Meta Cuts VR Staff to Double Down on Wearables as Snap's Collapsed Perplexity Deal Reshapes AR Industry Bets

techtimes.com May 15, 2026

Meta Cuts VR Staff to Double Down on Wearables as Snap’s Collapsed Perplexity Deal Reshapes AR Industry Bets

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · May 15, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Meta has laid off approximately 1,000 Reality Labs employees, redirecting resources toward AI-powered glasses and away from virtual reality. The company's pivot is evident in its product line, with EssilorLuxottica selling over 7 million units of Ray-Ban Meta glasses in 2025 alone. Meta now holds an estimated 75-80% market share in the AI smart glasses segment, as it prepares to launch new models and expand its wearable offerings.

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After unveiling ridiculously expensive AR glasses, Snap’s stock takes a dive

Snap's highly anticipated AR glasses, Specs, had a disappointing debut, with the company's stock plummeting over 5% after the launch. The glasses, which retail at nearly $2,200, have raised concerns about their profitability, particularly given Snap's core user demographic of teenagers who may not have the financial means to afford them. The stock has been struggling, dropping 30% over the past year, and has yet to recover from the announcement. Snap's CEO, Evan Spiegel, defended the price, comparing Specs to high-end computers and laptops.

💡 Snap's pricey AR glasses may be a non-starter for its core user base, threatening the company's business model and potentially limiting the product's market potential. The high cost of Specs may force Snap to reevaluate its target audience and pricing strategy, making it a crucial test for the company's ability to adapt to changing consumer demands.

techopedia.com · Jun 18

Snap Bets Its Specs AR Glasses Can Move Computing Beyond the Phone

Snap has announced its new Specs smart glasses, a wearable computer with augmented reality capabilities, available for preorder at $2,195. The device is expected to ship this fall in the US, UK, and France. Specs aim to move computing beyond phones and computers, with a fully standalone device featuring a 51-degree field of view, hand tracking, and contextual AI assistance. The high price point makes it unlikely to become a mass-market gadget, but it showcases Snap's determination to lead in the post-smartphone device race. CEO Evan Spiegel calls Specs the beginning of a new era in computing, putting computing into the world.

💡 By creating a device that fills the gap between AI glasses and headsets, Snap may establish an early lead in the emerging market for augmented reality devices. Occupying the middle ground between ease of wear and immersive experience could create a significant opportunity for the company.

9to5google.com · Jun 17

Samsung Galaxy XR pre-orders open in UK, available July 8

The Samsung Galaxy XR is now available for pre-order in the UK, with a July 8 release date. The headset, which has received updates to enhance its standalone experience, features a Snapdragon XR+ Gen 2 chip, 4K micro-OLED screen, and up to 2.5 hours of battery life. The device will be priced at £1,699 and will be available at various Samsung experience events across the UK. The Galaxy XR is a tethered experience, designed to work in conjunction with Windows PCs and potentially MacOS in the future.

💡 The Galaxy XR's high price point and limited appeal may indicate a shift in consumer demand for standalone AR headsets, forcing Samsung to reevaluate its strategy in the emerging market. The device's pricing and performance may also set a precedent for future AR products, influencing the direction of the industry.

neowin.net · Jun 17

Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Reality Elite chip brings on-device AI to Android XR…

Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon Reality Elite Platform, a significant upgrade to its lineup of dedicated SoCs for mixed reality and spatial computing devices. The new platform, designed for premium Android XR devices, boasts improved performance, power efficiency, and on-device AI capabilities. Key features include up to 48 TOPS of AI performance, 60% higher GPU performance, and up to 20% longer battery life. The Snapdragon Reality Elite will power the next wave of Android XR devices, offering enhanced visuals, head and hand tracking, and see-through features.

💡 The Snapdragon Reality Elite's on-device AI capabilities will enable new spatial AI experiences, improving the overall user experience and blurring the lines between the digital and physical worlds. By running large language models and vision models directly on the device, Qualcomm's new platform is poised to revolutionize the mixed reality industry, making it more immersive and interactive.

neowin.net · Jun 17

Samsung Galaxy XR arrives in the UK with new AI and enterprise…

Samsung's Galaxy XR headset has arrived in the UK, featuring mixed reality experiences and Gemini-powered AI features. The device was developed in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm, and combines voice, gestures, and visual inputs to interact with digital content. Recent software updates have added deeper integration with Google's ecosystem, including Google Maps and YouTube. The headset also supports Android Enterprise, allowing organisations to manage deployments using existing Android management tools. The Galaxy XR is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 platform and features dual 4K Micro-OLED displays, with up to 2.5 hours of battery life. It is now available for pre-order and will go on sale on 8 July.

💡 Samsung's introduction of Android Enterprise support on the Galaxy XR headset opens up new possibilities for businesses to adopt immersive technologies, enhancing productivity and collaboration. Deeper integration with Google's ecosystem also sets a new standard for seamless interactions between virtual and real-world environments.

9to5google.com · Jun 17

XREAL’s Android XR glasses will cost under $1,500, which isn’t as expensive…

XREAL Aura, the company's first Android XR glasses, are set to launch this Fall with a price under $1,500. Reservations are now open for $99 or $299, with the final retail price not exceeding $1,500, excluding taxes. The base model is likely to be priced around $1,500, considering the cost of components and the company's existing hardware. XREAL Aura features a wider field-of-view, an included puck with battery and computing smarts, and built-in cameras, making it a more advanced product than XREAL One Pro.

💡 The $1,500 price tag for XREAL Aura is surprisingly reasonable, considering its advanced features and the cost of its components. This pricing strategy suggests that XREAL is confident in the product's value proposition, potentially setting a new standard for the Android XR market.