Ray-Ban Meta has emerged as the leading player in the smart glasses market, combining a remarkable array of features with a design nearly indistinguishable from traditional sunglasses.
Up to now, the AI capabilities, notifications, and messaging functions have depended on audio readouts through built-in speakers. However, a recent report indicates that a forthcoming model may include a display, potentially launching as soon as next year…
We at DMN have a positive stance on the current glasses. My colleague, Filipe Espósito, mentioned that using the Ray-Ban Meta glasses led him to trust in the viability of smart glasses, and my experience has been similarly favorable.
I found them to be an excellent option for capturing POV images and videos discreetly and for receiving messages audibly while on the move, whether walking or cycling.
The rapid advancement of their AI features truly excites me about what lies ahead.
Future models may feature a display
While the audio reading functionality is convenient, there are moments when a visual display is more effective. We can often read faster than we can listen, making a visual option desirable. According to a report from the Financial Times, this may soon be a reality.
Meta is expected to integrate displays into its Ray-Ban smart glasses as early as next year, as the tech giant accelerates its ambition to create lightweight headsets that could replace smartphones as the primary computing device for consumers.
The $1.5 trillion social media company plans to embed a screen inside the $300 sunglasses produced in partnership with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica, as revealed by sources familiar with the developments.
The revamped Ray-Bans could hit the market as soon as the latter half of 2025, according to these insiders. This small display is likely intended to present notifications or responses from Meta’s virtual assistant.
A significant move towards Apple Glasses
This past summer, Meta showcased an early prototype of its Orion AR glasses. While they may appear somewhat bulky, with an estimated manufacturing expense of $10,000, they offered an intriguing glimpse into a future that closely resembles the company’s current smart glasses.
It is rumored that Apple’s long-term vision remains aligned with a glasses format, with the Vision Pro serving as merely a preliminary step towards Apple Glasses. Though voice functionality will likely be present, Apple is expected to focus heavily on integrated displays.
Reportedly, back in 2019, Apple conveyed its belief that AR glasses would ultimately replace the iPhone. While the feasibility of this assertion is debatable, I am already convinced that smart glasses will play a pivotal role in our technological future.
Meta’s decision to add a display to its smart glasses is a crucial advancement in the technology, and I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to test it out.
Photo: Ben Lovejoy/DMN
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