Meta announces launch of next-generation Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses; Zuckerberg says they will offer "super intelligence."

Meta announces launch of next-generation Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses; Zuckerberg says they will offer "super intelligence."

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced the upcoming launch of its next-generation Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, set to revolutionize the augmented reality (AR) market. The announcement comes just days before Meta Connect 2025, where the company is expected to officially unveil these glasses as part of its spatial computing lineup.

The new Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, internally codenamed "Hypernova" or "Meta Celeste," are a significant step forward in Meta's AR journey. They feature a built-in heads-up display (HUD) in one lens, allowing users to overlay digital visuals onto their real-world view. This includes navigation arrows, incoming messages, and prompts from AI assistants .

The glasses are designed to be stylish and lightweight, weighing around 70 grams, which is slightly heavier than regular sunglasses but significantly lighter than VR headsets. They are expected to run on an Android-based platform, similar to Snap's Spectacles, and integrate with Meta's software and AI ecosystem .

Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has expressed his belief that these smart glasses will offer "super intelligence." He envisions a future where smart glasses become the primary way people interact with AI, predicting that anyone not wearing them will eventually be at a "cognitive disadvantage" .

The glasses will be controlled via an electromyography (EMG) wristband, which reads electrical signals from the user's arm muscles to translate subtle finger movements into input. This allows for discreet and intuitive control of the glasses' interface .

The starting price for the base model is expected to be around $800, a significant reduction from earlier plans. However, upgrades like prescription lenses could raise the cost .

Meta's announcement comes as the competitive landscape in smart glasses and XR heats up. Companies like Apple, Snap, and Google are all pushing into this space, with Apple's Vision Pro headset, Snap's Spectacles, and Google's AR glasses efforts all vying for a share of the market .

The success of the new Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses will depend on consumer appetite for a tiny, one-eye display for notifications and navigation, as well as the overall adoption of AR technology. Early testers of Meta's Orion prototype were wowed by its capabilities, but analysts note that the success of earlier Ray-Ban glasses was driven largely by their affordable price and sleek design .

Privacy advocates are also watching closely, as the always-on cameras and potential face-recognition features raise familiar concerns. However, Meta has not yet detailed how it plans to address these issues .

Meta's partnership with Ray-Ban (EssilorLuxottica) has deep roots, with the first-gen Ray-Ban Stories focusing on cameras and audio, and the second-gen Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in 2023 adding AI voice features. The new Ray-Ban HUD glasses build on this legacy by adding true AR capabilities while retaining a fashionable design .

In addition to the Ray-Ban smart glasses, Meta has also leaked a prototype for Oakley "Sphaera" glasses, which are targeted at cyclists and athletes. These glasses feature a centered camera on the nose bridge and are not an AR display device .

Overall, Meta's announcement of the next-generation Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses signals a significant step forward in the AR market. The company's strategy to leverage style and everyday utility to stay ahead of the pack could pay off, but the success of these glasses will ultimately depend on consumer adoption and acceptance.