Meta's AR Glasses Boost LCoS Market Share to 13% by 2026

Meta's recent launch of its first mass-produced AR device, the Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses, has sparked significant interest in the tech industry. The device, which utilizes LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) display technology, is expected to drive the market share of LCoS display products to 13% by 2026. This development is noteworthy as it highlights the growing adoption of LCoS technology in the AR market.

The Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses feature a single-eye near-eye display with a field of view (FoV) of 20 degrees, which is sufficient for AI-assisted information applications. The device boasts a resolution of 600 x 600 pixels, a pixel density of 42 pixels per degree, and a brightness of 5,000 nits. These specifications position the device as a strong contender in the information prompt application market.

Meta's choice of LCoS technology over the more mainstream single-green LEDoS (Light Emitting Diode on Silicon) display technology, which is often combined with waveguide optics, is strategic. LCoS technology offers several advantages, including technical maturity, the ability to achieve full-color display on a single chip, cost control, and superior average power consumption. These factors make LCoS a preferred choice for Meta, and this decision is likely to boost the market share of LCoS display technology.

The adoption of LCoS technology by Meta is expected to increase the popularity of this technology, potentially encouraging other brands to invest in LCoS. However, LCoS still faces challenges in areas such as miniaturization, high brightness, and high contrast. Companies like OmniVision, Himax Display, and Avegant are actively working on next-generation display technologies to address these issues.

On the other hand, single-chip full-color LEDoS technology still needs further optimization in terms of cost and manufacturing processes. It is expected that breakthroughs in technologies such as QD color conversion, vertical stacking, or InGaN will lead to the development of high-product-market-fit full-color LEDoS products by 2028. This could drive the market share of LEDoS to 65% by 2030. Until then, the competition between LCoS and LEDoS technologies is expected to intensify.