On Wednesday, Meta introduced a new pair of Ray-Ban branded smart glasses featuring a built-in display on the right lens for showing apps, alerts, and navigation directions. The glasses are controlled via a wristband called the Meta Neural Band, which detects subtle hand gestures—same as the wristband unveiled last year during Meta Connect as part of the Orion demonstration.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the new product, named Meta Ray-Ban Display, on stage at the company's annual developer conference, Meta Connect 2025. Unlike Orion, Zuckerberg confirmed that this product will be available for purchase a few weeks after September 30 at a price of $799.
This marks Meta’s latest attempt to launch a consumer-focused smart glasses device capable of handling many tasks typically performed on smartphones. For years, Meta has had to reach users through rival devices from companies like Google and Apple. Although Meta has invested billions into virtual reality headsets, AI-powered smart glasses now appear to be the most promising way for the company to connect directly with users via its own hardware.
The Meta Ray-Ban Display aims to build on the success of the original Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which have sold millions of units in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica. Similar to the original, the new Ray-Ban Display includes an onboard AI assistant, along with a camera, speakers, and microphones. These glasses enable users to connect to the cloud for internet access and to use Meta's social media applications.
Meta explained that the display allows users to do more with smart glasses. They can view content from Meta apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, and also access navigation routes and real-time translations directly on the glasses’ screen.
The Neural Band, which comes with the device, looks similar to a Fitbit but without a screen. It allows users to navigate through applications using subtle hand gestures. Zuckerberg noted during the presentation that the Meta Neural Band offers up to 18 hours of battery life and is water-resistant.
The device uses electromyography (EMG) to capture signals sent between the brain and the hand during gestures. Meta is betting that this interface will become a new way for users to interact with their devices.
Earlier this week, a video of Meta’s latest smart glasses was leaked. CNBC and Bloomberg had previously reported that the smart glasses, internally codenamed Hypernova, would be unveiled at this year's Connect event.
It’s worth noting that the Meta Ray-Ban Display is significantly less advanced than the Orion smart glasses Meta showcased at Connect 2024. Orion features AR lenses and eye-tracking technology, while this new device uses a much simpler display setup. Meta may still be years away from launching Orion.
Nevertheless, Meta hopes to gain an edge in the smart glasses race by being the first to release a market-ready product. However, Google and Apple are also expected to launch their own smart glasses in the coming years. These devices will likely integrate seamlessly with their respective operating systems, potentially giving them a competitive advantage over Meta.
