Meta Unveils $799 Ray‑Ban Display AR Glasses, Marking First Major Move from VR to Augmented Reality
Key Points
- Meta announced the Ray‑Ban Display AR glasses at the Meta Connect event.
- Price is set at $799 with an expected launch date of September 30.
- Display: 600 × 600 pixels, 30 Hz refresh rate, 20‑degree field of view in the right lens.
- Resolution rated at 42 pixels per degree; brightness reaches 5,000 nits.
- Weight is about 70 grams; battery life up to six hours, extendable via a foldable case.
- Integrates a neural‑interface wristband for gesture‑based navigation.
- No optical hand‑tracking; relies on wrist gestures instead of controllers or voice.
- Design resembles standard sunglasses but is slightly bulkier due to the display.
At the Meta Connect keynote, Meta announced the Ray‑Ban Display, its first commercial augmented‑reality glasses, priced at $799 and slated to ship as early as September 30. The device features a modest 600 × 600 pixel square display that refreshes at 30 Hz, covering a 20‑degree field of view in the right lens. Despite its limited visual area, Meta touts a 42‑pixel‑per‑degree resolution and a 5,000‑nit brightness level, aided by Transitions lenses that darken in bright conditions. Weighing just 70 grams, the glasses promise up to six hours of use, supplemented by a foldable battery case, and integrate Meta’s neural‑interface wristband for gesture‑based menu navigation.
Meta Connect Reveal
During the Meta Connect event, CEO Mark Zuckerberg shifted focus from the company’s Quest VR headsets to a new augmented‑reality (AR) product: the Meta Ray‑Ban Display. The glasses are positioned as the first commercially available smart glasses with a built‑in display, marking a strategic step away from purely virtual‑reality experiences.
Key Specifications
The Ray‑Ban Display incorporates a 600 × 600 pixel square screen that updates at 30 Hz and occupies a small 20‑degree portion of the right eyepiece. Meta highlights a resolution of 42 pixels per degree (PPD), which it describes as “very high resolution” relative to the broader Quest 3 display that offers about 25 PPD. Brightness reaches 5,000 nits, making the display visible even in bright outdoor settings, a capability backed by Transitions lenses that automatically darken to reduce glare.
Design and Comfort
Weighing roughly 70 grams, the glasses are considerably lighter than many mixed‑reality headsets, such as the Apple Vision Pro or bulkier VR devices. Their form factor resembles standard sunglasses, though they are slightly chunkier due to the integrated display hardware. Meta estimates up to six hours of continuous operation, with an optional foldable battery case for extended use.
Interaction Model
While the device does not feature the optical hand‑tracking shown in earlier Orion prototypes, it does integrate Meta’s “neural interface” wristband. This wristband detects subtle wrist‑muscle movements, enabling users to flick through menus and make selections without a handheld controller or voice commands.
Market Positioning
Compared with past attempts like Google Glass, the Ray‑Ban Display aims to deliver a more practical, everyday wearable by focusing on a lightweight design, high‑brightness display, and intuitive gesture controls. Pricing at $799 and an anticipated launch as early as September 30 position the product as an accessible entry point into consumer AR.