Zuckerberg Says Smart Glasses Could Make Phones Obsolete Within a Decade

Picture stepping out of your house, only to realize hours later that you left your phone behind.

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg envisions a future where such moments become routine because the bulk of daily interactions migrate from handheld screens to wear‑able displays.

In a recent conversation with The Verge, Zuckerberg said that smart glasses could claim an expanding slice of everyday computing over the next ten years. He clarified that smartphones would not vanish, but users might increasingly keep them tucked away in a pocket or even at home.

Smart Glasses Could Redefine Everyday Computing

Drawing a parallel to the shift from desktop PCs to smartphones, Zuckerberg explained that the adoption of AR eyewear would likely be incremental rather than abrupt. As more functions move onto the lenses, the need to reach for a phone could fade in specific contexts, eventually making a phone optional for many routine tasks.

The vision hinges on glasses that do more than flash notifications. Zuckerberg described a platform capable of projecting holographic visuals into the wearer’s environment while leveraging AI to interpret sights and sounds. In Meta’s view, such a system would enable communication, virtual‑desktop workflows, and AI‑driven assistance without constant reliance on a handheld device.

Meta’s current Ray‑Ban collaboration offers a modest step toward that goal, featuring built‑in cameras, microphones and audio playback but lacking a visual display. Zuckerberg noted that access to Meta AI is a key selling point for the $300‑priced model, and that the lineup is gradually gaining features like contextual reminders and live translation, driven by software updates and partnerships with services such as Spotify.

The Orion Prototype Aims for Full‑Fledged AR

Meta’s most ambitious effort, dubbed Orion, was unveiled at the recent Meta Connect event in Menlo Park, California. According to WIRED, development on Orion has spanned almost a decade.

Unlike the Ray‑Ban models, Orion seeks to embed digital imagery directly into the user’s field of view. During the demo, the glasses rendered virtual screens that could handle messaging, video calls, and gaming. Interaction was possible via voice commands, gaze‑directed selection, or simple finger‑tap gestures.

A wrist‑worn neural interface accompanies the prototype, interpreting subtle muscle signals to control the glasses without touching a phone. WIRED reported that Orion’s display relies on uLED projectors housed in the arms of the frame, channeling light through silicon‑carbide lenses to produce depth‑rich imagery.

Meta spokesperson Bryan Pope confirmed that the system uses silicon carbide rather than traditional glass, aiming for sharper, brighter projections.

Consumer Release Remains Distant

While the project was initially imagined as a consumer device, Zuckerberg acknowledged that key performance targets—such as reduced size, higher brightness, greater resolution, and a price point accessible to a broad audience—have yet to be met.

For the time being, Meta intends to keep Orion within internal teams and a select group of partners while refining both hardware and software. No pricing or launch timeline has been announced, and the company emphasizes that any eventual commercial version would be aimed at everyday users rather than developers.

The core challenge lies in integrating the projection system into a comfortable, affordable form factor suitable for daily wear. Zuckerberg’s outlook therefore focuses on a gradual shift away from smartphones, with smart glasses taking on an increasing share of the interactions that currently begin with a phone.