Meta’s ambitious Orion AR glasses prototype currently has a jaw-dropping price tag—around $10,000 each. The priciest component driving this cost is their custom silicon carbide waveguide lenses. However, Meta is optimistic about finding ways to significantly cut down these costs in the future.
Silicon carbide isn’t new on the scene; it’s been instrumental as a high-power chip substrate because of its superior power efficiency and cooler operation compared to traditional silicon. Nevertheless, producing silicon carbide poses significant challenges due to its unique material properties, complex crystal growth, and intricate fabrication processes.
Interestingly, the expansion of electric vehicles is helping to drive down the cost of silicon carbide. However, the material isn’t yet as affordable as its silicon counterparts. Quantum computing might also explore its potential, although this involves hurdles distinct from Meta’s ambitions with this next-gen material.
For Meta, it’s not just about silicon carbide’s power efficiency and thermal benefits. The material boasts a high refractive index, ideal for creating crisp, expansive field-of-view waveguides perfect for AR glasses. Take Orion, for example, which offers an impressive 70-degree FOV. Few have experienced these glasses, but they describe the difference between traditional glass waveguides and silicon carbide versions as truly transformative.
As the Optical Scientist Pasqual Rivera recounts, “With conventional glass-based waveguides, everything seemed scattered with distractions, almost like a disco-light effect. But slipping on the silicon carbide waveguides was a revelation, akin to experiencing a serene symphony. It shifted the focus wholly to the immersive AR experience we were crafting. It was nothing short of revolutionary.”
The automobile industry has been a major adopter of silicon carbide chips, aiding in lowering costs. Giuseppe Calafiore, who leads AR Waveguides at Reality Labs, observes that the increased availability of silicon carbide, spurred by EVs, is now pushing prices down due to a supply surplus.
Still, it’s important to highlight that EV-grade silicon carbide wafers aren’t up to par for optical use, given their focus on electrical efficiency over optical clarity. However, Barry Silverstein, Reality Labs’ Research Science Director, remains optimistic about future possibilities.
According to Silverstein, suppliers are thrilled about the prospects of crafting optical-grade silicon carbide. “Every waveguide lens requires significantly more material than an electronic chip, and this opens up substantial avenues using existing technology. Scaling up production is a dream for many, and larger wafers—shifting from four-inch to potentially 12-inch ones—could significantly reduce costs.”
Silverstein adds, “With the breadth of applications across electronics and photonics—and potential roles in quantum computing—we’re witnessing a major awakening. Costs look set to tumble, presenting immense potential upside.”
Historically, advancements in consumer industries have often trickled into XR headset development. Take the early 2010s, for instance, when affordable smartphone displays catalyzed consumer VR headsets. If you check out an Oculus Rift DK2 from 2014, inside you’ll find a straight-up Samsung Galaxy Note 3 panel.
Additionally, numerous other components, from IMUs to camera sensors and batteries, have been incorporated from smartphone technology over the years. However, replicating the success of EV-driven silicon carbide won’t be as simple for AR glasses.
At present, silicon carbide’s photonics-grade applications are in their infancy, representing a niche but promising area that’s expected to mature over several years. This is one primary reason why Meta hasn’t commercialized Orion yet. Nevertheless, Meta is strategically utilizing Orion as an “internal developer kit,” with plans to launch a consumer AR glasses line by 2030, with costs comparable to those of phones or laptops, as shared by CTO Andrew Bosworth.
The allure of consumer AR glasses is too potent to ignore, and companies like Meta, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Qualcomm are all racing to capture a slice of what could become the next big thing in mobile computing, potentially revolutionizing how we interact with technology by superseding smartphones.
