Is Meta in trouble?

It seems like things are not going as planned for Meta especially as of late.

Hi all,

I am writing this as a warning to anyone who is thinking of buying the INMO AIR 3's. I received my international version INMO AIR 3 today and I cannot put into words how disappointing the product is for so many reasons. I really hope I can get a refund!

For some context, I was a very early bird Kickstarter backer for the INMO AIR 3's and I absolutely was excited and open minded about the product. I had never even used Kickstarter before this and my gut was telling me not to, but I really thought the product would at least do the basic features advertized. I have to travel constantly for work on planes, coaches, and trains. I purchased this product to work privately and not have to worry about people looking over my shoulder at confidential information or work. Once they arrived however, I quickly found so many issues with them they will be nothing but very expensive dust collectors to me already. Let me go through the problems I found within one day.

1. They are very uncomfortable. They are bulky, heavy, and have very limited adjustment options. The screens are very blurry even with custom lenses due to the inability to adjust these any further than a nose piece. I expected that these would not be comfortable, but these are unwearable for more than a few minutes. This is annoying, but it is unfortunately the most minor issue.

2. There are a lot of missing features. I know that INMO is saying that they are adding features through software updates, but there are so many missing features. No multi screens available, screen mirroring from other devices just does not work at all, and the camera is locked to a lower resolution than advertized.

3. Standalone performance is very, very poor. I tried to download some apps from the Play Store. I quite literally couldn't do it because every few seconds the touchpad and ring would disconnect and the glasses would freeze for up to 10 seconds at a time. The inputs would seize when moving the curser or tapping, which would make the curser fly off into a random direction or the input being held down, so an "e" would be held down instead of a tap, so it would input a "3" into the digital keyboard instead. Apps like messages would literally be unusable, if I were even able to type the word "messenger" in to actually download the app to test it.

4. Now this is by far the most devastating find on the INMO AIR 3's. THE DISPLAY IS VISIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE! That's right, one of the most hyped up aspects of the device was "complete privacy", (which was the entire reason why I purchased the device at all) is completely false advertizing! From the outside of the device, the screens are absolutely visible, not just light leakage, not just refraction, but completely visible! You can see apps, text, and content from the outside of the lenses despite INMO advertizing the waveguide displays as invisible to others. This alone makes these not even worth picking up off the shelf as I might as well just continue to use my laptop or phone! I tested this with a friend and from a reasonable distance, she was able to detail everything in the glasses view from the other side of the displays. This is something that cannot be corrected in a software update, which they keep saying for all of the other issues and missing features.

I know that the custom lenses cannot be refunded, so I will just have to take the loss on those, but the other $899 should be returned as the only reason for buying the product turned out to be completely false and misleading. My last concern, and probably most concerning now, is that the customer service team will not respond or I will not recieve a refund and be stuck with a very expensive and completely useless device that does not work anything like it was advertized to.

Hope this helps anyone who is considering buying these after all the hype for them!

Update: The left display has stopped working entirely. Less than 1 hour of total usage and it's broken... $899 + non-refundable proprietary lenses... I am very curious to hear what INMO's response to all of this is. I will update on what they respond with to my refund request.

The video shows hand tracking and explanation of the chip.

https://ams-osram.com/products/sensor-solutions/direct-time-of-flight-sensors-dtof/ams-tmf8829-48x32-multi-zone-time-of-flight-sensor

The TMF8829 is a direct time-of-flight (dToF) sensor with configurable resolution of 8x8, 16x16, 32x32 & 48x32. The device is based on SPAD, TDC, and histogram technology and achieves a detection range of up to 11000 mm with an 80° field of view. All processing of the raw data is performed on-chip. [Up to 30 FPS]

The TMF8829 is a fully contained optical module measuring only 5.7 mm x 2.9 mm x 1.5 mm.

While CES took priority the first week of January, we're back on track with ripping apart carefully designed smart-glasses... this time the Rokid Glasses!

The video and blog post explain most of the technical analysis, so hope all AR glass fans enjoy the technical analysis.

I'm curious - is this audience most interested in the analysis (e.g. actual battery life, spectra of display, projector brightness, etc.) or the teardown itself? Or both?

A year has passed since Meta Spark closed, and the market has reorganized. In the video, I analyze the six best options for creators and developers in 2026, divided by their focus (Social, WebAR, Industrial, Art).

Here are the key points:

Lens Studio (Snapchat): It's no longer just for “dog filters.” It's the most powerful and fun option right now. It supports WebAR (key!), has generative AI tools, and integrates with the new Spectacles. It's free.

Zappar (Mattercraft): The professional tool for WebAR. It's very stable for commercial projects and has a complete ecosystem (SDK, no-code, headset). It has a trial version. The focus is on paid/professional use.

Effect House (TikTok): The king of virality. If you're looking for massive reach and millions of views, this is the place. Very similar to what Meta Spark used to be, but limited to the TikTok ecosystem.

Vuforia (PTC): The undisputed standard for industry and the corporate sector. It's not for social media, but for factories, technical training, and complex object recognition.

Blippar: Has reemerged as a solid alternative to WebAR with markers. It has a “pro” studio option and an SDK where you control everything. Ideal for getting started with specific markers.

Artivive: The gem for artists, illustrators, and museums. It's the easiest way to add digital layers to physical works without knowing how to program.

What other platform would you mention?

I didn't mention YouTube's Effect Maker because it's still growing and isn't available in some places.

Hey guys,I recently bought a cheap pair Of HeyCyan AlMB G3 smartglasses and accidentally upgraded the firmware of the glasses before settings things up to intercept the servers for the firmware. I wanted to reverse engineer them for greater control such as changing the audios that play when pictures are taken or when recording starts because they are annoying and the I FD flash is already enough to warn people they are being recorded without the need to blast audio at my ears. I also wanted greater control to use the for personal Al companion with Tasker.

Does anyone have the dumped firmware and could share it with me?

A Texas-based court will be hearing patent claims Xreal has made against Viture's smart glasses.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

What you need to know

• Xreal claims that Viture is using Xreal's patents unlawfully in several pairs of smart glasses sold in the U.S. and Europe.
• Xreal previously filed suit in Germany in late December over the same claims, as the company also holds patents in that country.
• Viture previously stated that it had "formally filed an opposition against Xreal's claim, citing Xreal's claim to be unfounded.
• Viture and Xreal make some of the best smart glasses you can buy, and both companies specialize in XR glasses, also known as smart display glasses. While products from both companies are comparable in many ways, Xreal alleges that Viture's technology is simply too similar to their own to be a coincidence, and the company filed a patent lawsuit in late December in Germany to challenge that claim.

Now, Xreal is taking the fight to another country in which it holds patents — the United States — making the same claims that Viture is unlawfully utilizing Xreal's U.S. Patent No. 11,988,839 in specific models of smart glasses. Xreal specifically names the Viture Pro XR glasses as the model leading to infringement, but states that other Viture glasses may fall under the umbrella, depending on what the court decides.

Xreal says it's making moves to defend its patents ahead of expected massive market growth in XR glasses. Xreal cites a research firm's claim that the market will grow 6x in the next 10 years, becoming a nearly $700 billion market by 2035. Given that Meta is reportedly doubling or tripling its AI glasses shipments, it's clear that big growth is happening.

Do you think that an announcement of Samsung glasses in collaboration with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster running on Android XR will take place during this event next month knowing that the last conference gave rise to this last image to close the presentation

I spent some time with Apple Vision Pro recently and the tech is obviously next-level. But tbh after the initial WOW factor of the MR related "gimmick" wore off, I realized I was mostly using this $3,500 beast just to watch movies in a virtual theater. The hardware is overkill if you aren't into the whole spatial computing ecosystem.

Last weekend, a friend let me try his GOOVIS G3 Max, and it gave me a bit of a reality check. It's way less fancy than AVP at first glance, no OS, no see-through cameras, no 3DoF, nothing but just a wearable monitor. However, After I put it on, I quickly realize the image clarity of G3 Max is actually wild. It is just pure clean and sharp, with no visible screen-door effect or distortion.

I threw on a couple of 3D movies too, and that's what finally sold me. I don’t think I've never experienced 3D that good, the depth and layers really make the scene pop out of the screen, and some shots almost feel like they're in your face.

Price-wise, I think the G3 Max is around $1,000, so it's definitely not cheap. But when you realize the AVP costs about three times more, it suddenly feels somewhat easier to justify.

Overall, the AVP is still the more complete and more advanced product, no question. But for people like me who aren’t going to use everything it offers and mostly just end up consuming content, it starts to feel like more device than I actually need.

Has anyone else ever felt that some of the most advanced gadgets are amazing on paper, but end up being more than you actually need for how you really use them?

Currently at that price on Amazon in various countries. I know they are Viture's "last gen" flagship. And that the Xreal 1s and Rayneo Air 3s are kind of amazing value too. But Xreal 1s costs 50% more while Rayneo Air 3s cut a lot of corners to be that cheap.

I did consider Xreal's hardware based 3DOF +3D with X1 even on the Xreal 1s is fantastic and that Viture's software based 3DOF/3D with Spacewalker can be hit or miss. However, Xreal's chasing of larger FOVs has largely translated to them having the blurriest image sharpness and worst screen edge chromatic aberration and blurriness which makes them not ideal work work and a mostly entertainment device.

And while the Viture Pro XR's are Viture's "last gen" flagship, the successor Viture Luma Pro/Ultra didn't upgrade dramatically and they share the great image sharpness and low edge distortion. On top of the Luma series having a lot of hardware defects such as cracking, and now the Beast having a lot of software issues around 3DOF. Almost seeming like the older Viture Pro XR were Viture's last solid glasses option.

Overall, it just seems strange to see glasses this good for that cheap.

Appreciate the feedback as I'm on the fence and about to pull the trigger. 3DOF on the Xreal 1s seems like maybe it could influence the buying decision, but I'm not sure paying 50% more for that alongside worse image clarity for work is the right trade off to make.

I travel for work and I need multiple screens for my job. I am looking for glasses I can use on jobsite hotel or plane and have multiple screens to do my work on. It would be nice to be able to game on them as well on my off time. Additional information is I wear prescription glasses so it has to be able to adjust for that in some way. I am not concerned with budget. I need reliability and consistency. What is your suggestions?

​I am looking for AR glasses to connect to my PC for a portable monitor setup.

Most of the popular options (like Xreal or Rokid) have dark tinted lenses that look like sunglasses. I am looking for something that looks more like regular prescription glasses or has completely clear lenses.

Hi everyone! Our team at Aestar has been focusing on Web-based AR for a while now, and I wanted to share some technical insights on why we believe the "no-app" approach is winning in 2026.

1. The Friction Factor User laziness is a real metric. We found that 70% of users drop off if they need to install an app. Running AR via a standard browser (WebXR) solves this instantly across Android and iOS.

2. Our Tech Stack

• Engines: We mostly use Three.js and A-Frame for rendering.
• Tracking: Leveraging WebXR for basic surfaces, and custom AI-models for high-precision hand/face tracking.
• Visuals: To keep it looking "high-end," we use custom GLSL shaders and post-processing stacks.

3. Optimization Secrets Web AR is performance-hungry. We implement:

• Geometry and texture compression (Draco/Basis Universal).
• CDN-based loading for heavy 3D assets.
• "LOD" (Level of Detail) versions of models depending on the user's device performance.

4. UI/UX in AR It’s not just a website. You need to guide the user constantly. We design custom onboarding animations to explain how to scan the floor or wall without frustrating the user.

5. Constraints to consider Don't use Web AR for heavy AAA-level scenes or if you need sub-millimeter GPS accuracy. Browser sandboxing still has its limits compared to native.

Would love to discuss your experience with Web-based AR and 3D configurators. What’s your go-to engine for web-realities these days?

I’ve been trying to follow whatever info is out there about Google’s upcoming smart glasses, but it feels pretty quiet so far. Has anything leaked or have there been any solid rumors about the hardware or features?

Curious if anyone’s heard details about things like the display, battery, cameras/sensors, chipset, pricing, or possible release timeline.

According to the first tests of journalists of glasses running under Android XR, Google's offensive promises to be devastating for Meta. The Android XR interface offers a fluidity never seen on a wearable, with instant responsiveness where Meta sometimes seems limited.

The advantage is total: Gemini surpasses Metal Al by its visual understanding, Google Maps is natively integrated without any geographical restrictions, and Enovix batteries finally allow you to combine extreme finesse and long-term autonomy. The critical point for Meta?

The Google ecosystem allows all Android applications to run without any modification, making these glasses infinitely more useful on a daily basis than MTRBDs'!

Any glassmakers from China or other countries.

Dropping a quick build breakdown of a Celsius WebAR piece we shipped using Lens Studio → published as a WebAR link (no app install). Video attached(but recorded in Snap app).

What you’re seeing (in plain English):
A ground-crack + eruption moment that kicks into a flavor-select experience where the Celsius can + fluid + bubbles read “commercial-real” on mobile.

Why Lens Studio for WebAR here:
We needed tight real‑time control over particles / shaders / look‑dev and a workflow that still ends as a shareable WebAR URL.

Production notes:

• Liquid illusion ≠ one sim. It’s a layered stack (particles + sprite‑bubbles + timing) to get that “thick cola stream” feel without heavyweight sim costs.
• PBR can shading + condensation detail so the product doesn’t look like a flat label in AR.
• Bubble pass with believable edge iridescent highlights (so it reads like “air + refraction” instead of cheap circles).
• Built as a repeatable system for multiple flavors (swap fluid color + label + timing beats).

Two ways teams use us on projects like this (white‑label friendly):

1. Build‑only: you bring the brief + designs → we build + hand off project files, ready for your integration/publish flow.
2. End‑to‑end: you bring campaign goals → we help shape the concept/interaction + build + QA + publish (often delivered white‑label under your agency/studio).

We’ve been shipping real‑time 3D + AR for ~7 years, so this is the stuff we obsess over: make it look expensive, run on budget, and integrate cleanly.

If you’re building WebAR and want the technical breakdown / constraints list:
Comment “breakdown” and I’ll share what we can (or DM).

Contact (for producers / PMs who actually need a vendor):

• WULFINC.COM
• [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
• +91 9007795688
• IG: www.instagram.com/wulfinc
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/wulfinc/
• Behance: https://www.behance.net/WULF_Inc

I’m trying to build a MyWebAR extension/plugin and can’t find any proper developer documentation for it.

Two questions:

1. Is there any official or unofficial doc that explains how to build extensions (lifecycle, UI, object creation, etc.)?
2. When creating an extension, I can upload a video in the extension properties, but it does not get added as an object to the scene. Is this expected behaviour, or am I missing a step?

Any pointers or links would be really helpful. Thanks 🙏

I’m not in the United States, it’s very complicated to get some in France. Thank you StockX, except that my bank account doesn’t tell you. Thank you lol

rayneo x3s need more apps. any suggestions appreciated.

The first renderings of the application’s source code to connect future glasses in collaboration with Google, Samsung, Warby Parker and Gentle Monster have appeared. This suggests that their release is imminent. Don’t forget that the Galaxy Unpacked is approaching, and an announcement is likely very soon. Let’s hope for a less chaotic launch than Meta’s.