Mark Zuckerberg Launches Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses Priced at $799

On Wednesday, Mark Zuckerberg unveiled Meta’s $799 Ray-Ban Display glasses, the social media company’s first consumer-ready smart glasses featuring a built-in digital display. These glasses integrate a high-resolution display controlled via hand gestures through the Meta Neural Band, an EMG wristband powered by neural technology. The glasses allow users to watch videos, view and respond to messages without obstructing their field of vision. They bridge the gap between Meta’s audio-only Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and the experimental Orion augmented reality glasses, which overlay 3D visuals but are expensive and not yet consumer-ready. The Ray-Ban Display glasses go on sale in the U.S. on September 30.

During a demo, Zuckerberg attempted multiple times to call Meta tech chief Andrew Bosworth without success, highlighting the experimental nature of the device. Meta has been developing its smart glasses in partnership with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica since 2019 and renewed a long-term partnership last year to continue production.

Alongside the Ray-Ban Display glasses, Meta introduced the Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses, designed for high-intensity sports such as snowboarding and mountain biking. These Oakley-branded glasses will cost $499 at launch on October 21, making them $100 more expensive than the Oakley Meta HSTN glasses released in June. The new glasses feature a wraparound design with colorful lenses extending around the temples, a button on the underside for capturing photos and videos while wearing helmets, and up to nine hours of battery life. They can capture 3K video, contain louder speakers than previous models, and connect with Garmin fitness watches to monitor metrics like heart rate using the Meta AI assistant. Preorders have already begun.

Meta also debuted the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2), the latest version of the company’s original smart glasses. Priced at $379, up from $299 for the 2023 model, these glasses feature double the battery life of the previous version, lasting up to eight hours on a single charge, and a more powerful camera capable of capturing 3K Ultra HD video. The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) is available for purchase immediately.

In addition to smart glasses, Zuckerberg announced Horizon TV, a platform that allows users to watch television shows, movies, and sporting events using Meta’s Quest VR headsets. Content partners for Horizon TV include major entertainment companies like Disney and Universal Pictures.

The Ray-Ban Display glasses aim to merge classic Ray-Ban style with cutting-edge AI and display technology, offering consumers interactive experiences without obstructing their view. They serve as an accessible middle ground between Meta’s earlier audio-only smart glasses and the experimental, high-end Orion AR glasses.

Overall, Meta’s announcements demonstrate the company’s ongoing investment in consumer-focused smart eyewear and augmented reality technologies, targeting both casual users and niche markets such as athletes. By combining traditional eyewear aesthetics with advanced AI capabilities, these products aim to establish Meta as a leader in the growing AR and smart glasses market. The product lineup—Ray-Ban Display, Oakley Meta Vanguard, and Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2)—alongside Horizon TV, highlights Meta’s strategy to expand its hardware ecosystem while integrating virtual and augmented reality content experiences for users worldwide.

This launch not only emphasizes Meta’s innovation in wearable technology but also reflects its continued collaboration with eyewear and tech partners to push the boundaries of consumer electronics, offering new ways for users to interact with digital content seamlessly.