In Shorts:
- Meta and Ray-Ban have unveiled a new generation of smart glasses featuring a discreet, built-in LED display that projects information only the wearer can see.
- A key innovation is a new wrist-worn device that allows for touch-free control of the glasses’ functions, from music to photos.
- Alongside the premium display model, Meta announced two more accessible “Styles” without a screen, broadening its wearable tech lineup.
LAS VEGAS — In a bold stride toward making augmented reality (AR) a part of daily life, Meta has unveiled the next chapter in its partnership with iconic eyewear brand Ray-Ban. Moving beyond the camera-and-audio focused first generation, the new Meta Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses now feature what the company has long been working towards: a built-in screen.
The most significant upgrade is the integration of an ultra-low luminosity LED display. Designed for discretion, this display projects information like notifications, messages, or song lyrics directly into the user’s field of view. Crucially, the display is private, meaning those around the wearer cannot see what is being projected—a key feature for social acceptance.
But a screen needs a intuitive way to control it. Meta’s solution? Your wrist. The new glasses are designed to work in tandem with a new wrist-based wearable controller. This allows users to navigate menus, play music, or snap photos with subtle gestures, eliminating the need to touch the glasses’ arms or pull out a phone.
“For the first time, you can control your glasses without using your hands,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a statement. “This combination of glasses and a wrist device is a powerful step toward a more natural and integrated computing experience.”
Alongside the flagship model with the display, Meta is expanding its lineup with two new “Meta Ray-Ban Styles.” These models forgo the screen but retain the popular 12MP camera, open-ear speakers, and microphone for taking calls and listening to music, offering a more accessible entry point into the smart glasses ecosystem.
All models are deeply integrated with Meta’s AI. Users can activate the assistant hands-free with the wake word “Hey Meta” to get information, identify landmarks, or even create custom prompts for complex tasks.
This launch represents a critical evolution for Meta. It’s a move from a clever hands-free camera to a genuine, albeit early-stage, augmented reality platform. By combining high-fashion design from Ray-Ban with increasingly sophisticated tech, Meta is betting that the wrist and the eyes are the next frontier for human-computer interaction.
The new Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses are available for pre-order now.
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