Meta’s Ray-Ban Display: A glimpse of the future
Meta pushes smart glasses forward while reminding us how far they still have to go
Meta has finally unveiled the Ray-Ban Display glasses, its first consumer eyewear with a built-in screen, priced at $799. On paper, this sounds like a breakthrough. In reality, the product is a little more complicated.
The glasses look like a chunky pair of Ray-Bans, with the display tucked discreetly into the right lens. Unlike Apple's Vision Pro, it is not immersive augmented reality. Instead, it is a glanceable overlay that surfaces texts, maps, video calls and even translations.
This distinction matters, as Meta does not call them AR glasses at all but "display AI glasses." That narrower vision is deliberate — it makes the product feel practical rather than experimental.
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According to Engadget, the display is sharp and surprisingly bright in use. Features such as live captions, photo previews and pedestrian navigation show clear everyday utility.
The included Neural Band wristband adds an intriguing layer. By detecting tiny muscle movements, it lets you swipe, pinch or rotate your hand to control the interface. It works better than one might expect, though it takes practice.
Yet the launch was far from flawless.
At the Meta Connect 2025 event, the glasses failed to receive a phone call during a live demo. That stumble underscored the risk of pitching them as a phone replacement. The six-hour mixed-use battery life is another limitation, and at 69 grams the glasses are heavier than regular frames. Privacy concerns will also follow this category wherever it goes.
