Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has never shied away from bold bets and his latest vision might be his most ambitious yet. In a world still glued to smartphones, Zuckerberg is pushing ahead with technology he believes will replace them altogether: augmented reality glasses.
From Screens to Smart Glasses
While most of Big Tech continues refining the smartphone experience, Zuckerberg is looking far beyond it. At multiple Meta keynotes and public appearances, he’s emphasized a future where AR glasses are the main computing device in people’s lives. According to his projections, by 2030, smartphones will be obsolete.
Instead of swiping on a screen, users will interact with the digital world through lightweight glasses that overlay apps, messages, directions, and even calls right into their field of vision. Think of it as your smartphone, minus the phone.
Step Beyond Screens
The AR-first approach is more than a hardware shift it’s a philosophy. Zuckerberg has been clear: “The next platform won’t be held in your hand. It’ll live in your world.” That idea ties into Meta’s massive investment in the metaverse, where reality and digital interaction blend seamlessly.
The glasses are just the start. Meta’s goal is to redefine how people communicate, learn, work, and socialize, using a vision-first ecosystem that doesn’t depend on touchscreens or voice commands.
A Contrarian to Apple’s Approach
Zuckerberg’s stance sets him apart from Apple CEO Tim Cook, who is doubling down on the iPhone, most recently with the AI-enhanced iPhone 16. While Apple is refining, Meta is disrupting. And while Apple bets on the enduring dominance of smartphones, Zuckerberg is essentially writing their obituary.
What This Means for Tech in 2025
Zuckerberg’s pivot toward AR glasses isn’t a standalone effort it’s part of a growing movement among Silicon Valley giants to rethink the relationship between humans and technology. But among this group, Zuckerberg stands out as the most consumer-focused futurist, pushing for real-world adoption rather than niche experimentation.
As Meta prepares for a wider rollout of its AR wearables, the question isn’t whether smartphones will evolve it’s whether we’ll even need them at all.