During its annual Meta Connect event keynote, hosted by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Meta unveiled a range of exciting new smart glasses. Among the highlights were the innovative Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses, which now feature an integrated screen, and the Oakley-branded “Meta Vanguard” smart glasses, boasting a sporty wraparound design and a prominent central camera.
The most buzzworthy announcement was undoubtedly the Ray-Ban Display glasses, which feature a heads-up display subtly embedded in the right lens. Meta gave a sneak peek by seemingly livestreaming from Zuckerberg’s perspective as he walked on stage, showcasing real-time overlays of music playback and incoming messages. These are touted as the first smart glasses with a high-resolution display, offering 42 pixels per degree – impressive for wearable tech – and a screen large enough for viewing videos or reading texts. Messages vanish after a few seconds, and you can instantly review photos you’ve captured. Powered by Meta AI, these glasses allow users to interact conversationally. While they don’t offer full augmented reality where street signs magically transform or names appear over people’s heads like in a sci-fi game, they represent a significant stride towards that future. (Image: Meta Ray-Ban Display)
Beyond the display, these Ray-Ban glasses come packed with features: a six-microphone array, open-ear speakers, a 12-megapixel camera with 3x zoom, and up to 6 hours of mixed-use battery life, extendable to 30 hours with the charging case. Control is innovative, thanks to the new Neural Band wrist device. This band interprets subtle hand movements; in a live demonstration, Zuckerberg mimicked writing on a surface to compose text messages. Meta has been developing this surface electromyography (sEMG) technology, which is akin to Apple Watch gestures for tasks like answering calls. While the live demo had a slight hiccup with Zuckerberg missing a call, the potential for seamless interaction was clear.
Of course, integrating a display comes with its own set of trade-offs. Much like Meta’s Orion AR glasses demoed last year, the new Ray-Bans require additional hardware, leading to noticeably chunkier frames that are 20 grams heavier than previous screen-less models. Meta has tried to minimize this by distributing components to the temples, but wearers sensitive to weight might find them uncomfortable. While they might blend seamlessly on a larger-than-life personality, everyday users might find the added weight and attention-grabbing design a real adjustment. These Ray-Ban Display glasses will be available in black and tan, with or without prescription lenses, starting September 30th for $799.
Next up are the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses, which diverge significantly from the Ray-Ban aesthetic. They feature a more rugged, utilitarian look with a sporty, wraparound design, bright reflective lenses, and a large camera placed directly in the center. These are clearly aimed at active individuals, such as cyclists, who would benefit from a centrally positioned camera for recording workouts and enhanced peripheral sun protection. (Image: Oakley Meta Vanguard)
The Vanguard’s standout feature is its camera: a 12-megapixel sensor capable of recording 3K video, complemented by a wide 122-degree field of view, perfect for capturing dynamic action. Meta also claims the open-ear speakers can adapt to winds up to 30mph, a bold assertion given the speaker type. Battery life is quite good, offering up to 9 hours of regular use.
Additional features include slow motion and hyperlapse video modes, plus an autocapture function that automatically records based on speed or distance benchmarks. Designed with fitness in mind, these glasses are IP67 rated, making them dust-tight and resistant to temporary water immersion. Their shield-style lenses are also interchangeable, allowing for personalization. Pre-orders for the Oakley Meta Vanguard are open now, with availability beginning October 21st, priced at $499.
Lastly, the 2nd generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses were unveiled, featuring a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera capable of 3K video recording. These new models boast double the battery life of their predecessors, offering up to 8 hours on a single charge, with an impressive 48 additional hours from the charging case. New features include ‘Conversation Focus,’ designed to amplify the voice of a speaker in noisy environments, though it requires manual activation via Meta AI, which could lead to some awkward pauses. (Image: Ray-Ban Meta, 2nd Gen)
Another introduced feature was ‘Live AI,’ which allows users to have an hour-long conversational interaction with the AI. During a demo, when asked to help create a “Korean-inspired steak sauce,” the AI stumbled when interrupted, claiming ingredients were already combined when they weren’t. Zuckerberg and the demonstrator attributed this to poor Wi-Fi. The 2nd-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses are available now, starting at $379.