Meta Unveils First Smart Glasses with Built-In Display at Connect

Meta Platforms introduced its inaugural consumer-ready smart glasses, featuring a mini display in the right lens, during its annual Connect developer conference in Menlo Park, California, on September 17, aiming to extend the success of its Ray-Ban line and advance “personal superintelligence.”

The announcement underscores Meta’s push into AI-powered eyewear amid intensifying competition and follows years of collaboration with EssilorLuxottica to bring augmented capabilities to stylish frames.

Nut Graf

Meta’s new Ray-Ban Meta Display glasses-priced at $799 and shipping September 30-combine notifications, AI assistance and livestreaming in a familiar form factor, while the company also revealed Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses for athletes. This launch marks a pivotal step as Meta seeks to make smart glasses a mainstream computing platform.

Key Details

  • Product and Pricing: Ray-Ban Meta Display glasses include a compact digital screen for alerts and basic apps, retail at $799 and arrive in stores September 30. Oakley Meta Vanguard athletic glasses, with real-time fitness data integration, will cost $499 starting October 21.
  • Demonstration Glitches: CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s onstage call demo faltered, drawing laughs and applause, yet he emphasized glasses as the “perfect form factor” for on-the-go AI enhancements.
  • Feature Set: Both new models support Meta AI voice assistant, hands-free photo/video capture, livestreaming to Facebook and Instagram, and enhanced battery life.
  • Strategic Context: The launch at Meta’s Menlo Park HQ coincides with scrutiny over Reality Labs’ multi-billion-dollar deficits and criticism of Meta’s approach to child safety on social platforms.
  • Competitive Landscape: Despite leading smart glasses R&D, Meta trails rivals like Google in sophisticated AR models; the company has pledged massive AI chip investments and aggressive talent recruitment to catch up.

Market Impact and Outlook

Analysts remain skeptical about immediate sales volume for the display-equipped glasses but view the debut as a foundation for next-generation AR devices slated for 2027. Meta’s long-term vision positions smart glasses as gateways to AI-driven personal augmentation, potentially reshaping how users interact with digital services while remaining grounded in the physical world.