Meta’s new Hypernova AR glasses could launch next month, likely to cost…

Meta is gearing up for the debut of its first-ever smart glasses featuring a display, with a potential launch slated for next month. Recent reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reveal intriguing details regarding the pricing of these innovative eyewear, internally referred to as ‘Hypernova’. Initially, expectations set the price at a steep $1,000, with some discussions even suggesting a figure as high as $1,400. This would have positioned the Hypernova glasses above the base and Plus models of the iPhone 16. However, in a strategic shift, Meta is now reportedly targeting a starting price of approximately $800. This adjustment is believed to stem from the company's decision to accept lower profit margins to stimulate demand for this new product. While this new pricing strategy is promising, Gurman cautions that various style options and prescription lenses may significantly increase the final cost. The Hypernova glasses are positioned as a precursor to fully realized augmented reality eyewear. They are expected to feature a small display on the right lens for notifications and mini applications, controlled conveniently via a neural wrist accessory seen previously with Meta's Orion AR prototypes. Upon startup, users can expect to see a boot screen showcasing Meta's logo alongside that of partners like Qualcomm. The home interface will arrange circular icons horizontally, reminiscent of layouts found on Apple devices and Meta's Quest mixed-reality headset. In addition, the glasses are anticipated to include dedicated applications for photography, navigation, and the ability to receive notifications from mobile apps, including Meta's Messenger and WhatsApp. Like other devices from Meta, the Hypernova glasses will likely operate on a highly customized version of Android, although an app store is not anticipated at launch.