Meta has taken another bold step into wearable technology with the launch of its new Ray-Ban Display smart glasses. Announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the company’s annual developer conference, Meta Connect 2025, the glasses feature a built-in display on the right lens and a wristband controller called the Meta Neural Band. The device will go on sale September 30 for $799.
Fashion Meets Technology
The Meta Ray-Ban Display is one of the company’s most ambitious consumer products to date. It blends the iconic Ray-Ban style with new digital capabilities that push smart eyewear closer to everyday reality. Unlike last year’s Orion demo, which remained a prototype, this is a consumer-ready product that Meta believes can redefine how people interact with their devices.
The launch builds on the success of Meta’s earlier collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, which resulted in the popular Ray-Ban Meta glasses. Those models sold millions of units by combining sleek design with cameras, microphones, speakers, and an AI-powered assistant. The new version takes things further, offering an integrated display that lets users check apps, notifications, directions, and even live translations without reaching for their phone.
Meta has designed the glasses to work seamlessly with its own ecosystem, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, signaling the company’s commitment to anchoring communication and social interaction in its hardware.
A New Way to Control Devices
Alongside the glasses, Meta introduced the Neural Band, a lightweight wrist-worn controller that resembles a Fitbit but functions in an entirely new way. The band uses electromyography (EMG) to detect tiny electrical signals sent between the brain and hand during gestures. With minimal finger movements, users can scroll, tap, or select items in apps, creating a futuristic, hands-free experience.
Onstage, Zuckerberg emphasized that the Neural Band offers 18 hours of battery life, is water-resistant, and is designed for everyday use. For Meta, the controller represents a broader vision: moving beyond touchscreens to a world where gesture-based interactions become the primary way to use technology.
More Accessible Than Orion
While innovative, the Ray-Ban Display is less advanced than the Orion smart glasses Meta demonstrated in 2024. Orion included augmented reality lenses and eye-tracking, making it a far more futuristic product. The Ray-Ban Display is positioned as a simpler, more practical model—a product that can be mass-produced and sold today rather than a concept years away from market readiness.
By releasing a device that is stylish, functional, and available to consumers now, Meta is betting that it can establish a foothold in the smart glasses market ahead of rivals.
Racing Against Competitors
Meta knows competition is looming. Both Google and Apple are expected to launch smart glasses in the coming years. Those devices will likely integrate deeply with Android and iOS, giving them a strong advantage among users already invested in those ecosystems.
Even so, Meta believes it has a unique edge. The partnership with Ray-Ban provides immediate brand appeal, while the combination of fashion, cloud connectivity, AI, and social media integration makes the product stand out in the wearables space.
Looking Ahead
Although Orion remains a vision of the future, the Ray-Ban Display represents Meta’s more immediate goal: offering a stylish and functional gateway into the world of smart eyewear. It may not have all the futuristic features yet, but it provides consumers with a tangible way to experience what wearable computing could look like.
The coming months will determine whether Meta’s gamble pays off. If consumers embrace gesture controls and display-based interactions, Meta could secure a strong position in the smart glasses race. If not, Google and Apple could easily dominate once they unveil their own devices.
For now, Meta has put itself ahead by being first to deliver a product that combines fashion and function. Starting September 30, consumers will be able to try the Meta Ray-Ban Display and take a glimpse into the future of wearable technology.
