Meta Platforms: Ray-Ban display smart glasses to start at $799, available from September 30

Meta Platforms: Ray-Ban display smart glasses to start at $799, available from September 30

Meta Platforms is set to unveil its Ray-Ban Display smart glasses at the Connect event on September 17, with a starting price of $799. The glasses, codenamed "Hypernova," feature a built-in heads-up display (HUD) and a surface electromyography (sEMG) wristband for hands-free interaction .

The Ray-Ban Display smart glasses are expected to be heavier than the current model, weighing around 70 grams compared to the 50 grams of the previous model. They will project information such as maps and messages into the wearer's field of view, providing a seamless navigation and communication experience .

The glasses will be made in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the eye glass maker that helped launch Meta’s AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2023. The Ray-Ban glasses contain cameras, speakers, and microphones, allowing users to command Meta’s artificial intelligence (A.I.) voice assistant to take a photo, shoot video, or play music .

Meta's latest smart glasses come at a time when the company's Reality Labs division has lost nearly $70 billion since late 2020. However, the company is optimistic about the potential of smart glasses and virtual reality headsets, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg predicting that smart glasses will become the primary way people interact with AI .

Meta is also expected to reveal the rumored Oakley Meta Sphaera glasses at the Connect event, which feature a centered camera and are aimed at athletes. These glasses are not AR display devices but function like Meta’s other camera glasses, providing a first-person perspective for action capture .

The Ray-Ban Display smart glasses and Oakley Meta Sphaera glasses are part of Meta's broader AR/XR roadmap, which includes the advanced AR tech in its "Orion" prototype. The Orion prototype, which impressed testers but was too expensive for mass market, is a step toward Meta's vision of advanced AR technology .

The announcement of Meta's smart glasses comes as Big Tech and startups alike push into the smart glasses and XR market. Apple, Snap, and Google are among the companies developing their own smart glasses, with Apple's Vision Pro headset and Snap's Spectacles being notable examples .

Meta's strategy with Ray-Ban and Oakley aims to leverage style and everyday utility to stay ahead of the competition. The company is betting that a combination of fashion and advanced technology will be compelling enough to drive consumer adoption .