Meta’s Ray-Ban Display AI Smartglasses Offer A New Way to See the World

Mark Zuckerberg went onto the Meta Connect 2025 stage in Menlo Park, California, sporting a grin and a device that had been anticipated for months. The Meta Ray-Ban Display spectacles, priced at $799, and are the company’s most daring wearable ever, blending flair with futurism.

A small screen sits in the right lens, invisible to everyone but you. This high-res, full-color display floats like a dashboard, showing messages, maps or photos without blocking your view of the world. It’s for quick glances – check a text, see walking directions or preview a photo you just took. The screen turns off when you don’t need it and the glasses blend back into being, well, just glasses. Available in black or sand with Transitions lenses, they adapt to light conditions so you can wear them indoors or out. Weighing 69 grams, they’re slightly heavier than regular Ray-Bans, but still sleek, with a collapsible charging case that adds 30 hours of battery life, while the glasses last 6 hours of mixed use.

Control comes from the Meta Neural Band, a lightweight wristband that comes with every pair. This isn’t a touchscreen or a button, it’s an EMG (electromyography) device that detects subtle muscle movements in your wrist. Pinch your fingers to select, swipe your thumb to scroll or rotate your wrist to adjust volume. It’s intuitive, almost like an extension of your hand and works for almost everyone thanks to 200,000 participants in research. The band is made of durable yet soft Vectran and lasts 18 hours on a charge and has an IPX7 water rating so it can handle a splash or two. For those with limited mobility, like people with spinal cord injuries or tremors, this tech opens up new possibilities, translating tiny movements into precise commands.


A 12MP camera with 3X magnification captures photographs and 3K video, with a viewfinder on the display for framing shots. Meta AI, now with visuals, can display step-by-step instructions or answer queries using on-screen information, such as which landmark you’re looking at. Messaging is seamless; read texts or WhatsApp messages, respond with a pinch, or make video calls to share your observations. Navigation provides turn-by-turn directions on a map, beginning with a few towns in beta. Live captions and translations help down language barriers by displaying what someone is saying in real time. Music playback displays track information, with controls handled by the wristband’s gestures.


Because Meta collaborated with EssilorLuxottica, the parent firm of Ray-Ban, these glasses do not scream ‘tech gadget’. They resemble vintage Ray-Bans and are available in normal and big sizes to fit the majority of faces. Beginning September 30, you may sample them at select U.S. retailers such as Best Buy, LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, and Ray-Ban, with Verizon stores coming soon. Canada, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom are scheduled to follow in early 2026. The $799 price tag includes both the glasses and the Neural Band, although demos are encouraged to acquire the appropriate fit and experience the technology in action.


Along with the Display glasses, Meta announced two other models at Connect 2025. The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 is $379 and doubles the battery life to 8 hours and has a 3K video camera. Slow-motion and hyperlapse video will be added later this fall, plus a “conversation focus” mode to amplify voices in noisy environments. The Oakley Meta Vanguard is $499 and is designed for athletes with a wraparound design, 9 hour battery life and louder speakers for outdoor use. It pairs with Strava and Garmin for workout tracking and has a camera positioned for a wider field of view. These three models – camera focused, display driven and sports oriented – show Meta’s goal to cover all bases in wearables.