Meta's Ray-Ban Smart Glasses: Advancing Towards Mixed Reality with Display Integration

Ray-Ban Meta glasses: the future of mixed reality is getting closer and closer - Softonic

Meta plans to incorporate screens into the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses starting next year, according to Financial Times. This new advancement reinforces its goal of creating lightweight devices that can replace smartphones as the main computing tool. In collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, Meta will add screens to the $300 glasses, which will go on sale in the second half of 2025. These screens will display notifications and responses from its virtual assistant. Meta's interest in wearable devices, a market where rivals like Apple and Google are also positioning themselves, has been growing over time. In September, Meta introduced the prototype of its augmented reality glasses Orion, a project that has advanced rapidly thanks to the enthusiasm of its early testers. These glasses stand out for their compact design and their ability to overlay 3D content onto the real world. The Orion glasses, controlled through neural interfaces and bracelets that interpret body signals, are not without problems. One of them is the mass production of silicon carbide lenses, a material that improves image quality but increases production costs. Michael Miller, from Niantic, suggests that reducing the field of view or using conventional glass could be an alternative to lower production costs without losing quality. Beyond these difficulties, the current Ray-Ban Meta glasses have been well received since their launch in 2023, standing out for their integrated speakers, cameras, and microphones that allow everything from listening to music to interacting with artificial intelligence. According to EssilorLuxottica, recent sales surpassed those of previous models in two years within months, reflecting a 73% growth in the wearable glasses market in 2024. The success of these devices positions Meta at the convergence between artificial intelligence and mixed reality. Luke Alvarez, from Hiro Capital, believes that this strategy could establish Meta as a leader in the next generation of operating systems, a clear goal for Mark Zuckerberg.

Meta's display-equipped Ray-Bans could make smartphones look old-school

Want to add a display to your shades? Meta thinks the answer is yes. Meta plans to incorporate display technology into its Ray-Ban smart glasses by 2025, according to Financial Times, aiming to enhance the user experience and solidify its position in the competitive wearables market. This initiative seeks to challenge smartphones' dominance as the primary computing device for consumers and comes at a time when rival companies, including Apple and Google, are actively developing similar products. The anticipated updates to the Ray-Ban glasses, developed in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, will feature a small display primarily for notifications and responses from Meta's virtual assistant. Sources indicate that these upgraded versions could launch as early as the second half of 2025. This move follows the successful release of the latest version of Ray-Ban Meta glasses in September 2023. According to EssilorLuxottica's CEO Francesco Milleri, these latest models have significantly outperformed earlier iterations, achieving more sales in their initial months than previous versions did over two years. The broader market for wearable glasses experienced a notable growth of 73% in shipments in 2024. In September, Meta showcased its augmented-reality glasses prototype, Orion, which boasts a compact design and advanced display technology. The Orion glasses can overlay 3D content onto the real world, representing a substantial advancement in AR technology compared to previous attempts by companies like Google and Microsoft. Meta has accelerated the development of Orion following positive feedback from early tests, although consumer availability is still years away. European Ray-Ban fans, meet your new AI-powered glasses Additionally, Meta has introduced live AI features for its Ray-Bans, allowing for real-time interactions and translations. The AI, once activated, provides users with an "always-aware" experience, responding to questions and offering information about the surrounding environment. However, this feature is still in an early beta stage, with limitations regarding connectivity and accuracy. Translation capabilities currently support a limited number of languages, and users must download specific language packs for the feature to work effectively. Despite the ongoing advancements, Meta faces challenges in creating fashionable AR glasses equipped with adequate hardware performance and battery life at an acceptable price point. Meta's chief technology officer, Andrew Bosworth, recently highlighted that the feasibility of integrating live AI and heads-up displays will depend on overcoming these obstacles. He indicated that adding gesture control via a wristband or similar input device may arise alongside future display-enhanced models. Looking ahead, Meta's ongoing investments in AI technology may lead to more integrated and versatile devices, combining capabilities like fitness tracking and VR functionalities. The development of gesture recognition systems could also enhance user interaction with smart glasses, as current Ray-Bans do not support pointing gestures, limiting functionality.

Ray-Ban Meta Glasses May Soon Get Small Screens to Display Notifications

Meta accelerates AR glasses development amid positive feedback Ray-Ban Meta Glasses could soon benefit from a huge upgrade with the addition of small screens, according to a report. The next iteration of the wearable device is said to be launched as soon as next year, and screens may be leveraged to display notifications and perform other functions. Notably, this development builds upon Meta Platforms' ambition to develop lightweight wearable headsets that could potentially replace smartphones as primary computing devices. According to a Financial Times report, the next iteration of Ray-Ban Meta Glasses (review) may be equipped with small screens that could be used to display notifications as well as responses to queries received from Meta AI -- the company's artificial intelligence (AI)-powered virtual assistant. The $299 (roughly Rs. 25,000) smart glasses, which have been developed in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, come equipped with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, open-ear speakers, and microphones which enable users to capture snapshots, listen to music, and have conversations -- all on the go. The report suggests that while the first version of the displays on the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses would only show simple text and images, it would be a step towards realising CEO Mark Zuckerberg's vision of augmented reality (AR) glasses that "transpose a virtual world" upon real life. This purported device could be launched as early as the second half of 2025, the publication adds. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms is reported to continue developing Orion, its AR glasses that are equipped with holographic displays and feature support for Meta AI. The company unveiled its prototype at the Meta Connect 2024 event in September after nearly a decade of development. While this iteration wasn't made available commercially, the company is planning to introduce a version for customers within the next few years. As per FT, the social media giant's ambitions have been bolstered due to the positive response towards its AR glasses and has reportedly fast-tracked its development to turn it into a consumer product. However, it faces several challenges, including developing a product that has adequate performance and decent battery life while being priced at a desirable price point. There are supply chain-related challenges too, as per the report.

Report: Meta to Add Displays to Ray Ban Smart Glasses in 2025

Meta plans to add displays to its Ray Ban Smart glasses as soon as the second half of 2025, The Financial Times reports. The second-generation glasses -- which Meta released in partnership with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica in November 2023 -- already offer consumers a slew of AI integrations. The glasses can remember your spot in long-term parking for you and let you record and send voice messages on WhatsApp and Messenger on the go. But we're not going to see the $300 sunglasses become a full-fledged augmented reality device like the Apple Vision Pro after the update. The new small display will instead be used to show notifications or responses from Meta's virtual assistant. However, Meta's augmented reality plans might be coming to consumers sooner than originally anticipated. The Financial Times sources said plans to turn its augmented reality glasses prototype, Orion -- unveiled in September -- into a consumer product had been "brought forward," though its release is still likely to "be years away." Though we don't have a firm release date for Orion, Meta promises to combine some of the mixed-reality features found in Meta's much larger Quest 3 VR headsets, but in a lightweight piece of eyewear. CEO Mark Zuckerberg promised the "most advanced glasses that the world has ever seen" during the announcement event. The reports come as more big tech firms are announcing their entry into the mixed reality glasses space. In September, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said that the chipmaker is partnering with Samsung and Google to develop mixed-reality glasses that can be connected to a wearer's smartphone. Meanwhile, Apple may be targeting a cheaper version of the Apple Vision Pro for release at some point after 2027, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts, offering an alternative to the $2,500 headset for budget-conscious audiences.

The upcoming Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses may feature the display upgrade we've been hoping for

The upcoming Ray-Ban smart glasses will reportedly feature similar 'in-lens' displays as Meta's Orion prototype for augmented reality experiences. When Meta teased its prototype Orion smart glasses at Meta Connect, CEO Mark Zuckerberg confidently said they were "the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen." The prototype glasses are an attempt to bridge the gap between the popular Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses -- which are lightweight and practical but limited in features -- and the Meta Quest, a full-fledged VR/AR headset with an augmented reality display that's also bulky and impractical for everyday use. Now, the Wall Street Journal reports that Meta will carry over some of Orion's best features, such as the "small in-lens screen" and a wristband controller, to the upcoming model of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Also: Your Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses just got a massive AI upgrade This would introduce an AR component to the glasses with a holographic interface while capturing your surroundings with a pass-through display that may be controllable with a wristband sensor. It's a sensible step up from the current smart glasses model, which only allows for audio-based interactions and photo and video-taking. The rumored wristband accessory would allow the user to navigate AR display menus with hand gestures: pinching your thumb and forefinger, for example, lets you "click" on options on a menu while your eyes act as cursors for scrolling through dialogue boxes. It's important to note that so far, Meta has not confirmed any of these features outright since the Orion product is still in the testing phase and not slated to launch until 2027. However, the company acknowledged this technology is among the most requested by users. Bringing useful AR to a wearable that's smaller than a massive headset is all new territory, but one that Meta seems committed to pioneering. Of course, this raises a lot of questions. First and foremost, what kind of battery life are we looking at here with the addition of an AR display? The glasses don't have much room to house a large, robust battery, so it will be interesting to see how many hours of life we can expect from the device. The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses on the market right now aren't winning any awards for battery life; They advertise four hours of use or even less with intensive video or live streaming. Introducing lenses with a pass-through display and integration with a wearable wristband suggests a whole new level of power demands. Also: I took my Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses fly fishing, and they beat GoPro in several surprising ways Along those lines, the whole design challenge with smart glasses is making them lighter, more discreet, and overall "normal" looking. This new technology will inevitably make them even larger unless there are some serious leaps forward in compressing the hardware. Even if Meta can make the finished product the same size as the existing Ray-Bans, that would be a success. The glasses demoed by the Wall Street Journal included a "puck" that paired with the glasses and acted as a sort of processing hub. This implies that there's simply no room in the glasses' frames to include all the hardware needed to accomplish the tasks they're designed for. It's unclear whether this will be part of the final design or just part of the prototype. Pricing is another big question since, as reported by The Verge, each pair of Orion glasses costs around $10,000 to make, a point that isn't exactly promising from a consumer affordability standpoint. However, Meta has clarified that the technology involved in Orion is still firmly in the development phase, leading me not to focus too much on this number for now. We'll be paying close attention to developments made in 2025 and in the meantime exploring everything possible with the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which continue to receive regular feature updates like translation AI and in my humble opinion, one of the most practical features yet: integration with Shazam.

Meta to add display to Ray-Bans as race over smart glasses intensifies

Meta plans to add displays to its Ray-Ban smart glasses as soon as next year, as the US tech giant accelerates its plans to build lightweight headsets that can usurp the smartphone as consumers' main computing device. The $1.5tn social media group is planning to add a screen inside the $300 sunglasses it makes and sells in partnership with eyewear group EssilorLuxottica, according to people familiar with the plans. The updated Ray-Bans could be released as early as the second half of 2025, the people said. The small display would be likely to be used to show notifications or responses from Meta's virtual assistant. The move comes as Meta pushes further into wearable devices and what chief executive Mark Zuckerberg hopes will be the next computing platform, as rivals such as Apple, Google and Snap also race to develop their own similar products. In September, Meta unveiled its augmented-reality glasses prototype Orion. According to people familiar with the matter, the company has accelerated Orion's development following the enthusiastic response of early testers. These people said Meta had brought forward plans to turn the device into a consumer product, though any release is still likely to be years away. Orion's compact design, lightweight frame and innovative displays, which overlay 3D content on to the real world, have been hailed as breakthroughs after years of failed AR headsets, including Google-backed Magic Leap and Microsoft's Hololens. Meta declined to comment on its smart glasses strategy. But in mid-December, Andrew Bosworth, its chief technology officer, wrote that 2025 would be "the most important [year] in the history of Reality Labs", the unit that builds its glasses and Quest virtual reality headsets. Reality Labs has been lossmaking since its creation in 2020 as part of Zuckerberg's long-term bet on the metaverse. The division lost $13bn in the first three quarters of 2024, and generated only around $1bn in revenue. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses have become a surprise hit among consumers after the latest version was launched in September 2023. The current model features discreet in-ear speakers, cameras and microphones, for listening to music, taking photos and chatting with Meta's artificial intelligence assistant. While the first version of a display would be likely to show simple text and images, it would represent a significant step towards converging the device with Zuckerberg's longer-term vision of AR glasses that can display a virtual world transposed upon the real world. With the Ray-Bans, "Meta proved that these lightweight glasses, even without a display, could be interesting and useful," said Michael Miller, who leads on augmented reality hardware at Niantic, the developer of Pokémon Go and other AR games. Meta's remains in the early days of experimenting what AR headsets might look like. Its Orion glasses are controlled by wristbands, which take signals from the body, including from the brain, in a neural interface. One person familiar with the matter said Meta was also exploring using a ring with a track pad or ball to control a headset. Experts say the platform faces big hurdles in developing fashionable glasses with adequate hardware performance and battery life, at a desirable price point. There are also serious supply chain challenges. One of Orion's biggest innovations is its novel use of silicon carbide lenses. The material has not been widely used in optics before and helped Meta create a much larger and brighter image for Orion's users than is possible using regular glass. However, the high cost and lack of large-scale manufacturing of silicon carbide lenses present a significant barrier to turning Orion into an affordable mass-market product without compromising on one of its advantages. "If the goal now is to expedite Orion commercialisation, one path would be to reduce the field of view . . . and use more ubiquitous glass materials," said Miller. Experts said that products such as Ray-Ban Meta glasses and Apple's Vision Pro are helping to get consumers comfortable with the idea of smart headsets, given the challenges of societal acceptance that ultimately thwarted Google's Glass eyewear almost a decade ago. The first Ray-Ban Meta glasses launched in 2021 and suffered from limited sales. However, the newest generation, which launched in October 2023, sold more in a few months than the previous ones did in two years, according to EssilorLuxottica's chief executive Francesco Milleri. Shipments of glasses wearables in 2024 grew by 73 per cent across the market. Meta's push comes despite Zuckerberg shifting focus away from his plans to build a 3D avatar-filled online world, known as a metaverse. Instead he has laid out his intention that Meta becomes a leader in AI, pouring billions in investment into the space, including developing its own open source large language models. "What's starting to become interesting about the Ray Bans and Orion is the way Meta's AI strategy is converging with mixed reality," said Luke Alvarez, founding general partner at Hiro Capital, which invests in games and metaverse tech. "Maybe [Zuckerberg] can end up owning a big piece of the next-gen operating system, which is clearly his stated goal."

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses could get a display next year - 9to5Mac

Ray-Ban Meta have been the most successful smart glasses to date, offering an appealing mix of features in a form factor which is visually indistinguishable from normal sunglasses. So far, all of the AI functionality, notifications, and messaging features have relied on the glasses reading things to you through integrated speakers, but a new report says a future model will get a display, and that it could launch as early as next year ... We're fans of the existing glasses here at 9to5Mac. My colleague Filipe Espósito said that his experience of Ray-Ban Meta glasses convinced him to believe in smart glasses, and my own experience mirrored that. I found it was a great way to shoot POV photos and videos in a very unobtrusive way, and to have incoming messages read to me while I'm walking or cycling. Their AI capabilities are rapidly developing, and really excite me about the future. Having the glasses read to me is often convenient, but there are times when a visual display is more efficient. We can read something faster than it can be read to us, so it would be good to have the choice. And a Financial Times report suggests that's coming sooner rather than later. Meta plans to add displays to its Ray-Ban smart glasses as soon as next year, as the US tech giant accelerates its plans to build lightweight headsets that can usurp the smartphone as consumers' main computing device. The $1.5tn social media group is planning to add a screen inside the $300 sunglasses it makes and sells in partnership with eyewear group EssilorLuxottica, according to people familiar with the plans. The updated Ray-Bans could be released as early as the second half of 2025, the people said. The small display would be likely to be used to show notifications or responses from Meta's virtual assistant. Meta showed off an early prototype of its Orion AR glasses back in the summer. While they are undeniably clunky, and reputedly have a manufacturing cost of $10,000, they did provide a persuasive look at what we can one day expect in something that looks and feels more like the company's existing smart glasses. A glasses form factor is also believed to be Apple's long-term goal, with Vision Pro just an early step along the way toward Apple Glasses. While speech will doubtless be included, Apple is expected to major on built-in displays. Back in 2019, it was reported that Apple believes that AR glasses will eventually replace the iPhone. Whether that will happen is a matter for debate, but I'm already convinced that smart glasses will play a very large role in our tech future. Meta adding a display to its own glasses helps drive the technology forward, and is something I very much look forward to trying.

Display Option on Smart Glasses Shows How Meta May Succeed Where Google Glass Failed

Since 2023, when Meta entered a partnership between sunglasses-making icon Ray-Ban, that's been an evolving success, resulting in last year's release of audio-only AR glasses that have sold like hotcakes, even outselling boring low-tech Ray-Bans in some places. Now a strong rumor says that Meta plans to accelerate its smart glasses push, and might add a small display to the Meta Ray-Ban AR glasses next year. If it succeeds, this tech could transform the smart wearable tech industry. A new report in the Financial Times says that in the second half of next year, Meta may release an updated version of the Ray-Ban glasses that sports a small display readable only by the wearer. Anonymous sources familiar with the plan told the newspaper this screen could show information like notifications and even responses from the system's built-in AI features. Though it sounds like a smallish change to the glasses, which currently retail for $299 in a screenless, audio-only design, the actual impact on the device's capabilities could be profound. The audio powers of the glasses already impressed reviewers: recently Meta added some AI features to the system that allow real-time translation into a short list of foreign languages, and interpret images from the glasses' built-in cameras that let it answer questions like "what am I looking at?" And, as a reviewer at website Lifehacker put it, one benefit of these smart goggles compared to others on the market (thinking of Apple's bulky Vision Pro, perhaps) this wearable tech doesn't "look dorky." That's thanks to Ray-Ban's Tom Cruise-like chicness.

Meta reportedly adding display to Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2025 as Android XR nears

A new report claims that Meta's next Ray-Ban smart glasses will be adopting a display of some sort, right as Google and Samsung are pushing for Android XR to do the same. Financial Times reports that Meta is planning to debut a pair of Ray-Ban smart glasses "as soon as next year" which integrate a display. Set to arrive in the second half of 2025, the glasses would apparently be used for notifications and responses from Meta's AI. Meta showed off its "Orion" smart glasses with an advanced display in September, but the tech was said to be too expensive to bring to market so far. This report implies that Meta could be bringing a less advanced form of display on these upcoming glasses. The updated Ray-Bans could be released as early as the second half of 2025, the people said. The small display would be likely to be used to show notifications or responses from Meta's virtual assistant. This all comes right after Google and Samsung have shown off their vision for Android XR, with a headset from Samsung coming alongside a pair of smart glasses. We went hands-on with Google's prototype glasses, which were similar in form factor to Meta's existing Ray-Bans, but with a display. Android XR will arrive in 2025 on a Samsung headset, Google says.

Meta Plans Display-Equipped Ray-Ban Glasses By 2025: FT - Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)

Meta accelerates AR innovation with Ray-Ban glasses and Orion prototype. Meta Platforms, Inc META, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, aims to advance wearable technology by integrating displays into its Ray-Ban smart glasses by 2025, the Financial Times reports. The $300 sunglasses, developed with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica ESLOF ESLOY, could feature small screens to display notifications and responses from Meta's virtual assistant, the Financial Times cites familiar sources. This development aims to position Meta as a frontrunner in augmented reality (AR) and wearable computing, which has the potential to replace smartphones as key computing devices. Also Read: Meta Cuts Jobs in WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reality Labs In Latest Reorganization According to the report, the next iteration of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, expected in late 2025, will introduce display technology, marking a step toward CEO Mark Zuckerberg's vision of lightweight AR headsets. The move aligns with Meta's broader strategy to integrate advanced technologies into everyday wearables, competing with companies like Apple Inc AAPL. Meta is also fast-tracking the development of its prototype AR glasses, Orion, after receiving positive feedback from early testers. The glasses feature advanced silicon carbide lenses for brighter and larger imagery. Last week, Meta launched three new features for its Ray-Ban smart glasses, including live AI, live translations, and Shazam. Meta's smart glasses have emerged as a blockbuster product in 60% of Ray-Ban stores in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Despite lacking AI features in Europe, the glasses outperformed conventional Ray-Ban models. In mid-December, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth flagged 2025 as the most significant year in the history of the Reality Labs unit behind the company's glasses and headsets. According to reports, the current model features sensitive in-ear speakers, cameras, and microphones. Wall Street firms, including JMP Securities, Wedbush, Oppenheimer, and Guggenheim, hailed Meta's launch of a VR headset and AI updates after the Connect event in September. They expect Meta's AI and VR innovations to be pivotal in helping it reach valuations like Apple's. Meta stock surged 71% year-to-date. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through Vanguard Large-Cap ETF VV and Vanguard Communication Services ETF VOX. Price Action: META stock is up 2.28% at $598.53 at last check Monday. Also Read: Meta's Reels Monetization and AI Innovations Drive Top AI Pick: Analyst Photo via Shutterstock METAMeta Platforms Inc$597.662.12%Overview Rating:Good62.5%Technicals Analysis1000100Financials Analysis400100WatchlistOverviewAAPLApple Inc$253.93-0.22%ESLOFEssilorluxottica$217.84-9.33%ESLOYEssilorluxottica$120.840.57%GOOGLAlphabet Inc$193.921.31%MSFTMicrosoft Corp$434.07-0.58%SNAPSnap Inc$11.21-1.62%VOXVanguard Communication Services ETF$157.240.60%VVVanguard Large-Cap ETF$272.920.22%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs