Meta's 'Hypernova' AI Smart Glasses: An Experimental Leap into AR and AI Integration

Meta's 'Hypernova' AI smart specs will be an 'experimental' device

Meta is highly likely to unveil advanced "Hypernova" smart glasses at its annual Connect event when it kicks off on September 17. But despite the hype surrounding the rumored product, the often-reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested on Tuesday that the incoming smart specs will be an "experimental" device for Meta, with limited shipment expectations of just 150,000 to 200,000 units in the two years following their launch, which should take place before the end of this year. Recommended Videos In a post on X, Kuo said that global shipments of smart glasses are forecast to hit around 14 million units next year, indicating that Hypernova's market share will be negligible, thereby "positioning it more as an experimental product for Meta." The analyst said artificial intelligence (AI) will be Hypernova's "most important selling point," but added that the integration of AI with augmented reality (AI) applications "is still in its nascent stages" and therefore could hold it back. Kuo attributed Meta's conservative shipment forecast for Hypernova mainly to the device's limited AI capabilities, combined with its estimated price of around $800. Citing another hurdle, the analyst said that the decision to use Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) microdisplay technology to achieve scalability for mass production "presents hardware design challenges related to form factor, brightness, response time, and battery life." Kuo concluded that Meta's strategic goals for releasing Hypernova this year are: "1) To launch ahead of Apple to build its brand image, 2) To gain early experience in developing the ecosystem, and 3) To understand user behavior." Meta has already launched smart glasses in the form of the Ray-Ban Meta series. The Ray-Bans are primarily designed for capturing photos and videos, and also offer open-ear audio for listening to music and taking calls, but they lack a heads-up AR display. The Hypernova glasses, on the other hand, are likely to feature a small monocular heads-up AR display for showing notifications and navigation, and interacting with Meta AI. They could also include a neural wristband to interpret subtle finger and wrist gestures for control. From what we know, Meta's new smart glasses look like an early but significant step toward fully immersive, AR-enabled, and AI-powered smart glasses.

Meta's $800 Hypernova Glasses Will Be An 'Experimental Product' And This One Thing Will Be 'Most Important Selling Point,' Says Analyst - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Essilorluxottica (OTC:ESLOY)

Meta Platforms' META upcoming Hypernova AI-powered smart glasses are being positioned as a bold step toward augmented reality adoption, but TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the device will likely be an "experimental product" with limited market share. Kuo Predicts Limited Shipments, High Stakes On Wednesday, in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Kuo said Meta expects to begin mass production of Hypernova in the third quarter of 2025 and ship only 150,000-200,000 units over two years, signaling a small footprint in the global smart glasses market, which is projected to reach 13-15 million units by 2026. "AI will be Hypernova's most important selling point," Kuo wrote, noting that integration between AI and AR applications remains in its early stages. He added that the $800 price tag and the choice of Liquid Crystal on Silicon, LCoS, display technology -- which faces design hurdles like brightness, response time and battery efficiency -- reflect Meta's cautious approach. Premium Design And Prada Branding According to reports, Hypernova will feature a small digital display in the right lens with a 20-degree field of view for notifications and text, manufactured through Meta's partnership with EssilorLuxottica ESLOY, the parent company of Ray-Ban. The device could also carry Prada PRDSF branding due to its thicker frames needed to house new components. The Mark Zuckerberg-led tech giant has already sold over two million pairs of Ray-Ban voice-only smart glasses since 2023, with Luxottica reporting a triple-year-over-year increase in smart glasses revenue. Neural Interface Wristband Debut Meta will also unveil its first consumer neural interface wristband, using CTRL Labs' sEMG sensor technology to interpret electrical signals from hand movements, enabling gesture-based control. The wristband is part of Meta's long-term plan to develop fully immersive AR glasses and will provide critical testing data for future devices. Building Developer Momentum Amid Heavy Losses To support Hypernova, Meta is recruiting AI and AR developers to build experimental applications and accelerate ecosystem growth. The company will also introduce third-generation voice-only glasses with touch controls. Meta's Reality Labs division, which has accumulated nearly $70 billion in losses since 2020, is under pressure to prove the viability of its metaverse strategy. Hypernova follows last year's Orion AR prototype demo and is aimed at gaining an advantage over Apple Inc. AAPL. Earlier, it was reported that Apple is preparing to debut AI-driven smart glasses in late 2026, positioning them as a direct competitor to Meta's Ray-Bans. Price Action: Meta shares rose 0.11% on Tuesday, closing at $754.10, per Benzinga Pro data. Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings show META sustaining a strong price trend across short, medium and long-term periods, with additional performance insights available here. Read Next: Apple Reportedly Eyes Google Gemini To Overhaul Siri As Analysts Slam Tim Cook's AI Strategy As 'Disaster' Photo Courtesy: Skorzewiak on Shutterstock.com Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. AAPLApple Inc$229.991.25%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum33.35Growth30.01Quality70.52Value8.79Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewESLOYEssilorluxottica$155.46-0.12%METAMeta Platforms Inc$754.220.12%PRDSFPrada SpA$7.5946.2%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs