Meta is doubling down on its vision for the future of wearable tech with the launch of its latest smart glasses, the Meta Ray-Ban Display. According to Meta Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, these glasses represent a significant step towards a more natural and intuitive computing interface.
“We talk to them, we will see with them, we will use gestures the same way we interact with each other to interact with our computers,” Cox explained in an interview. “The interfaces will get more natural, and so we certainly believe that the next really important wearable technology is going to be a pair of glasses.”
Priced at $799, the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses feature a small in-lens display that users can control with hand gestures, potentially leveraging a neural wristband for enhanced precision. The functionality extends beyond simple display, allowing users to record videos and send messages via voice commands or even by physically “writing” gestures on their knee, according to Cox.
“We’ve started with just the basics, which is messaging, which we know is the thing people want to do in a more fluid way,” Cox added, highlighting the initial focus on core communication functionalities.
This new iteration improves upon Meta’s previous audio-only Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses by incorporating visual display capabilities, enabling users to directly see messages and watch videos. The integration of in-lens displays marks a critical advancement in the evolution of smart glasses. However, the launch wasn’t without its hiccup. During a public demonstration, CEO Mark Zuckerberg experienced a momentary technical difficulty when a video call failed to connect seamlessly, underscoring the challenges of refining emerging tech.
Despite this, Meta’s earlier collaboration with EssilorLuxottica on the second-generation Meta Ray-Ban glasses showcased promising results. CEO Francesco Milleri reported in February that they had shipped two million units since release. EssilorLuxottica’s second-quarter earnings report further reflected this momentum, revealing that revenues from the Ray-Ban Meta glasses increased over threefold compared to the previous year. The glasses, alongside with the Oakley Meta Performance AI glasses contributed to EssilorLuxottica’s overall sales during Q2, reaching €7.2 billion, or $8.5 billion.
While Meta appears to be gaining traction in the nascent smart glasses market, the competition landscape is heating up. The company faces stiff challenges from tech giants vying to capture a share of the growing AR/VR wearable space.
Google, also recognizing the potential of smart eyewear, announced a $150 million partnership with Warby Parker to jointly develop AI-powered glasses. This strategic alliance signifies a convergence of technology expertise and optical design, aiming to provide seamless integration of AI capabilities within everyday eyewear. Snap, another player in the space, revealed plans to release its sixth generation of augmented reality glasses in 2026. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly exploring the development of its own smart glasses, with an eye toward a potential launch by the end of next year. These competitive moves underscore the fact that the market for smart glasses is becoming increasingly contested, incentivizing companies to innovate rapidly to capture long-term market share.
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