Meta's Ray-Ban Display glasses may finally replace your smartphone

Mark Zuckerberg is back with another attempt to strap a computer to your face, but only this time, not only would you look much cooler doing so, but actually, maybe, use it as a proper computer.

At Meta’s Connect event, the company unveiled the Ray-Ban Meta Display, a pair of AI-powered smart glasses that look just like regular shades but pack a tiny display right inside the lens.

The first generation of Meta x-Ray-Ban glasses was genuinely a marvelous piece of tech. The new Ray-Ban Displays takes everything that was good about the original Meta X Ray-Ban glasses, turns the dial to 11 on those things, and adds a few goodies that take smart glasses to a whole new level.

AI Smart glasses that keep you in the moment

Unlike clunky VR headsets, these specs are designed to be subtle. The display sits in the top right corner of the lens, projecting info so it appears to float in front of you. Meta says the idea is simple: no more neck-craning at your phone. You can check texts, view directions, or flick through recipes while still keeping eye contact with the real world.

The glasses run on Meta AI, which now serves up answers visually. Think live captions, translations, or step-by-step guides floating in your view. WhatsApp and Instagram notifications pop up discreetly, and you can even hop on a video call hands-free and show others exactly what you’re seeing.

The Neural Band input system

To control it all, Meta is debuting the Neural Band, a wristband that uses EMG sensors to pick up finger movements — even the ones you barely notice. It lets you scroll, click, zoom, and soon, even type out messages with subtle gestures. Meta trained its models on data from nearly 200,000 volunteers so it works right out of the box, no fiddly setup required.

Battery life clocks in at around six hours, with a charging case adding 24 hours more. The Neural Band lasts about 18 hours and is water-resistant enough to handle a downpour.

Pricing and the budget option

The Meta Ray-Ban Displays launch in the US on September 30 for $799 (around ₹71,000), available through Best Buy, Verizon, and LensCrafters. For those not ready to splurge, Meta also revealed the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 for $379. They look nearly identical to last year’s model but bring brighter colours, sharper 3K video capture, and longer battery life, minus the display.

Bugs aside, this year’s glasses feels like Meta’s most polished attempt at smart glasses yet. Whether that’s enough to make people wear a computer on their face in 2025 remains to be seen.