LG and Meta have recently announced a strategic collaboration that is set to focus on extended reality (XR) devices and technologies. This collaboration comes at a time when both companies are looking to expand their presence in the XR market. Meta, known for its Meta Quest virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality headsets, is eager to explore the potential of augmented reality (AR) experiences. On the other hand, LG has established an XR business unit within its Home Entertainment division, signaling its intent to develop mixed-reality capable devices by the end of 2023.
The announcement of the collaboration coincided with a meeting between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, LG Electronics CEO William Cho, and Park Hyoung-sei, President of Home Entertainment at LG Electronics. The meeting, which took place at the LG Twin Towers in Yeouido, Seoul, focused on discussing business strategies and considerations for the development of next-generation XR devices. During the meeting, the LG leadership had the opportunity to try out Meta Quest 3 headset and Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, expressing interest in Meta’s large language model (LLM) stack and on-device AI integration.
LG envisions a synergistic relationship between Meta’s platform and its own content/service capabilities from the TV business, creating a distinctive ecosystem in the XR domain. The fusion of Meta’s core technological elements with LG’s product and quality capabilities holds promise for significant synergies in the development of next-gen XR devices. This collaboration is expected to enhance LG’s hardware and product development efficiency, while Meta will contribute with core technological advancements.
The partnership between LG and Meta has sparked speculation about the potential launch of the Meta Quest Pro 2 in 2025. However, specific details about the collaboration remain undisclosed. It is unclear whether both companies will leverage their expertise to develop separate products or if they will venture into co-branded devices. According to reports, Zuckerberg is currently on a tour of Asia, with South Korea being one of his key destinations. During his visit, he is expected to engage with President Yoon Suk Yeol and other leaders in the technology sector, indicating the importance of the Asian market for Meta’s future plans.
The strategic collaboration between LG and Meta in the XR industry marks a significant milestone for both companies. By combining Meta’s platform capabilities with LG’s product development expertise, the partnership aims to drive innovation in the XR space. As both companies continue to explore the possibilities of mixed reality technologies, the future looks promising for their collaboration in shaping the next generation of XR devices and experiences.
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