With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing immersive experience such as AR/VR to the limelight, the recent Facebook Connect keynote has been highly anticipated by many, especially with the news that Facebook is teaming up with Rayban to launch AR glasses.

Is this just another gimmick that might fail as we have seen before or is there something to it with many brands already implementing AR as part of their marketing efforts?

Let's take a dive into some of the key points from Facebook Connect and see some of the exciting developments in the AR/VR field by Facebook.

video courtesy: https://www.facebookconnect.com/en

VIRTUAL REALITY

While the Oculus Quests fly-off the shelf during the pandemic, many new headset owners may soon have buyer’s remorse. FB unveiled the $299 Quest 2, which drops Oct. 13.

• The specs: 50% more pixels, 10% lighter, and one Benjamin Franklin cheaper than Quest 1. It’s also the first device to ship with Qualcomm’s newest VR/AR chipset.

• Quest 2 will require a Facebook login, a buzzkill for some prospective buyers.

VR isn’t necessarily having a niche → mass market moment, but Quest 2’s pricing is enticing...and likely enabled by selling at or below cost. FB could make up any lost hardware margins through an ever-expanding content library and services ecosystem: Quest 2 is getting exclusive AAA titles and Infinite Office, a customisable VR workspace. FB will also sell an enterprise Quest 2.

AUGMENTED REALITY

It’s official: FB is developing AR smart glasses. But hold your holographic horses—Project Aria is a multi-year process.

• The first step: In 2021, we’ll see smart glasses designed by Luxottica, the parent company of Ray Bans. They won’t have a display, nor will they be branded as an AR product.

But AR specs are eventually coming (like Snap, FB is iterating with hardware). In the interim, FB will test sensor-laden research devices in the real world.

video courtesy: https://www.facebookconnect.com/en

With AR glasses being a real possibility in the near future. This will open up more opportunities for brands to start jumping onto AR experiences. Imagine walking down the street and passing by a store that immerses a potential customer with AR effects. This potentially has a higher percentage to trigger potential customers to engage rather than a billboard which is all around us and may not stand out.

AR & BEYOND

As Facebook continue to innovate in the space, working not only on experiential innovations such but on really "sci-fi" level tech such as spatial audio and “neural click” technology. It hopes to change the way we as consumers and brands experience VR/AR—that’s why it’s invested in building interfaces, devices, and walled gardens.

As you are reading this, the explosion of AR in social media has made a massive impact on how brands have been marketing their new products, engaging more of their audiences (even from home).

This shows a huge potential for more AR/VR innovations to come which we are on the lookout to keep you updated.

Don't forget to drop us a line if your brand is looking to explore the potential of future AR-powered campaigns, let's leap into the future one AR campaign at a time.