ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is advancing its position in the augmented and virtual reality industry by developing a new set of mixed reality goggles designed to compete with Meta's wearable AR/VR offerings. The device is under development by Pico, ByteDance’s virtual reality division, and aims to deliver high-performance computing in a sleek and lightweight form.
The upcoming goggles will integrate augmented and virtual elements, offering users immersive experiences that overlay digital visuals onto real-world environments. Unlike traditional VR headsets, the new goggles are designed to resemble conventional eyewear in both size and comfort, weighing approximately 0.28 pounds—comparable to the Bigscreen Beyond headset.
Innovative Design Prioritizing Wearability
To achieve reduced weight and increased comfort, Pico is adopting a unique architectural strategy: transferring intensive computing tasks to an external puck connected via a cable. This design mirrors Meta’s experimental Orion AR glasses, which similarly rely on off-device processing to optimize portability.
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The puck, likely to be powered by a custom-designed chip, will handle core processing while the goggles focus solely on visual display and interaction. This division allows for minimal head-mounted weight, making the device more practical for extended use in real-life environments such as homes, workplaces, or classrooms.
Strategic Positioning Against Meta
ByteDance’s push into mixed reality is viewed as a direct challenge to Meta’s established presence in the AR/VR sector. With Meta’s Quest line of headsets dominating consumer and enterprise spaces, ByteDance is leveraging its technological capabilities and vast user base from TikTok to introduce a competing ecosystem.
Pico’s previous models aimed to match Meta’s specifications, but this current approach signals a shift toward lightweight, wearable solutions rather than feature-heavy headsets. The new goggles, by emphasizing seamless user integration and mobility, target a broader range of use cases—from immersive media consumption to educational and professional applications.
Implications for the Future of AR/VR Technology
This development has broader significance for the augmented and virtual reality market. As major tech companies refine form factors and processing capabilities, wearable AR/VR devices are becoming increasingly viable for daily use. ByteDance’s innovation could play a pivotal role in accelerating public adoption of immersive technologies.
Beyond entertainment, potential applications span remote work, virtual training, education, telehealth, and e-commerce. As such, ByteDance’s move contributes to shaping the future landscape of human-computer interaction.