Meta to Launch New Ray-Ban AI Glasses
▼ Summary
– Meta and EssilorLuxottica are preparing to launch new Ray-Ban AI glasses, as indicated by recent FCC filings for two production models.
– The filings reveal the marketing names as “RayBan Meta Scriber” and “RayBan Meta Blazer,” with the latter available in two sizes and both including a charging case.
– The new models have significantly higher model numbers and support Wi-Fi 6 UNII-4, suggesting a major hardware upgrade for better data transfer.
– The Ray-Ban AI glasses have been commercially successful, with over seven million pairs sold last year and plans to greatly increase annual production capacity.
– Meta is shifting its Reality Labs investment focus towards glasses and wearables, which has involved reducing VR investments, including layoffs and studio closures.
A new generation of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses appears imminent, following the publication of Federal Communications Commission filings for two unreleased models. The documents, submitted earlier this month, list the devices as production units, a strong indicator that a commercial launch could follow in the coming weeks. This timeline aligns with the company’s previous product cycle, where the second-generation glasses debuted just over a month after receiving FCC approval in late 2023.
While the heavily redacted filings obscure most details, they reveal the marketing names for the upcoming hardware: RayBan Meta Scriber and RayBan Meta Blazer. The latter will be offered in both regular and large sizes. The filings also confirm the inclusion of a charging case, suggesting the new models will maintain the portable charging solution familiar to current users. The assigned model numbers, RW7001 and RW7002, signal a potential significant hardware upgrade. This is a notable leap from the current generation’s numbering scheme, which ranges from RW4002 to RW4014, and may point to an improved chipset.
A key technical enhancement involves wireless connectivity. The new models are listed as supporting the Wi-Fi 6 UNII-4 band, a feature that promises more reliable high-speed data transfers. This capability would be particularly beneficial for livestreaming video and for any advanced AI features that depend on real-time video transmission to the cloud for processing.
The push for a next-generation product follows remarkable commercial success. According to partner EssilorLuxottica’s earnings, more than seven million pairs of the AI glasses were sold last year alone, with combined sales for 2023 and 2024 reaching two million units. A January Bloomberg report indicated the manufacturing alliance aims to scale annual production capacity to between 20 and 30 million units by the end of this year. The partnership expanded further in 2025 with the launch of Oakley-branded AI glasses and a new line of Ray-Ban Display glasses featuring an integrated monocular screen.
Meta’s leadership has explicitly signaled that smart glasses are a central pillar of its future strategy. “Sales of our glasses more than tripled last year, and we think that they’re some of the fastest growing consumer electronics in history,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated on the company’s most recent earnings call. He added that for the Reality Labs division, “we’re directing most of our investment towards glasses and wearables going forward.”
This strategic pivot has come alongside a sharp reduction in the company’s virtual reality investments. Earlier this year, Meta laid off 1,000 employees from its Reality Labs unit and closed several VR game studios, with additional job cuts occurring just this week. As part of this consolidation, the company had planned to shut down the VR social platform Horizon Worlds, but reversed that decision last week following feedback from its user community.
(Source: The Verge)
