ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, is reportedly working on a new pair of mixed reality (XR) glasses under the codename “Swan.” Developed by its Pico division, these upcoming glasses are designed to be lightweight and stylish, aimed at everyday users.
While no official pricing has been confirmed, industry sources suggest it could be positioned competitively once launched.
The glasses are expected to weigh around 100 to 107 grams, making them significantly lighter than many existing VR and XR headsets.
Instead of relying on heavy onboard processing, the Swan glasses will offload computing tasks to an external “puck”—a small, pocketable device that connects via cable or wirelessly.
This design choice helps reduce the headset’s bulk and improve comfort for long-term wear.
ByteDance’s shift in strategy
The Pico division appears to have shifted away from larger virtual reality headsets, like the cancelled Pico 5, in favour of more compact and wearable solutions.
The Swan XR glasses are part of ByteDance’s strategy to compete with similar devices from Meta and Apple, both of which are also developing lightweight XR and AR wearables.
Reports indicate that ByteDance is collaborating with Chinese suppliers to produce the Swan glasses. The final hardware design is still under development, and no release date or target market has been officially announced.
At this stage, it is also unclear whether the product will be available in Malaysia. ByteDance’s XR effort could benefit from its strong content ecosystem, which includes TikTok and Douyin.
Integration with these platforms may provide added value and encourage user adoption, especially if the glasses can support creative and social experiences in augmented reality.
Expected features and tech specs
If launched, the ByteDance “Swan” XR glasses may feature:
- Weight: Approximately 100 to 107 grams
- External puck for processing and power
- Custom low-latency chips for real-time sensor input
- High-resolution passthrough cameras
- Waveguide optics for clear AR overlays
- Compact, goggle-like design for everyday use
Would you consider switching to XR glasses if they were lightweight and integrated with your social media apps? ByteDance seems to believe so, and it may not be long before we see its answer to Meta’s and Apple’s headsets.
Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates.
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