Mark Zuckerberg unveils $799 Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses

In a significant announcement on Wednesday, Mark Zuckerberg introduced the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, priced at $799. These smart glasses represent Meta's first foray into consumer-ready eyewear equipped with a built-in display, merging classic design with advanced technology. The glasses feature a small digital screen that can be navigated through hand gestures via a wristband utilizing neural technology, a concept hinted at in a CNBC report last August. Although a promotional video showcasing the product was temporarily available on Meta's YouTube channel, it was subsequently removed. These smart glasses serve as a link between the company's previous audio-only Ray-Ban Meta models and the more experimental Orion augmented reality glasses unveiled last year. The Orion glasses can project 3D visuals into a user’s real-world environment, yet remain costly and are not available for consumers. Zuckerberg emphasized the stylish nature of the new glasses, stating, "These are glasses with the classic style that you'd expect from Ray-Ban, but they're the first AI glasses with a high-resolution display and a fully integrated Meta neural band." He highlighted the functionality of the display, which allows users to watch videos and manage text messages without obstructing their view, as it becomes invisible when not in use. During the product demonstration, Zuckerberg humorously struggled to connect with Meta's tech chief Andrew Bosworth before Bosworth joined him on stage to showcase the glasses. The Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses are set to hit the U.S. market on September 30. In collaboration with eyewear manufacturer EssilorLuxottica since 2019, Meta also announced the Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses, targeted towards athletes engaged in high-intensity sports. Priced at $499 and launching on October 21, these glasses boast features such as a wraparound design and a button for easy photo and video capture, even while wearing helmets. The Oakley glasses promise up to nine hours of battery life, the capability to record 3K video, and enhanced speaker volume compared to earlier models. They will also integrate with Garmin fitness watches to monitor metrics like heart rates through the Meta AI assistant. Preorders have commenced for these innovative devices. Additionally, Meta introduced the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2), an upgraded version of its inaugural smart glasses, retailing for $379, an increase from the $299 price of the previous release. The new model boasts double the battery life, now lasting eight hours, and features an improved camera capable of 3K Ultra HD video capture, available for sale immediately.