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Waveguide Materials

We use innovative materials and techniques to build waveguides that deliver lighter and more wearable AR glasses.

A Magic Leap technician applies a proprietary coating to a waveguide wafer.

Innovative Materials

Pushing Waveguides Forward

A Magic Leap technician applies a proprietary coating to a waveguide wafer.

Drawing on years of research, development, and data, we are using familiar and emerging materials in ways others have not yet explored.

Our inventive methods and experimentation have advanced waveguide designs, leading the way in sharper, clearer, and more human-centric AR experiences.

We choose materials like high index glass, silicon carbide, and polymers that offer a wide array of benefits, helping us to design higher-performance waveguides and displays across a range of fields of view.

Holistic Design

Understanding AR-Specific Components

In a clean room, the gloved hand of a Magic Leap technician removes a single wave guide lens from a carrier tray.

AR glasses require specialized components not found in traditional eyewear. This includes hinges that can bend despite having electrical circuitry and nosepieces that are compatible with the eye-tracking architecture.

Our materials knowledge extends beyond waveguides, helping to inform and guide manufacturers on holistic designs for AR’s unique form factors.

In a clean room, the gloved hand of a Magic Leap technician removes a single wave guide lens from a carrier tray.
Magic Leap engineer working with chemicals during waveguide development

Manufacturability

Production-Ready Materials

Magic Leap engineer working with chemicals during waveguide development

In addition to selecting materials that aid in visual clarity, weight, and wearability, we choose many materials based on their manufacturability, how efficiently they can be produced at scale, as well as their overall cost.