Meta to Unveil New Smart Glasses with Wristband Control at Connect Conference
Key Points
- Meta will announce new smart glasses at the Connect conference.
- Glasses feature a small right‑lens display for limited information.
- Control via a wristband using sEMG technology from CTRL‑Labs.
- Expected price point is about $800.
- Design may be thicker and heavier than previous models.
- Ray‑Ban Meta glasses have sold 2 million units to date.
- New Oakley "Sphaera" glasses spotted with integrated camera.
- No new Quest headset is planned for the event.
- Meta is expanding AI features in its glasses companion app.
Meta is set to announce its next generation of smart glasses at the upcoming Connect conference. The new model features a small display embedded in the right lens and can be operated via a wristband that reads hand‑movement signals using surface electromyography (sEMG) technology acquired from CTRL‑Labs. The glasses are expected to cost around $800 and may be larger and heavier than prior versions. Meta also hints at new Oakley designs with an integrated camera, while no new Quest headset is slated for release. Existing Ray‑Ban Meta glasses have already sold 2 million units, underscoring strong market demand.
Upcoming Connect Conference
Meta plans to use its Connect conference as the platform to showcase its latest hardware advancements. The event will feature a keynote from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, during which the company is expected to reveal details about its upcoming smart glasses and related technologies.
New Smart Glasses Features
The forthcoming glasses will include a modest display positioned in the right lens. According to reports, the display is designed to show small pieces of information and has a limited field of view. The design may result in a thicker and heavier frame compared with earlier models.
Wristband sEMG Input
Control of the glasses will be provided by a wristband that employs surface electromyography (sEMG) to interpret electrical signals from hand movements. This technology originates from CTRL‑Labs, a startup Meta acquired in 2019, and was previously demonstrated with Meta’s Orion augmented‑reality glasses.
Pricing and Design
Industry sources indicate the new glasses will be priced at roughly $800. The combination of a built‑in display and the wristband control system suggests a more substantial form factor than prior Ray‑Ban Meta models.
Existing Glasses Performance
Meta’s current Ray‑Ban smart glasses have achieved notable commercial success, with EssilorLuxottica reporting sales of 2 million pairs. The company has also released an Oakley Meta HSTN Limited Edition that offers 3K video resolution and double the battery life of earlier versions.
Additional Hardware Rumors
Separate footage captured by UploadVR shows a pair of new wrap‑around Oakley glasses, dubbed “Sphaera,” featuring a camera mounted on the nose bridge. While Meta has introduced the Quest 3 and Quest 3S in recent years, no new Quest headset is expected at Connect. However, rumors suggest Meta is developing an ultra‑light headset that offloads processing to a separate puck running Horizon OS, with a potential release timeline beyond 2026.
AI and Software Integration
Meta continues to emphasize artificial‑intelligence integration across its products. The company recently relaunched its companion app for smart glasses as a standalone Meta AI application, allowing users to explore AI‑generated content. Ongoing updates suggest further AI‑driven enhancements to both hardware and software experiences.