-term investment in wearable products when they arrive next spring.
The question is whether consumers want a $1,300 streaming device when a free video game is already the main way people experience the metaverse.
See the video the story is built around at Tubefilter.
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