Key Takeaways Meta launches its first consumer smart glasses with a built-in display, the Meta Ray-Ban Display, priced at $799. New EMG Neural Band wristband enables hands-free control through subtle...
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took center stage at the company's annual Connect conference on September 17, 2025, launching what the company calls a breakthrough in wearable technology: smart glasses with integrated displays that respond to neural signals from a companion wristband.
The Meta Ray-Ban Display represents Meta's most ambitious consumer wearable device to date, featuring a tiny display screen on the inside right corner of the right lens that projects information into the user's field of view.
Unlike previous Meta smart glasses that relied solely on audio feedback, these new glasses provide visual information overlays for navigation, messaging, and AI assistance.
"Glasses are the ideal form factor for personal super intelligence because they let you stay present in the moment while getting access to all of these AI capabilities to make you smarter, help you communicate better, improve your memory, improve your senses," Zuckerberg explained during his keynote presentation.
The display technology uses a 600x600 pixel resolution with brightness up to 5,000 nits for outdoor visibility, positioned off to the side, so it doesn't obstruct your view.
The system is designed for brief interactions rather than constant use, allowing users to check messages, get navigation directions, and interact with Meta's AI assistant without removing their phones.
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the new glasses is the Meta Neural Band, an EMG (electromyography) wristband that translates the signals created by your muscle activity into commands for your glasses. The device detects tiny electrical signals from wrist muscles, enabling users to control their glasses through subtle finger movements.
"It replaces the touchscreens, buttons, and dials of today's technology with a sensor on your wrist, so you can silently scroll, click, and, in the near future, even write out messages using subtle finger movements," Zuckerberg stated.
The Neural Band development represents four years of research involving nearly 200,000 research participants, ensuring the device works out of the box for most users despite individual muscle variance. The wristband offers 18 hours of battery life and carries an IPX7 water resistance rating.
Meta also announced two additional smart glasses models at Connect 2025:
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 ($379): An updated version of the company's popular audio-only smart glasses, featuring doubled battery life to eight hours, improved 3K video recording capability, and a new "conversation focus" feature that amplifies voices in noisy environments.
Oakley Meta Vanguard ($499): Designed specifically for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, these glasses feature a centered camera for better helmet compatibility, longer battery life of nine hours, and integration with fitness platforms like Strava and Garmin for workout tracking.
The announcements come as Meta seeks to establish smart glasses as a major computing platform alternative to smartphones. Smart glasses remain a relatively niche product, but consumer adoption is growing fast, with EssilorLuxottica reporting that revenue from Meta glasses more than tripled year-over-year in July 2025.
"I've definitely seen the company's focus shift from VR headsets to glasses," said Justin Post of Bank of America Securities. "At this point, the glasses are going to be much more impactful."
The move positions Meta ahead of competitors including Google, Samsung, and potentially Amazon, all of whom are developing their own smart glasses technologies. Apple is also reportedly working on its own glasses project, while Google announced a $150 million partnership with Warby Parker in May 2025.
The Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, including the Neural Band, will be available starting September 30, 2025, for $799 at select U.S. retailers including Best Buy, LensCrafters, Ray-Ban stores, and Verizon locations. International expansion to Canada, France, Italy, and the UK is planned for early 2026.
The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 is available immediately for $379, while the Oakley Meta Vanguard will launch in October 2025 for $499.
During the demonstration, Zuckerberg experienced some technical difficulties, including failed video calls and unresponsive display buttons. "We'll debug that later," said Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth, highlighting that the technology remains in its early stages.
Key takeaways OpenAI has signed a multi-year, $10 billion agreement with AI chipmaker Cerebras Systems to secure computing infrastructure. The deal will deliver 750 megawatts of computing power throug...
KEY TAKEAWAYS: xAI implemented restrictions preventing Grok from editing images of real people in revealing clothing after global backlash California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched investigation...
Key takeaways TSMC reported fourth-quarter net income of NT$505.74 billion, beating analyst expectations and setting a new record. Fourth-quarter revenue reached NT$1.046 trillion, up 20.5% year over...
