Fun fact: some of the best AR/VR headsets available right now are second or even third iterations of products. And if you’ve never stopped to consider why, let me save you the trouble with this nifty list:
XR technology is advancing really fast
There’s a lot of feedback that gets addressed quickly
You can't really have proper progress without multiple iterations
And say what you want about Meta and Zuck’s attempts to capitalize on virtual reality space — which still absolutely deserves to be a meme, in my opinion — but the company makes great headsets, thanks to the acquisition of Oculus.
The Quest was solid, the Quest 2 was awesome and the Quest 3 is looking to be a very impressive entertainment-focused VR headset. But why stop there? After all, Meta just showcased two new demo headsets, ready for testing.
So, the two headsets have pretty fun names:
Butterscotch Varifocal
Flamera
And Meta is quite direct about one thing: these are definitely research-oriented and are in no way planned to become consumer products. In fact, their purpose, as of now, is to pretty much allow Reality Labs to explore cool AR/VR tech.
And again, without that, we can’t really make progress. So both of these headsets? Quite important!
But what are they all about? Well, let’s start with Butterscotch Varifocal. As the name suggests, it features varifocal technology, which is something that’s been on the stove since 2015. And now, let's explain what that is.
Well, basically it means that the included lenses have a varying degree of strength, allowing for the simulation of multiple focal points.
Right now, VR tech doesn’t really allow you to see as in real life. While in a VR world, if you would pick something up and then bring it up to your face for a close examination, it will be blurry and your mind will start wondering why focusing on it doesn't work.
And that's all it takes for your immersion to get broken.
So Butterscotch Varifocal offers a glimpse into how Meta could utilize varifocal technology in order to solve this very problem. In fact, if everything goes as planned, thanks to tech like this, we may start getting real-life levels of VR graphical fidelity.
But what about Flamera? Well, besides the obvious fact that it looks like a set of bug-eyes that you can strap on. The tech on this demo unit is easier to explain, yet equally as important, but more so in regards to AR than VR.
And, finally, some proper AR advancements!
Right now, very few AR/VR headsets offer proper passthrough technology, which can make you feel as if you are truly augmenting the physical space around you. The Vision Pro looks to promise that, but we’ll have to wait until it releases to see how well Apple's headset performs.
But in the meantime, Meta is cooking up something that aims to improve passthrough, while also solving another problem. You see, current-gen AR/VR passthrough happens through cameras. But due to their positioning and the thickness of the headset, what you see isn’t really equal to what your eyes would see.
And this is exactly what Flamera is trying to solve. Now do you get why it looks like a set of bug eyes? Also, while the name suggests a derivative of “flame”, it actually comes from “flat camera”, which is what this unique array of cameras is called.
So, what’s the icing on the cake? Well, it’s much less of a cake and more of a SIGGRAPH and the icing is reserved only for those that are either in or planning a trip to LA from August 6 – 10, which is when the annual conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques will take place.
Meta will be bringing both of these unique headsets there, so if you happen to drop by and test them out, make sure to come back and let us know if the tech was as impressive as it sounds!
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Stan, also known as Stako, is a smartphone enthusiast who loves exploring the limits of Android customization. His journey with mobile tech began with the Nokia 5110 and evolved with devices like the BlackBerry 9350 Curve and Samsung Galaxy A4. Despite his love for Android, he holds equal respect for Apple, considering the iPhone 4s as a significant milestone in mobile tech. Stan started his writing career early, contributing to MetalWorld, and harbors a passion for creative writing. Beyond smartphones, he's interested in photography, design, composition, and gaming, often preferring solo projects to hone his objective thinking. He's also an avid student of open-source technology and consoles, with a special fondness for the Pebble Watch, Arduboy, and Playdate.
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