Meta just dropped its most ambitious consumer hardware play yet - Ray-Ban smart glasses with actual displays and gesture control via a Neural Band wristband. At $799, these aren't prototypes but real products hitting stores September 30, marking Meta's boldest attempt to break free from Apple and Google's smartphone dominance.
Meta just made its biggest bet on breaking the smartphone stranglehold. CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stage at Meta Connect 2025 to unveil Ray-Ban Meta Display glasses - smart eyewear with actual displays and neural wristband control that consumers can buy in two weeks for $799.
The timing couldn't be more aggressive. While Apple and Google continue dominating the mobile landscape, Meta is betting that AI-powered smart glasses represent the next computing platform. The Ray-Ban Meta Display features a built-in display on the right lens showing apps, alerts, directions, and live translations - controlled entirely by subtle hand gestures detected through the included Neural Band wristband.
"This is a product that people can buy in a couple of weeks, starting September 30," Zuckerberg announced, drawing a sharp contrast to the company's ambitious but unavailable Orion prototype showcased at last year's Connect. That distinction matters - this isn't vaporware but actual consumer hardware hitting retail.
The Neural Band represents Meta's most intriguing interface gamble yet. Looking like a screenless Fitbit, the device uses electromyography (EMG) to detect electrical signals between your brain and hand during gestures. Meta claims 18 hours of battery life and water resistance, suggesting serious engineering behind what could appear as a simple accessory.
This builds directly on Meta's surprising Ray-Ban success story. The company has already sold millions of pairs of basic Ray-Ban Meta glasses through its partnership with EssilorLuxottica, proving consumer appetite exists for smart eyewear that doesn't scream "tech prototype."
But the Display version goes significantly further. Users can access Meta's social apps - Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook - directly through the lens display. The glasses maintain the AI assistant, cameras, speakers, and microphones from the original while adding cloud connectivity for internet access. It's Meta's clearest attempt at creating hardware that handles smartphone tasks without requiring Apple or Google's permission.
The competitive implications are massive. For years, Meta has been forced to distribute its services through competitors' app stores and operating systems. Smart glasses with displays represent a potential end-run around that dependence, though and are almost certainly developing their own competing devices.
