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The partnership between Meta and Ray-Ban is creating sparks. Building on the success of its first range of connected glasses, the American giant is thinking big for the future. New designs, innovative technologies and even an integrated screen: this is how Meta intends to redefine the smart eyewear experience.
Glasses for every taste (and budget)
Meta seems to have found its audience with its Ray-Ban connected glasses. But far from resting on its laurels, the company is already preparing the next step. Mark Zuckerberg is a firm believer in this project, and even thinks it will eventually replace cell phones. According to Bloomberg, Meta is developing several new models under the code name Supernova. The aim? To diversify the range and appeal to clearly identified consumer niches.
Firstly, a Supernova 2 version, inspired by Oakley’s Sphaera eyewear, is due to be launched this year. Designed for sports enthusiasts, especially cyclists, these goggles incorporate a camera, speakers and a pinch of artificial intelligence. It’s no coincidence that Oakley, like Ray-Ban, belongs to Essilor Luxottica, Meta’s key partner in this project. But the real revolution is called Hypernova, a top-of-the-range model with a small screen integrated into the right lens. Don’t expect science-fiction-style augmented reality: the screen will display notifications, info from apps and photo previews. A cool gadget, but not for everyone: Meta predicts a price of around $1,000, a far cry from the $300 price tag of the basic Ray-Ban model.
Towards a new era of augmented reality
While Meta is making progress with its classic connected glasses, the company is also looking to the future with far more ambitious projects. The most impressive of these? Orion, a prototype unveiled last September. Here, we’re talking augmented reality. But there’s no question of simplicity: to operate Orion, you need not only to wear the glasses, but also a control bracelet and an external box, in charge of all the computer processing. All this at a staggering price, estimated at $10,000. Obviously, it’s not for everyone. Meta hopes to convince developers as early as 2026, just to position itself against Snap and its Spectacles AR.
What’s next? Meta is already preparing the next step with a project called Artemis, due in 2027. This version would be lighter and more integrated, while taking up some of Orion’s ideas, such as control via a wristband. More realistic for marketing to AR enthusiasts, Artemis could mark a turning point in Meta’s vision for this technology. But that’s not all. Meta’s bustling Reality Labs are also said to be working on a connected watch – a project with an eventful destiny, abandoned several times and then relaunched – as well as wireless headphones equipped with cameras. The latter would enable artificial intelligence to analyze the environment around the user, opening the door to even more immersive experiences.
