Meta Ray-Ban Display & Meta Connect 2025 Announcements

Meta's New Lineup of Smart Glasses Unveiled at Connect 2025

During Meta Connect 2025, the company’s annual flagship event, Mark Zuckerberg introduced three innovative smart glasses models.

These new devices include the second-generation Ray-Ban Meta, the Meta Ray-Ban Display paired with a dedicated wristband controller, and the Oakley Meta Vanguard.

Sales Success and Market Trends

Meta reports having sold 2 million units of the initial Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

Earlier in the year, the company showcased its most recent AI-integrated smart glasses developed in collaboration with Oakley, specifically engineered for athletic performance.

The Rise of AI Wearables

The technology sector, particularly Silicon Valley, is demonstrating a significant focus on AI wearables.

Meta is positioning itself as a prominent leader in this rapidly evolving market segment.

The introduction of these new glasses underscores the company’s commitment to advancing wearable technology.

Meta Connect 2025: Key Events and a Notable Demo Hiccup

Meta aimed to reassert its position in the artificial intelligence landscape and boost hardware sales during Mark Zuckerberg’s keynote at Meta Connect 2025. The event featured several noteworthy technological advancements, with the Meta Neural Band and the wristband controller accompanying the Meta Ray-Ban Display being particularly prominent.

However, a demonstration of the Ray-Ban Meta’s AI capabilities experienced an unexpected setback, echoing a scenario reminiscent of the HBO series “Silicon Valley.”

During a live video stream featuring cooking content creator Jack Mancuso at Meta headquarters, Zuckerberg requested a demonstration of the Ray-Ban Meta’s assistance in preparing a Korean-inspired steak sauce.

The integrated Meta AI voice assistant initiated the interaction, inquiring, “I admire your ingredient arrangement. How may I be of assistance?”

Mancuso requested a recipe for the specified sauce, prompting the AI to begin listing the necessary ingredients. Recognizing the need for brevity, Mancuso interjected, asking, “What is the initial step?”

A noticeable pause followed before Mancuso repeated his question, “What do I do first?”

The AI responded, “Begin by grating a pear to incorporate into the sauce.” This instruction was problematic, as Mancuso had not yet commenced the recipe and therefore hadn’t combined any base ingredients.

Upon receiving the same response to his repeated inquiry, audible laughter arose from the audience.

Mancuso then suggested, “It appears there may be a connectivity issue – returning control to you, Mark!”

Zuckerberg acknowledged the situation, stating, “It’s somewhat ironic that after years of development, a simple Wi-Fi problem can occur.” He then added, “We will revisit his creation later.”

The exchange proved somewhat uncomfortable, particularly as the issue didn’t appear to stem from Wi-Fi connectivity. Even with smooth execution, such presentations can occasionally feel contrived, as exemplified by the keynote’s conclusion, where Zuckerberg and Diplo ran into the sunset while wearing Meta Oakley Vanguards. Perhaps Zuckerberg simply integrated some exercise into his busy day.

Key Takeaways from the Event

• Meta Neural Band: A new interface for interacting with AI.
• Meta Ray-Ban Display: Enhanced smart glasses with AI capabilities.
• AI Demonstration Issue: A live demo of the Ray-Ban Meta’s AI encountered difficulties.
• Meta Oakley Vanguards: New eyewear showcased during the event’s finale.

The event highlighted Meta’s continued investment in both AI and augmented reality technologies, despite the occasional technical hiccup.

Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2)

Meta has introduced the next iteration of its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, initially launched in 2023. This updated version boasts a significantly improved battery performance, offering twice the longevity of the previous model. Users can now expect up to eight hours of operation with typical mixed usage on a single charge.

Furthermore, the second-generation glasses now facilitate ultra HD 3K video recording, representing a doubling in clarity compared to the prior generation, according to Meta.

Several new functionalities are being integrated into Meta’s smart eyewear alongside the release of the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) and the Oakley Meta HSTN glasses. Among these is a feature called conversation focus.

As explained by Meta in a press statement, “When you are dining at a popular new eatery, traveling by public transport, or enjoying a performance by your preferred DJ, conversation focus utilizes the open-ear speakers of your AI-powered glasses to enhance the audibility of the person with whom you are speaking.”

The availability of conversation focus is still pending, and its practical effectiveness remains to be seen in real-world scenarios.

The Live AI capability – which experienced demonstration issues during its initial presentation – is also scheduled for release. However, its substantial energy demands limit its operational duration to approximately one to two hours.

The company stated, “With ongoing improvements to battery life and energy efficiency, Meta AI will evolve from a system activated by a wake word to a consistently accessible assistant.”

The second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses are available for purchase at a price of $379.

Meta Ray-Ban Display

Meta’s latest innovation, the Ray-Ban Display smart glasses, represent their most advanced eyewear to date. These glasses integrate a display directly into the right lens, providing access to applications, notifications, and navigational guidance.

A key differentiator for this smart glass model is the inclusion of the Meta Neural Band, a dedicated wrist-worn controller.

The Meta Neural Band resembles a Fitbit in its design, notably lacking a traditional screen. It utilizes surface electromyography (sEMG) technology to detect subtle hand movements and gestures.

This technology offers a level of sophistication exceeding typical wrist gestures found on devices like the Apple Watch. Users can compose text messages by simulating the act of writing with a pen, utilizing finger movements.

Incoming WhatsApp messages, for example, can be viewed on the glasses’ display, and responses can be crafted through this innovative “writing” method.

Currently, the glasses are compatible with Meta’s own applications. However, broader adoption will necessitate support for a diverse range of apps.

Similar to the strategies of Apple and Google, Meta envisions smart glasses as potential disruptors to the smartphone market. Achieving this shift in consumer behavior will present a significant undertaking.

The Meta Ray-Ban Display, bundled with the Meta Neural Band, is priced at $799 and will be available for purchase starting September 30.

Oakley Meta Vanguard

For individuals skeptical about the widespread adoption of smart glasses, the concept of wearing them to send messages via air gestures might seem far-fetched. However, the Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses, specifically engineered for athletes, present a compelling and practical application of this technology.

Athletes such as cyclists, trail runners, and skiers can now document their experiences hands-free, eliminating the need to retrieve their phones. The integrated open-air speakers allow for music playback during training sessions.

Furthermore, these glasses seamlessly integrate with fitness applications like Strava and Garmin, providing real-time performance statistics.

Like other recently released models, the Vanguard incorporates AI capabilities.

Distinguishing themselves from other Meta smart glasses, the Oakley Meta Vanguards feature a single, unified front lens housing the camera centrally. This contrasts with the dual-lens design of previous models, which positioned cameras on either side.

This design choice offers both technical advantages and a more streamlined aesthetic, particularly well-suited for athletic eyewear.

The new glasses are capable of capturing video at resolutions up to 3K, and are equipped with a 12-megapixel camera boasting a 122-degree wide-angle lens.

Built for rigorous activity, the glasses possess an IP67 rating, ensuring resistance to both dust and water. Meta highlights the wraparound design, incorporating Oakley’s PRIZM Lens technology, which effectively shields against sunlight, wind, and debris.

For most workouts, the battery life will prove sufficient. The glasses can operate for up to nine hours on a single charge, or six hours with continuous audio playback.

The included charging case extends usability, providing an additional 36 hours of power. Meta asserts that the charging case can rapidly replenish the glasses to a 50% charge within just 20 minutes.

The Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses are priced at $499 and will be available for purchase starting October 21.

The Metaverse: A Secondary Focus

During this year’s Connect conference, Meta did not unveil any new Quest headsets. Despite the company and event being intrinsically linked to the metaverse concept, updates pertaining to virtual reality were relatively limited.

One notable development highlighted was Hyperscape, a tool designed to empower developers and creators with the ability to construct highly realistic environments within virtual reality.

Currently, Meta is said to be working on an exceptionally lightweight VR headset, with a projected release timeframe of late 2026.

It is possible that this new device will be showcased at the subsequent Meta Connect gathering.

The emphasis at this year’s event clearly indicated a shift in priorities, with the metaverse taking a backseat to other initiatives.

Details on Hyperscape

Hyperscape represents a significant advancement in VR development capabilities.

It allows for the creation of virtual spaces with a level of photorealism previously unattainable.

This tool is expected to be instrumental in shaping the future of immersive experiences.

Future VR Headset Plans

Meta’s ongoing development of an ultralight VR headset suggests a continued commitment to the VR space.

The anticipated launch in 2026 indicates a long-term vision for the technology.

This future headset could potentially address some of the current limitations of VR devices, such as weight and comfort.