Meta's AI-powered smart glasses get mixed reviews from users

Meta has launched its latest innovation in wearable technology: AI-driven smart glasses designed to minimize screen time by allowing users to read messages, view images, and perform online tasks directly through an integrated display on the lenses. During the Connect 2025 event on September 17, CEO Mark Zuckerberg also introduced a neural wristband that pairs seamlessly with the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, enabling users to send messages and navigate tasks using simple hand gestures. Dubbed 'Hypernova,' these new smart glasses come with a starting price of $799, generating a mix of anticipation and skepticism among early adopters. A live demonstration by Zuckerberg faced challenges on stage, yet initial testers have expressed optimism, suggesting that these glasses might finally fulfill the promise of Google Glass from over a decade ago. Reviewers have lauded the heads-up display for its clarity and brightness, making it suitable for daylight use, with widgets that are more user-friendly compared to those on traditional smartwatches. The standout feature appears to be the neural wristband, which enables intuitive micro-gestures like thumb slides and pinches for navigation. Testers have described this aspect as the most impressive part of the experience. Additionally, the glasses include innovative features such as whisper-friendly voice commands and minimal light leakage, enhancing their appeal in social settings. However, the glasses do come with limitations, lacking a 3D or holographic interface. Instead, they offer a 2D display visible only in one eye. Comparisons to Google Glass have emerged, highlighting that while Meta’s design is more elegant and AI-enhanced, it is still confined to basic functionalities such as navigation, messaging, music streaming, and photo capture. Users who tested the glasses in Beverly Hills noted the enjoyment of specific features like real-time translation and AI-driven snapshots. At a price point comparable to the Apple Watch Ultra, the Hypernova glasses are viewed as a more accessible option than the original $1,500 price tag of Google Glass. The glasses feature a small screen on the right lens that displays texts, video calls, turn-by-turn directions, AI search results, photos, music controls, and even a digital camera viewfinder. The neural wristband acts as the primary control mechanism, allowing users to pinch to select items, swipe across their hand to scroll, double-tap to access Meta’s AI assistant, and twist their wrist to adjust the volume. Upcoming updates are expected to include 'air writing' for responses and enhanced voice focus to minimize background noise. Currently, the glasses support applications like Messenger, WhatsApp, and Spotify, with Instagram limited to direct messages. Meta aims to expand functionalities, including viewing Reels, positioning the glasses as a hands-free alternative to smartphones in the near future.