Big Tech really wants augmented reality (AR) smart glasses to happen, no matter the Google Glass graveyard, Apple Vision Pro pivot or Meta\u2019s failed metaverse roadmap.
The post If AI Fixed Smart Glasses, Why Aren\u2019t Consumers Wearing Them? appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Big Tech really wants augmented reality (AR) smart glasses to happen, no matter the Google Glass graveyard, Apple Vision Pro pivot or Meta\u2019s failed metaverse roadmap.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nOn Monday (April 27), details about an alleged Samsung smart glasses product leaked, while earlier in the month news broke that Gucci and Google were partnering on a luxury pair of smart wearables set to debut next year.\nAnd at the start of the year, smart glasses maker\u00a0XReal\u00a0raised $100 million at a valuation of over $1 billion, while Meta\u00a0and eyewear maker\u00a0EssilorLuxottica\u00a0let the marketplace know they were considering doubling their capacity to produce\u00a0Ray-Ban Meta\u00a0smart glasses from 10 million to 20 million by the end of the year, with additional room for up to 30 million.\nApple is also refining its approach to the space and moving from bulky virtual reality (VR) goggles to sleeker artificial intelligence (AI) wearables. Aside from the companies mentioned above, major tech firms like Amazon,\u00a0Snap,\u00a0Baidu,\u00a0Xiaomi\u00a0and others are all investing heavily into smart glasses; as are smaller, AI wearable-specific startups like Viture,\u00a0Even Realities,\u00a0Brilliant,\u00a0Solos\u00a0and\u00a0Halliday, to name just a handful.\nBut while the introduction of AI has undoubtedly given the category a shot in the arm, it may not have fundamentally altered the core behavioral challenge of convincing users that wearing a computer, and a video camera, on their face is not just useful, but necessary.\nOr, has it?\nRead more: Wearables, Robotics and Infrastructure Become Big Tech\u2019s New Focus\u00a0\nAI Changes the Interface, Not the Fundamentals\nIf there is a through line in the current wave of AR glasses, it is a sense of convergence. Hardware is becoming more wearable and AI is making interactions more intuitive. Enterprise use cases are proving viability in specific contexts, with the London Marathon this past weekend even featuring vision-impaired runners using AI-powered smart glasses.\nYet convergence does not guarantee adoption. The history of consumer technology is littered with products that were technically impressive but failed to find a durable place in everyday life.\nWearing early AR glasses in public often felt like announcing oneself as a beta tester. Today\u2019s designs aim to disappear into daily life, a prerequisite for any consumer technology aspiring to ubiquity. Advances in microdisplays, waveguides and battery efficiency have allowed manufacturers to shrink components without sacrificing performance. Devices like Meta\u2019s Ray-Ban smart glasses and Snap\u2019s Spectacles are now closer to conventional eyewear than conspicuous headgear.\nWhat has changed more dramatically is the software layer, particularly with the integration of generative AI. The rise of large language models and multimodal systems has given AR glasses a more compelling narrative: not just as display devices, but as intelligent companions.\nIn this framing, glasses become a gateway to real-time assistance. They can summarize conversations, translate languages on the fly, identify objects and provide contextual prompts based on what the wearer sees. Startups are leaning heavily into this \u201cAI-native\u201d positioning, arguing that the true breakthrough is not the hardware itself but the intelligence embedded within it.\nBut AI does not eliminate the need for a clear use case. It enhances interactions, but it does not define them. The question of why a user should wear AR glasses for hours each day, rather than pull out a smartphone when needed, remains open.\nSee also: How Big Tech\u2019s XR Push Could Redefine Both Payments and AI\u00a0\nWhat Comes Next\nThe next phase of AR glasses will likely be defined less by breakthroughs and more by iteration. Incremental improvements in battery life, display quality and comfort will continue. AI capabilities will expand, becoming more personalized and context-aware. Partnerships between hardware makers and software developers may begin to seed more robust ecosystems.\nA PYMNTS Intelligence\u00a0report\u00a0found that people often use connected devices to multitask, especially among the younger, digital-first generations. Smart glasses, for example, can provide hands-free connectivity to users, who can use the embedded AI assistant to do online searches, take photos or videos, read and write text messages, and translate foreign languages in real time, among other capabilities.\nBut incremental improvements are unlikely to drive behavioral change at scale.\nFor now, AR glasses remain a category defined as much by its potential as by its limitations. More are being made than ever before. The technology is better than it has ever been. But the fundamental questions\u2014what they are for, and why they matter\u2014remain unresolved.\n\r\n\r\nThe post If AI Fixed Smart Glasses, Why Aren\u2019t Consumers Wearing Them? appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-04-27T19:57:01-04:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-27T19:57:01-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/smart-glasses-augmented-reality-AI.jpeg", "tags": [ "AI", "Augmented Reality", "digital transformation", "News", "PYMNTS News", "smart glasses", "Wearables" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3495219", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/news/wearables/2026/meta-looks-to-take-on-apple-with-first-smartwatch/", "title": "Meta Looks to Take on Apple With First Smartwatch", "content_html": "Meta\u00a0has reportedly resurrected its smartwatch project, aiming to release the device this year.
The post Meta Looks to Take on Apple With First Smartwatch appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Meta\u00a0has reportedly resurrected its smartwatch project, aiming to release the device this year.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThat\u2019s according to a\u00a0report\u00a0Wednesday (Feb. 19) from The Information, which notes that the company\u2019s efforts are happening as its Big Tech peers like\u00a0Apple,\u00a0Google\u00a0and\u00a0OpenAI\u00a0are also planning new\u00a0consumer device\u00a0launches.\nThe report, citing sources familiar with the matter, says Meta has relaunched its shelved smartwatch project, planning to unveil it later in 2026 with health-tracking features and the company\u2019s artificial intelligence system built in.\nMeta had\u00a0mothballed the smartwatch project\u00a0in 2022 as it scaled back spending on its Reality Labs division. But sources told The Information the company decided to resume its work following a strategy meeting in 2025 at CEO Mark Zuckerberg\u2019s home in Hawaii.\nAccording to The Information, Meta is planning to debut its smartwatch while also\u00a0streamlining\u00a0its augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) projects.\nThe company has a handful or AR and MR glasses in development, and one source said executives are concerned that introducing too many devices too quickly will cause confusion among consumers. This has led the company to rethink its timelines, the report added.\nReality Labs employees learned in December that Meta had delayed Phoenix, its MR glasses, until 2027. As for 2026, Meta plans to introduce a new version of the Meta Ray-Ban Display, one of the sources said. The first version of these glasses, which have a miniature display embedded into one lens, went on sale last year for $799.\nIn January, the company said it was pushing back\u00a0international expansion\u00a0of the smart glasses in the U.K., France, Italy and Canada because of \u201cunprecedented demand and limited inventory.\u201d\nMeanwhile, Meta is continuing to develop consumer-facing AR glasses code-named Artemis, expected to be released next year, according to one of the sources.\nThis week also saw a report from Bloomberg News that Apple is accelerating its work on three artificial intelligence (AI)-powered\u00a0wearable devices: smart glasses, a pendant and AirPods. These devices will be built around the company\u2019s Siri digital assistant and linked to the iPhone. The pendant and the AirPods with expanded AI capabilities could debut as early as this year, while the smart glasses could come next year, the report said.\n\r\n\r\nThe post Meta Looks to Take on Apple With First Smartwatch appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-02-19T10:42:27-05:00", "date_modified": "2026-02-19T10:42:27-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/health-tech-wearables.jpg", "tags": [ "Meta", "News", "PYMNTS News", "smartwatches", "Technology", "Wearables", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3490292", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/news/wearables/2026/apple-bets-on-ai-wearables-to-lock-in-iphone-users/", "title": "Apple Bets on AI Wearables to Lock in iPhone Users", "content_html": "Apple is accelerating its development of three artificial intelligence (AI)-powered wearable devices: smart glasses, a pendant and AirPods, Bloomberg reported Tuesday (Feb. 17), citing unnamed sources.
The post Apple Bets on AI Wearables to Lock in iPhone Users appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Apple is accelerating its development of three artificial intelligence (AI)-powered wearable devices: smart glasses, a pendant and AirPods, Bloomberg reported Tuesday (Feb. 17), citing unnamed sources.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThe three devices will be built around the company\u2019s Siri digital assistant and will be linked to the iPhone, according to the report.\nThe pendant and the AirPods with expanded AI capabilities could be released as early as this year, while the smart glasses may be released in 2027, per the report.\nApple did not immediately reply to PYMNTS\u2019 request for comment.\nAccording to the Bloomberg report, the new devices will be designed for the AI era and will aim to keep users within the Apple ecosystem at a time when Meta is having success with its smart\u00a0glasses\u00a0and OpenAI is developing wearables and other devices.\nPYMNTS reported that during a Jan. 29 earnings call, Apple CEO\u00a0Tim Cook\u00a0framed the company\u2019s\u00a0AI system\u00a0Apple Intelligence as an operating system-level capability that can raise the value of its entire ecosystem and create room to monetize across hardware and services.\n\u201cWe\u2019re bringing Intelligence to more of what people love,\u201d Cook said. \u201cAnd\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0integrating it across the operating system in a personal and private way. And I think that by doing so it creates\u00a0great value\u00a0and that\u00a0opens up\u00a0a range of opportunities across our products and services.\u201d\nIt was also reported Jan. 29 that Apple acquired\u00a0Q.ai, an Israeli startup focused on\u00a0AI technology\u00a0for audio.\u00a0Q.ai\u00a0has developed machine learning techniques that help devices understand whispered speech and enhance audio quality in difficult environments. These capabilities align with Apple\u2019s expanding focus on voice interaction, ambient\u00a0computing\u00a0and hands-free control across devices such as AirPods and iPhones.\nOn Jan. 12, Apple and\u00a0Google\u00a0announced that they had formed a partnership and that the next iteration of Apple\u2019s Foundation Models will be based on Google\u2019s Gemini and cloud tech. These\u00a0models\u00a0will help power new features for Siri and other tools that use Apple Intelligence.\nIt was reported Jan. 1 that Apple is scaling back both manufacturing and marketing for one of its existing wearable devices, the Vision Pro\u00a0headset, after weak sales.\n\r\n\r\nThe post Apple Bets on AI Wearables to Lock in iPhone Users appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-02-17T18:33:03-05:00", "date_modified": "2026-02-17T18:33:03-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Apple-AI-wearables.jpeg", "tags": [ "AI", "Apple", "News", "PYMNTS News", "Technology", "Wearables", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3380241", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/news/wearables/2026/meta-and-essilorluxottica-consider-doubling-smart-glasses-production-capacity/", "title": "Meta and EssilorLuxottica Consider Doubling Smart Glasses Production Capacity", "content_html": "Meta and eyewear maker EssilorLuxottica are reportedly considering doubling their capacity to produce Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses from 10 million to 20 million by the end of the year.
The post Meta and EssilorLuxottica Consider Doubling Smart Glasses Production Capacity appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Meta and eyewear maker EssilorLuxottica are reportedly considering doubling their capacity to produce Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses from 10 million to 20 million by the end of the year.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nIf demand continues to grow, they could boost the capacity to 30 million, Bloomberg reported Tuesday (Jan. 13), citing unnamed sources.\nThe companies have not yet decided whether to boost production, according to the report.\nNeither Meta nor EssilorLuxottica immediately replied to PYMNTS\u2019 request for comment.\nMeta said on Jan. 6 that it was pausing its planned global expansion of the smart glasses to the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada due to \u201cunprecedented demand and limited inventory\u201d in the United States.\n\u201cMeta Ray-Ban Display is a first-of-its-kind product with extremely limited inventory,\u201d the company wrote in a blog post. \u201cSince launching last fall, we\u2019ve seen an overwhelming amount of interest, and as a result, product waitlists now extend well into 2026.\u201d\nMeta unveiled the Meta Ray-Ban Display in September. These artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses feature a built-in screen that can display text messages, video calls, photos and the results of queries to Meta\u2019s AI service.\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t about strapping a phone to your face,\u201d the company said when introducing the product. \u201cIt\u2019s about helping you quickly accomplish some of your everyday tasks without breaking your flow.\u201d\nPYMNTS reported in February 2025 that a new wave of next-generation smart glasses had emerged. These devices are encased in traditional frames of various styles, so users don\u2019t look out of place in public, but they carry serious electronics to power AI capabilities like online searches and translations.\nMeta, several other tech giants and about a dozen smaller companies are betting on smart glasses to be the next popular connected wearable, the report said.\nIt was reported Thursday (Jan. 8) that smart glasses maker XReal raised $100 million and is now valued at over $1 billion. XReal announced Jan. 6 that it extended its strategic partnership with Google, was named a lead hardware partner for the Android XR ecosystem, and will collaborate with Google to bring the Android XR operating system to wired XR glasses and other optical-see-through devices.\n\r\n\r\nThe post Meta and EssilorLuxottica Consider Doubling Smart Glasses Production Capacity appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-01-13T12:42:07-05:00", "date_modified": "2026-01-13T12:42:07-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/smart-glasses-Ray-Ban-Meta.jpg", "tags": [ "EssilorLuxottica", "Meta", "News", "PYMNTS News", "smart glasses", "Wearables", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3367560", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/news/wearables/2026/xreal-raises-100-million-and-unveils-latest-smart-glasses/", "title": "XReal Raises $100 Million and Unveils Latest Smart Glasses", "content_html": "Smart glasses maker XReal reportedly raised $100 million and is now valued at over $1 billion.
The post XReal Raises $100 Million and Unveils Latest Smart Glasses appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Smart glasses maker XReal reportedly raised $100 million and is now valued at over $1 billion.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThe company\u2019s latest funding came from its supply chain partners and other backers, Bloomberg reported Thursday (Jan. 8), citing a Bloomberg Television interview with XReal Co-founder and CEO Chi Xu.\nPYMNTS reported in February 2025 that artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a smart glasses boom, with several tech giants and about a dozen smaller companies making smart glasses and using the AI of popular large language models.\nAI has been a game-changer, as the latest AI-powered smart glasses are encased in traditional frame of various styles, so users don\u2019t look out of place in public, while also carrying serious electronics to power AI capabilities like online searches and translations.\nOver the past week, XReal unveiled two new smart glasses and two partnerships.\nThe company introduced its XREAL 1S augmented reality (AR) glasses on Sunday (Jan. 4), saying they provide its most accessible and portable AR experiences \u201cat an unbeatable value.\u201d This wearable device is designed for everyday users, gamers and fans of mobile entertainment.\n\u201cWith XREAL 1S, we\u2019re not only lowering the cost of entry, we\u2019re doing so while boosting specs and performance, and improving optics,\u201d Xu said in a press release.\nThe company unveiled its ROG XREAL R1 AR Glasses on Monday (Jan. 5), saying these gaming glasses deliver visual performance, scale and immersion that transform the gaming experience.\nThe company also announced that it had formed a strategic partnership with ASUS Republic of Gamers (ASUS ROG) to develop these glasses.\n\u201cOur goal has always been to make spatial computing feel natural, powerful and wearable,\u201d Xu said in a press release. \u201cBy combining XREAL\u2019s leadership in lightweight XR hardware and proprietary optical systems with ASUS ROG\u2019s world-class gaming performance, we\u2019re making our goal a reality.\u201d\nXReal announced Tuesday (Jan. 6) that it extended its strategic partnership with Google and was named a lead hardware partner for the Android XR ecosystem.\nThe companies will collaborate to bring the Android XR operating system to wired XR glasses and other optical-see-through devices and to expand support for Android XR development.\n\r\n\r\nThe post XReal Raises $100 Million and Unveils Latest Smart Glasses appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-01-08T17:12:11-05:00", "date_modified": "2026-01-08T17:12:11-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/XReal-smart-glasses.png", "tags": [ "funding", "Investments", "News", "PYMNTS News", "smart glasses", "What's Hot", "XReal", "Wearables" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3352004", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/news/wearables/2026/smart-ring-shipments-projected-to-jump-49percent/", "title": "Smart Ring Shipments Projected to Jump 49%", "content_html": "Smart rings are reportedly going from niche gadgets to mainstream health/wellness products.
The post Smart Ring Shipments Projected to Jump 49% appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Smart rings are reportedly going from niche gadgets to mainstream health/wellness products.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThe category is on pace for a 49% increase in shipments for 2025, Bloomberg News reported Monday (Jan. 5), citing data from IDC. By contrast, shipments of smartwatches were projected to increase by just 6%.\nThe devices are catching on with consumers, the report added, offering the types of sleep and health insights found on smartwatches, only with a less obvious design, longer charge life and\u2014because fingers have thinner skin than wrists\u2014more accurate readings.\nSome consumers, the report said, like to wear both: a watch for workouts and notifications, a ring for round-the-clock tracking. And while the smartwatch market is growing more slowly, IDC said 163 million of these devices shipped last year, versus 4.3 million smart rings.\nAmong the smart rings already on the market is Samsung\u2019s Galaxy Ring, which was launched in 2024 and uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide detailed health reports, including metrics like sleep, activity, heart rate and heart rate variability. The ring also offers insights and recommendations designed to help improve daily health and well-being.\nAlso in 2024, Oura opened an Amazon store to sell its smart rings. This year, the Bloomberg report said, both startups and tech giants are due to introduce new models this year, including at this week\u2019s CES consumer technology conference in Las Vegas.\nAmong the newcomers is the Aivela Ring Pro, which will showcase unique features such as air gestures and touch commands. Meanwhile, some companies are working on rings that aren\u2019t health-focused, Bloomberg said. This includes Pebble, a smartwatch brand created the Index 01, which comes with a built-in microphone to allow users to create reminders on the go.\nAs covered here last week, wearable products are emerging as one of the next places the world\u2019s tech giants are hoping to capture value from the AI stack. For example, Google plans to release AI-enabled smart glasses this year. This device will reportedly run on Android XR and incorporate Google\u2019s Gemini model to offer up real-time answers, translation tools and optional augmented displays.\n\u201cThe glasses mark Google\u2019s return to wearables after earlier efforts with Glass. This version focuses on hands-free access to information rather than novelty features,\u201d PYMNTS wrote.\u00a0\u201cBy placing AI in a format that handles simple, in-the-moment tasks, Google extends its platform into a physical product category that could sit alongside smartphones rather than replace them. That same theme of integration carries into developments happening inside the federal government.\u201d\n\r\n\r\nThe post Smart Ring Shipments Projected to Jump 49% appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2026-01-05T11:47:35-05:00", "date_modified": "2026-01-05T11:47:35-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/smart-rings.jpeg", "tags": [ "News", "Oura", "PYMNTS News", "Samsung", "smart rings", "Technology", "Wearables", "What's Hot" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3065931", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/news/wearables/2025/will-metas-bet-on-practical-ai-glasses-pay-off-in-the-long-run/", "title": "Will Meta\u2019s Bet on Practical AI Glasses Pay Off in the Long Run?", "content_html": "Are they a breakthrough in wearable tech? Just another pair of smart glasses? Or a product destined to struggle for relevance? Meta\u2019s Ray-Ban Display promises everyday utility with AI integration, but winning over consumers will be the real test.
The post Will Meta\u2019s Bet on Practical AI Glasses Pay Off in the Long Run? appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Are they a breakthrough in wearable tech? Just another pair of smart glasses? Or a product destined to struggle for relevance? Meta\u2019s Ray-Ban Display promises everyday utility with AI integration, but winning over consumers will be the real test.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThe company recently unveiled its $799 Ray-Ban Display smart glasses at Meta Connect 2025, presenting them as a practical tool for everyday tasks rather than a futuristic headset, as PYMNTS reported.\nWhat Meta Is Offering\nThe Ray-Ban Display includes a small display in one lens and a Neural Band wrist controller that converts subtle finger movements into commands. The glasses are designed for quick interactions such as reading a message, navigating a map or translating a conversation. Battery life is estimated at six hours on a charge and up to 30 hours with the carrying case.\nMeta already sells the Ray-Ban Gen 2 at about $379 and the Oakley Meta Vanguard at about $499. Those products helped normalize camera-equipped eyewear and gave Meta shelf space in optical retail channels. The new Display model builds on that momentum while moving further into artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted tasks.\nTargeting Lifestyle Adopters\n\u201cGlasses are the only form factor where you can let an AI see what you see, hear what you hear, talk to you throughout the day,\u201d Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg reportedly said at the developer conference. IDC has said\u00a0Meta\u2019s second-generation Ray-Ban models have already \u201ctaken consumers by storm,\u201d helping shift smart glasses from novelty items to everyday wearables\nConsumer adoption is still niche, but interest is rising. According to Forrester, approximately 17% of U.S. online adults reported using smart glasses in 2025, up from 4% in 2024. A follow-up pulse survey across the U.S., U.K. and Canada found 20% expressed interest in Meta\u2019s new Ray-Ban Display, though only about 6% said they were likely to buy. Forrester notes that while affordability has improved and people are less bothered about being filmed in public than a decade ago, smart glasses still need to prove their value beyond what smartphones already offer.\nThe Display is not expected to displace Oculus Quest headsets. Quest continues to target immersive gaming and entertainment, while the Display serves as an on-ramp for lighter daily use. It serves as a casual gateway to immersive experiences, rather than a replacement for deep VR. Meta is running parallel strategies, keeping Quest for full VR while using smart glasses to broaden the entry point.\nThe Market Landscape\nShipments of smart glasses and headsets are expected to accelerate as consumers adopt the technology. According to IDC, the combined market for AR and VR devices is expected to expand nearly 40% in 2025 to approximately 14.3 million units, with much of the growth driven by utility devices rather than full augmented reality devices. There are many levels of augmented reality devices, as well as price points.\nFor example, Apple\u2019s Vision Pro retails for approximately $3,500 and is designed for high-end immersive computing. Reports indicate Apple is working on lighter and less expensive versions as well as a distinct glasses product that may arrive as soon as 2026 or 2027. Google has scaled back its consumer eyewear projects, Microsoft has narrowed HoloLens to enterprise and defense, and Snap is preparing a consumer AR release expected in 2026.\nIDC estimates that Meta accounted for roughly 60% of the global market for display-less smart glasses, along with AR and VR headsets, in the second quarter of 2025. From late 2023 through mid-2025, the company shipped more than 3.5 million pairs of Ray-Ban smart glasses. IDC expects the market for smart glasses without displays to reach 9.4 million units in 2025, a 247.5 percent increase from 2024, with most of that growth driven by Meta.\nTech companies still need to convince consumers that smart glasses are worth hundreds of dollars when smartphones already handle similar functions. As Forrester observed, AI integration has opened new possibilities, but widespread adoption may take several years as habits shift.\nAs PYMNTS has reported, sales of Ray-Ban Meta glasses more than tripled in the first half of 2025, rising more than 200 percent compared with the prior year. The holiday season will provide the first real test. The Display is likely to appeal to early adopters and gift buyers, while the Ray-Ban Gen 2 and Oakley Vanguard are better positioned for volume sales. A strong performance could help offset slowing Quest sales, which contributed to more than $4 billion in Reality Labs losses in the first half of 2025.\nRisk and Long-Term Stakes \nMeta\u2019s approach comes with significant risks. Technical glitches during Connect presentations raised doubts about the reliability of the device. Privacy concerns remain equally pressing. Civil liberties groups warn that camera-equipped eyewear could act as wearable surveillance, and while Meta has added visible recording lights and stricter disclosure policies, skepticism lingers. The company must prove that its devices can perform consistently while navigating scrutiny from regulators wary of how data is collected and used.\nAt the same time, the strategic opportunity is clear. If consumers shift even small daily tasks from smartphones to glasses, Meta could reduce its dependence on rival phone platforms and embed its Llama-based AI more deeply into daily life. Adoption at the $799 price point is uncertain, but Meta\u2019s lower-cost models may broaden appeal. Much will depend on day-to-day reliability, evolving privacy rules and Apple\u2019s next steps with lighter or more affordable devices.\n\r\n\r\nThe post Will Meta\u2019s Bet on Practical AI Glasses Pay Off in the Long Run? appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-09-24T14:27:25-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-09-24T14:27:25-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Meta-AI-smart-glasses.png", "tags": [ "AI", "artificial intelligence", "Meta", "News", "PYMNTS News", "smart glasses", "Wearables" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=3019438", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/news/wearables/2025/amazon-developing-augmented-reality-glasses-for-consumers-and-delivery-drivers/", "title": "Amazon Developing Augmented Reality Glasses for Consumers and Delivery Drivers", "content_html": "Amazon is reportedly developing augmented reality (AR) glasses for consumers and for delivery drivers.
The post Amazon Developing Augmented Reality Glasses for Consumers and Delivery Drivers appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Amazon is reportedly developing augmented reality (AR) glasses for consumers and for delivery drivers.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThe company aims to launch the consumer product late next year or early in 2027 and the delivery driver one as soon as the second quarter of 2026, The Information reported Wednesday (Sept. 10), citing unnamed sources.\nAmazon did not immediately reply to PYMNTS\u2019 request for comment.\nAccording to The Information report, the AR glasses for consumers will feature microphones, speakers, a camera and a full-color display in one eye.\nThe AR glasses for delivery drivers will have features that help with the sorting and delivery of packages, according to the report.\nBoth products will use the same underlying technology, but only the consumer one will have a full-color display, the report said.\nIt was reported Aug. 22 that Meta will debut its first pair of smart glasses with a display at this month\u2019s Connect conference. Codenamed Hypernova, these glasses will include a small digital display in the right lens.\nOn Aug. 19, it was reported that the Hypernova smart glasses will be offered at a price starting at $800 before style variations or prescription lenses are added. The report added that the current Meta Ray-Ban glasses are priced at $200 to $400 and the Oakley smart glasses cost up to $500.\nWhen Meta debuted its Orion AR glasses in September 2024, the company said the device is the \u201cnorth star\u201d of wearable connection.\nPYMNTS reported at the time that due to advances in technology and material science allowing Meta to leverage a refractive material called silicon carbide to create holographic AR displays laid atop real-life surroundings, an improvement over the existing \u201cpassthrough\u201d techniques used by current virtual reality (VR) devices, AR glasses are gearing up to potentially become more than just an ill-fated and cumbersome tech fad.\nThese devices will arrive at a time when artificial intelligence has been driving a smart glasses boom. Several tech giants and about a dozen smaller companies are making smart glasses and betting on the product to become the next popular connected wearable.\nPYMNTS reported in February that these AI-powered smart glasses are encased in traditional frames of various styles rather than being the bulky AR/VR headsets of old.\n\r\n\r\nThe post Amazon Developing Augmented Reality Glasses for Consumers and Delivery Drivers appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-09-10T15:48:02-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-09-10T15:48:02-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Amazon.jpg", "tags": [ "Amazon", "News", "PYMNTS News", "smart glasses", "What's Hot", "Wearables" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2943128", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/news/wearables/2025/meta-to-unveil-smart-glasses-with-display-in-september/", "title": "Meta to Unveil Smart Glasses With Display in September", "content_html": "Meta is reportedly set to unveil smart glasses that incorporate a display in September and offer them at a price starting at $800.
The post Meta to Unveil Smart Glasses With Display in September appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "Meta is reportedly set to unveil smart glasses that incorporate a display in September and offer them at a price starting at $800.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThe new smart glasses, internally named Hypernova, were initially planned to be priced at $1,000, at least, but will now start at $800 before style variations or prescription lenses are added, Bloomberg reported Sunday (Aug. 17).\nThe report noted that the current Meta Ray-Ban glasses are priced at $200 to $400 and the Oakley smart glasses cost up to $500.\nThe new Hypernova smart glasses will feature a screen for apps and alerts on one lens and a wrist accessory that can control the glasses, according to the report.\nCNET reported Monday (Aug. 18) that while the Hypernova smart glasses are designed to be used with a mobile phone, they hint at a future when glasses might replace phones.\nIt is rumored that Hypernova could have a smartphone-quality camera and a voice-activated artificial intelligence query tool, Frederick Stanbrell, head of wearables for EMEA at IDC, told CNET.\n\u201cWe are likely seeing the first generation of a device that Mark Zuckerberg intends to one day replace phones,\u201d Stanbrell said, per the report.\nMeta\u2019s partner on the Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses, EssilorLuxottica, said in July that the sales of Ray-Ban Meta glasses were up more than 200% in the first half of the year.\n\u201cWe are leading the transformation of glasses as the next computing platform, one where AI, sensory tech and a data-rich healthcare infrastructure will converge to empower humans and unlock our full potential,\u201d EssilorLuxottica Chairman and CEO Francesco Milleri and Deputy CEO Paul du Saillant said in the release.\nWhen Google announced in May that it partnered with eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to create glasses equipped with its extended reality (XR) operating system, Android XR, the company said it expects smart glasses equipped with Android XR and its AI model Gemini to become a convenient and always present AI assistant.\n\u201cWhat if your AI assistant could see the world from your perspective and offer hands-free help? That\u2019s the vision driving our latest advancements in Android XR,\u201d Shahram Izadi, vice president and general manager, Android XR at Google, said at the time.\n\r\n\r\nThe post Meta to Unveil Smart Glasses With Display in September appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-08-19T20:35:37-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-08-19T20:35:37-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Meta-smart-glasses-Ray-Ban.jpg", "tags": [ "EssilorLuxottica", "Hypernova", "Meta", "News", "PYMNTS News", "Ray-Ban", "smart glasses", "What's Hot", "Wearables" ] }, { "id": "https://www.pymnts.com/?p=2868626", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/news/wearables/2025/ray-ban-meta-sales-triple-as-glasses-become-next-computing-platform/", "title": "Ray-Ban Meta Sales Triple as Glasses Become \u2018Next Computing Platform\u2019", "content_html": "EssilorLuxottica, which partners with Meta on artificial intelligence (AI) glasses, reported Monday (July 28) that the sales of those Ray-Ban Meta glasses were up more than 200% in the first half of the year.
The post Ray-Ban Meta Sales Triple as Glasses Become \u2018Next Computing Platform\u2019 appeared first on PYMNTS.com.
\n", "content_text": "EssilorLuxottica, which partners with Meta on artificial intelligence (AI) glasses, reported Monday (July 28) that the sales of those Ray-Ban Meta glasses were up more than 200% in the first half of the year.\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\nThe designer, manufacturer and distributor of vision care products, eyewear and MedTech solutions also highlighted new and upcoming smart glasses and MedTech products in a Monday press release.\nEssilorLuxottica said in the release that the Oakley Meta AI glasses announced in June will be available later this summer. The first product from this brand, Oakley Meta HSTN, will include Ultra HD 3K recording, open-ear speakers incorporated into the frames to deliver music and podcasts, and enough battery life to power up to eight hours of typical use and up to 19 hours on standby, according to the release.\nThe company also highlighted its rollout of Nuance Audio in the United States and Italy in February and its subsequent expansion to France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain. Nuance Audio is a MedTech solution that incorporates hearing aid software into smart glasses, per the release.\n\u201cWe are leading the transformation of glasses as the next computing platform, one where AI, sensory tech and a data-rich healthcare infrastructure will converge to empower humans and unlock our full potential,\u201d EssilorLuxottica Chairman and CEO Francesco Milleri and Deputy CEO Paul du Saillant said in the release. \u201cThe success of Ray-Ban Meta, the launch of Oakley Meta Performance AI glasses and the positive response to Nuance Audio are major milestones for us in this new frontier.\u201d\nAI is driving a smart glasses boom, with several companies betting on these products to become the next popular connected wearable, PYMNTS reported in February.\nThese AI-powered smart glasses are encased in traditional frames of various styles, so users don\u2019t look out of place in public, but they carry serious electronics to power AI capabilities like online searches and translations.\nEssilorLuxottica announced in September that the company and Meta formed a new long-term agreement that extends their collaboration on smart eyewear technology into the next decade. The company said the deal built on the success of their Ray-Ban Meta glasses and set the stage for future innovations in wearables.\n\r\n\r\nThe post Ray-Ban Meta Sales Triple as Glasses Become \u2018Next Computing Platform\u2019 appeared first on PYMNTS.com.", "date_published": "2025-07-28T16:31:11-04:00", "date_modified": "2025-07-28T16:31:11-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "PYMNTS", "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/author/pymnts/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/679fcf5c2ed5358e99e8e23b22e3b5d761e37bdb76fa7b0e13d8ecd9ff01bf88?s=512&d=blank&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.pymnts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Ray-Ban-Meta-smart-glasses.jpg", "tags": [ "AI", "EssilorLuxottica", "News", "PYMNTS News", "Ray-Ban Meta", "smart glasses", "What's Hot", "Wearables" ] } ] }