David Bridges
Meta’s innovative augmented reality (AR) glasses are poised for significant advancements this year, as recent reports shed light on the company’s strategic roadmap for its wearable technology.
According to a fresh report from Bloomberg, Meta is gearing up to launch a new iteration of its current smart glasses later this year, specifically tailored for athletes. This device will feature sophisticated data tracking capabilities designed to enhance performance feedback, thereby elevating the training experience for sports enthusiasts.
The upcoming athletic sunglasses from Meta are expected to draw inspiration from Oakley’s popular “Sphaera” design, incorporating a single camera strategically placed at the center of the frame. This thoughtful design choice aims to minimize the overall weight of the glasses, ensuring comfort during physical activities.
It’s noteworthy that Oakley is a subsidiary of EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of Ray-Ban, with which Meta has previously collaborated on its inaugural smart glasses. Last year, Meta made a financial investment in EssilorLuxottica, reinforcing this partnership and gaining direct access to the company’s most sought-after frames and styles for future glasses development.
Looking ahead, Meta envisions a future where these glasses will evolve into fully functional AR glasses, although this development is still on the horizon.
Bloomberg’s report indicates that the next phase for Meta involves launching its first smart glasses equipped with a heads-up display. These glasses are scheduled for release later this year, representing a significant leap forward in wearable technology.
The upcoming iteration of the Ray-Ban Stories glasses, now rebranded as “Ray-Ban Meta” on Meta’s product site, will provide users with notifications and allow them to view photos through a compact display visible at the lower part of their field of vision. These glasses will also support the operation of basic apps, though they will not feature full AR capabilities. Instead, they will offer digital overlays on real-world environments, paving the way for more immersive experiences.
Meta plans to take its time with this next stage, targeting a release for 2027. This timeline aims to facilitate the establishment of more sustainable and cost-effective production processes, ultimately reducing the price of their AR devices.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has voiced strong criticism of Apple’s pricing strategy for its AR-enabled VisionPro device, which is priced at $3,499, deeming it prohibitively expensive for widespread adoption. In contrast, Meta is dedicated to driving down the costs of its wearables to broaden their market reach, with plans to introduce an AR device that aligns with this cost-effective vision.
However, the upcoming smart glasses are anticipated to carry a higher price tag than their predecessors.
The model set to launch later this year is expected to be priced at approximately twice that of the current Ray-Ban Metas. Furthermore, the company predicts that its future AR-enabled glasses will eventually retail for a price comparable to that of a high-end laptop or smartphone.
Interestingly, Zuckerberg believes that smart glasses could surpass smartphones in both popularity and practicality within the next decade. This potential shift might make the cost of such devices more palatable, especially if users are no longer tethered to their phones. However, achieving this transformation will necessitate a significant change in consumer habits and societal acceptance.
Meta is actively pursuing this vision while also working to keep production costs low. This focus on affordability may be a strategic reason behind Zuckerberg’s willingness to collaborate with the incoming Trump administration, aiming to circumvent potential cost increases for their projects.
Many components for Meta’s glasses are sourced from China, and with Trump pledging tariffs on foreign goods, particularly Chinese imports, this could pose challenges for Meta’s plans.
According to these recent developments, Meta intends to initiate its AR initiatives during Trump’s presidency, suggesting a reliance on government cooperation to navigate regulatory challenges and maximize this opportunity.
This dependency may justify Zuckerberg’s adjustments to the company’s content policies to align with presidential expectations and other compromises.
Should Zuckerberg’s predictions hold true, this strategy could yield substantial long-term benefits for Meta.
While this approach may not gain widespread support, the advantages for Meta could outweigh the potential drawbacks. The company’s future trajectory is clear, and it will require significant government cooperation to facilitate its ambitions in AI, AR, and VR technology.
