Meta is preparing to unveil its first smart glasses with a built-in display, and the launch is expected as early as next month at the Meta Connect event.
After the success of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses – which lacked a display but still gained strong traction – the company is moving a step closer to its vision of wearable computing.
According to tech insider Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, the new glasses will be priced around $800, much lower than the $1,400 figure speculated earlier. This aggressive pricing is part of Meta’s long-term strategy to sacrifice short-term profit margins, a tactic that helped its Quest VR headsets compete with far pricier rivals. For comparison, Apple’s Vision Pro costs a steep $3,499, while the Quest 3 starts at just $499.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly emphasized his belief that AR glasses will eventually replace smartphones. Billions have already been invested to make this vision a reality. However, it’s important to note that the upcoming glasses are not full Augmented Reality devices. Instead, they will feature a small display designed for quick interactions such as mini-apps and notifications. They act as a transitional step between today’s audio-only wearables and future full-fledged AR products like the Meta Orion prototype revealed last year.
At $800, these glasses may not deliver true AR, but they do offer a more practical and affordable way to experience next-generation smart eyewear. Competing devices from companies like Xreal already allow similar functions, but Meta’s upcoming release could ignite greater competition and consumer adoption in this space. If successful, it might accelerate the shift to a future where we rely less on smartphones and more on glasses to stay connected.