Meta unveils New Smart Glasses, Signaling Push for Next Computing Platform
MENLO PARK, CA – Meta today showcased its latest smart glasses at the Connect conference, a clear indication of the companyS ambition to establish smart glasses as the next major computing platform. The new glasses, featuring a built-in display, represent a notable step beyond the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses currently available, though come with a substantially higher price tag of $800 compared to the Ray-Ban Meta’s starting price of $299.
The move comes as investors and analysts closely monitor Meta’s foray into smart glasses and its integration of artificial intelligence into its hardware strategy. Many industry observers believe smart glasses offer the most compelling platform for experiencing the AI use cases tech companies have been developing. Meta’s continued commitment to both the Quest headsets and the metaverse underscores its broader vision for immersive computing.
Analysts emphasize the importance of a robust developer ecosystem for meta’s smart glasses to succeed. While the company has partnered with EssilorLuxottica, the need for compelling apps and software remains crucial. “A big part of Apple’s success was the app ecosystem and catering to developers and making it easy to build apps for. Meta needs to do the same here otherwise Google or Apple will do it for them,” said analyst Sag.
Despite the higher price point, Meta’s demonstration of consumer-ready smart glasses with a display signals confidence in the segment’s potential. The smart glasses market is rapidly evolving, and Meta aims to lead this change, even as smartphones remain dominant. The company acknowledges modest internal sales expectations for the new glasses, recognizing the market is still in its early stages.