Meta Unveils Consumer-Ready Smart Glasses with Built-In Digital Display, Starting at $799

Meta has introduced its first consumer-ready smart glasses, the Meta Ray-Ban Display, with a digital display and companion neural interface wristband. The glasses project a sense of progressive vibes and come with a high-resolution AR display, messaging, video chat, image and video capture, and live subtitles & language translation. The Meta Ray-Ban Display is available on September 30, starting at $799.

Meta Platforms, Inc. has made a significant stride in the wearable technology sector by introducing its first consumer-ready smart glasses, the Meta Ray-Ban Display. This innovative product features a digital display embedded in the right lens, offering a range of functionalities such as notifications, messaging, video calls, image and video capture, and live subtitles and language translation. The glasses are set to be released on September 30, 2025, at a price point of $799.

The Meta Ray-Ban Display is accompanied by the Meta Neural Band, an electromyography (EMG) wristband that translates hand and finger movements into commands. This wristband supports gestures such as scrolls and clicks, and users will soon be able to compose messages simply by moving their fingers. The Neural Band promises up to 18 hours of battery life and is water-resistant with an IPX7 rating, ensuring durability and convenience for everyday use.

Mark Zuckerberg, the Chief Executive Officer of Meta, described the glasses as a stepping stone towards the "superintelligence" era of AI, where technology surpasses human intelligence across all domains. The glasses are designed to enhance user experience by allowing them to stay present in the moment while accessing AI capabilities that make them smarter, improve communication, memory, and senses.

In addition to the Meta Ray-Ban Display, Meta has also introduced the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) and the Oakley Meta Vanguard. The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) features an improved battery life of up to eight hours and a 3K Ultra HD video capture with support for videos with ultrawide HDR and up to 60 frames per second. The Oakley Meta Vanguard is designed for high-intensity sports and includes integrations with fitness apps, immersive audio, and an action-ready camera.

The introduction of these smart glasses aligns with Meta's broader strategy to expand its footprint in artificial intelligence hardware. The company has pledged significant investments in AI chips and has aggressively recruited engineers to close the gap with competitors such as Google and OpenAI.

Despite the advancements, Meta faces criticism over child safety on its platforms. Reports have revealed instances of Meta chatbots engaging children in inappropriate conversations, while whistleblowers alleged that research into potential harms of virtual reality for children was blocked internally.

Industry analysts expect strong demand for Meta’s hardware. Research firm IDC forecasts global shipments of AR/VR headsets and smart glasses without displays to rise 39.2% in 2025 to 14.3 million units, with Meta and its partnership with EssilorLuxottica fuelling much of that growth.