Meta unveiled a new pair of Ray-Ban branded smart glasses on Wednesday. Called the Meta Ray-Ban Display, the glasses feature a built-in display on the right lens for apps, alerts, and directions. The product was announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg onstage at the company’s annual developer conference, Meta Connect 2025.
Unlike the advanced Orion prototype shown last year, this is a consumer product that will be available for purchase starting September 30 for $799. The smart glasses are controlled by a wristband called the Meta Neural Band, which picks up on subtle hand gestures. This is the same wristband unveiled as part of the Orion demo in 2024.
This launch represents Meta’s latest attempt to ship consumer smart glasses that handle tasks traditionally done on a smartphone. For years, Meta has relied on reaching users through competitors’ devices, namely those from Google and Apple. While the company has invested heavily in virtual reality, AI-powered smart glasses now appear to be its most promising path to connecting with users on its own hardware.
The Meta Ray-Ban Display aims to build on the success of the original Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, of which Meta has sold millions of pairs in partnership with EssilorLuxottica. The new model comes equipped with an on-board AI assistant, cameras, speakers, and microphones. The glasses connect to the cloud to access the internet and social media apps.
The built-in display significantly expands the glasses’ capabilities. Users can view Meta apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook directly on the lens. They can also see directions and live translations.
The accompanying Neural Band resembles a Fitbit but has no screen. It allows users to navigate apps using small hand movements. Zuckerberg stated the band offers 18 hours of battery life and is water resistant. The device uses electromyography (EMG) technology to detect signals sent between the brain and hand during a gesture. Meta is betting this interface will become a new way for users to control their devices.
Earlier this week, a video leaked showing the design of Meta’s latest smart glasses. CNBC and Bloomberg had previously reported the glasses, internally codenamed Hypernova, would be unveiled at this year’s Connect conference.
It is important to note the Meta Ray-Ban Display is far less capable than the Orion smart glasses shown at Connect 2024. That advanced prototype featured true augmented reality lenses and eye tracking, while this new pair uses a simpler display. It may be years before Meta ever sells a product like Orion.
Meta is hoping to win the smart glasses race by being first to market with a real, available product. However, it seems likely that Google and Apple will launch their own smart glasses in the future. Those devices would be able to integrate deeply into their respective operating systems, giving them a significant advantage over Meta.