Meta’s Next AR Glasses: A Fashion Rival to Ray-Ban?
▼ Summary
– Meta is expected to launch a 3.0 version of its audio-only Ray-Ban smart glasses with upgrades like longer battery life and improved cameras, likely priced between $300 and $500.
– Meta will also unveil next-generation AR smart glasses with a color display and a neural wristband for gesture controls, anticipated to cost around $800.
– Meta is partnering with Prada for its new AR glasses, leveraging Prada’s thick-rimmed designs to accommodate advanced technology like cameras and displays.
– Meta may launch a smartwatch at Meta Connect, potentially integrating the neural wristband technology as a companion device for its smart glasses and VR headsets.
– The new AR glasses are not the consumer version of the expensive and bulky Orion prototype but represent a more practical and accessible product line for everyday use.
The tech world is buzzing with anticipation for Meta’s upcoming wearable releases, especially a new generation of smart glasses expected to debut this fall. While the Ray-Ban collaboration has already proven successful, whispers suggest Meta is broadening its fashion-tech horizons with a potential partnership involving luxury powerhouse Prada.
Multiple reports indicate that Meta will introduce not one, but two distinct wearable products in the coming months. The first is an upgraded version of the popular audio-only Ray-Ban smart glasses, likely featuring improved battery life, better cameras, and new AI capabilities. The second, and far more intriguing, release is a pair of augmented reality glasses with an integrated color display, controlled via a neural wristband.
This more advanced model represents a significant leap forward. Unlike the existing Ray-Ban line, these glasses are said to incorporate a visual interface, making them a true AR device rather than just a smart audio accessory. Early prototypes, like the Orion glasses shown last year, were bulky and prohibitively expensive. The new design aims to be sleeker, more wearable, and far more accessible.
Enter Prada. The Italian luxury brand, also under the EssilorLuxotica umbrella, is known for its bold, substantial frames, like those in the Linea Rossa collection. Their larger build could provide the necessary real estate to house advanced components like cameras, speakers, and displays without compromising style. A partnership here would signal Meta’s intent to position its AR glasses as both a tech product and a high-fashion statement.
Another key element is the neural wristband, designed to interpret hand gestures for controlling the glasses. Rather than launching a standalone band, Meta may integrate this technology into a new smartwatch, creating a more versatile wearable ecosystem. A Prada-branded smartwatch could serve as a stylish and functional companion to the glasses, though it remains unclear whether it would be sold separately or as part of a bundle.
Pricing is another area of speculation. The audio-only glasses are expected to remain in the $300–$500 range, while the AR model could retail for around $800. Whether the wristband or smartwatch will be included, or sold as an optional add-on, is still unknown.
With Meta Connect scheduled for September 17, more details are sure to emerge. The event promises to clarify the company’s vision for the future of wearable technology, blending fashion, function, and augmented reality in ways that could redefine the category.
(Source: ZDNET)
