Mark Zuckerberg Declares War on Smartphones - Meta's Vision

A New Vision: Meta's Challenge to the Smartphone

For individuals struggling with constant phone checking, even during social interactions, Meta proposes an alternative: shifting that attention to a pair of smart glasses.

The Promise of Presence

CEO Mark Zuckerberg, during the Meta Connect 2025 keynote, articulated the core benefit of glasses: to restore a sense of presence often diminished by smartphone use. He believes glasses offer an opportunity to recapture the connection lost with the prevalence of mobile devices.

Strategic Hardware Development

While framed as a pursuit of enhanced social connection, Meta’s investment in hardware is also strategically aimed at reducing its reliance on the app store profits of rivals like Apple and Google. The company hopes its latest smart glasses, the Meta Ray-Ban Display, will eventually surpass the smartphone in market dominance.

Reality Labs and Significant Investment

Meta’s Reality Labs division has been a substantial drain on company resources, raising investor concerns. However, Wednesday’s presentation offered insight into how the $70 billion in losses since 2020 has been allocated.

From Metaverse to Innovative Hardware

Meta has experienced setbacks with projects like its metaverse initiative. Despite past disappointments, the Meta Ray-Ban Display represents a significant technological achievement, setting it apart from existing consumer products. Full evaluation awaits hands-on testing, but initial impressions are positive.

Features of the Meta Ray-Ban Display

Similar to previous models, the new glasses incorporate cameras, speakers, microphones, and an integrated AI assistant. The display, positioned to avoid obstructing vision, can showcase Meta applications – including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook – alongside navigation and real-time translation features.

Introducing the Meta Neural Band

A key differentiator is the Meta Neural Band, a wristband utilizing surface electromyography (sEMG) to interpret signals from the brain to the hand during gestures.

Gesture-Based Texting

Research from Reality Labs indicates users can compose messages by simulating handwriting with their fingers, as if holding a pen. While specifics weren’t detailed during the keynote, this technology allows for silent text input.

Demonstration and Performance

Despite some technical difficulties during the live demonstration – attributed to Wi-Fi issues – the wristband’s functionality was showcased. Zuckerberg successfully composed and sent text messages using the device.

“I’m up to about 30 words a minute on this,” Zuckerberg stated during the presentation at Meta’s Menlo Park headquarters. “You can get pretty fast.”

Texting Speed Comparison

Considering that research suggests an average texting speed of 36 words per minute on smartphones, Zuckerberg’s claim is noteworthy. Reality Labs’ research participants achieved an average of 21 words per minute with the new system.

Silent Communication

This technology enables glass users to communicate without vocalizing, a significant advantage in public environments. While Apple Watch offers similar functionality, its cumbersome process limits its practicality.

Gesture Control Evolution

Other wristband gestures resemble those found in devices like Nintendo Joy-Cons and Apple Watches. However, the potential of the voiceless texting interface suggests a capacity for more complex gesture recognition.

Long-Term Research and Development

Meta has been actively researching sEMG technology since 2021, even unveiling a prototype called Orion. Like Apple and Google, Meta anticipates a future where smart glasses could potentially replace smartphones.

The Question of Natural Integration

Despite the investment, it remains uncertain whether this technology will feel more intuitive than simply reaching for a smartphone. The comfort and convenience of a familiar device pose a significant challenge.

A Prosocial Narrative

This launch represents a substantial gamble for Meta, potentially exceeding the scale of its metaverse investment. Zuckerberg is positioning this technology not merely as an innovation, but as a more beneficial alternative to the smartphone, tapping into growing concerns about excessive screen time.

“The technology needs to get out of the way,” Zuckerberg emphasized.

The Future of Mobile Computing

Could the smartphone become a relic of the past, akin to older technologies like phones with T9 keyboards? The answer hinges on whether these glasses genuinely enhance our sense of presence. Meta, along with its competitors, is heavily invested in a cultural shift from smartphones to smart glasses, and the Ray-Ban Display offers a first glimpse into this potential future.