The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses were released in 2023 as an upgrade to their predecessor, the Ray-Ban Stories.
Since then, consumers have warmed up to the idea of fashionable and functional smart glasses on the market.
Recently, a report by the Financial Times stated that Meta is preparing to add displays to its smart glasses.
Functioning as smaller built-in displays, the screens are speculated to show up in a future version of the device as early as the second half of 2025. It’s likely that these small screens will be used to display notifications or responses from Meta’s AI virtual assistant — a feature fairly recently added to the device. At the same time, experts believe this isn’t a complete venture into making a full mixed-reality device (like Apple’s Vision Pro headset) just yet.
Instead, Meta’s move toward mixed reality was realized through the recently unveiled Orion AR glasses. While the response to the AR glasses was positive, it remains uncertain whether the device will remain an in-house prototype. Whether through mixed reality or augmented reality (AR), Meta and Ray-Ban’s future plans will be a step further into differentiating the product from other smart eyewear on the market, such as the Huawei smart sunglasses we recently covered. Like Ray-Ban’s offering, the smart Huawei shades allow wearers to communicate via calls and messages while accessing the Pangu AI.
So far, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have remained a popular option for both technologically inclined and casual consumers, blending fashion and emerging technology. The current version of Ray-Ban Meta glasses includes in-ear speakers, cameras, microphones, and access to Meta’s virtual assistant via voice control.
More Ray-Ban x Meta developments
Aside from Meta’s plans to add a display to its smart glasses, the tech company has worked continuously with eyewear giant Ray-Ban over the past few years to push out updates and improvements for wearers. After the relatively short-lived Ray-Ban Stories glasses, the two companies improved on their first smart glasses venture by updating the Ray-Ban Meta’s cameras and introducing the use of Meta’s AI assistant later on.
Today, consumers use the Ray-Ban Meta to capture images and videos and even live stream them directly to Meta platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Meanwhile, the built-in AI assistant can answer questions, provide translations and summaries, and respond to queries based on what the glasses look at.
One of the reasons the Ray-Ban Meta has become so popular among consumers, of course, is Ray-Ban’s commitment to good design. The smart glasses currently use many of the brand’s iconic eyeglasses designs, from the Wayfarer and the Headliner to, most recently, the Skyler. Of course, Ray-Ban has a host of other recognizable models, including the Aviator and the Clubmaster, which we may be able to see in future Ray-Ban Meta versions.
As is customary with the Ray-Ban brand, fans can expect even more variants within the same model. For example, the company recently unveiled new transparent frames from the Wayfarer Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses variant. Released as a limited edition model, the glasses are modeled after the brand’s flagship shades and include a computer, sensors, mics, and speakers built into their frames.
Meanwhile, the Meta Orion, previously dubbed Project Nazare, is Meta’s first-ever foray into the AR glasses market. While the Orion is marketed as a pair of lightweight AR glasses, the design differs from the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, with chunkier frames and arms to accommodate the added hardware. Going forward, Meta’s plans to add a display to the Ray-Ban smart glasses may be indicative of more big moves from the tech giant to properly penetrate the mixed and augmented reality segment.