Though it's long been a secret, Meta has finally officially unveiled the Ray-Ban Display: the first pair of smart glasses with an integrated full-color display. Priced at $799, these glasses are controlled via a Neural Band wristband. Early testers were impressed, even excited.
Meta Launches First Display Smart Glasses
Meta unveiled the Ray-Ban Display smart glasses at the Connect 2025 conference—the company's first smart glasses with an integrated display. For $799, buyers receive a pair of glasses with a full-color display on the right lens and a matching Neural Band (an electromyography (EMG) wristband for gesture control). The glasses will go on sale September 30th, initially only in the US.
With these new smart glasses, Meta aims to bring computer interfaces closer to the human body. Unlike previous Ray-Ban Meta models, these display glasses feature a real screen element that projects information directly into the field of view. Initial experiences suggest that the visual information significantly increases the added value of the Meta glasses.
Neural Band Enables Gesture Control
The included Neural Band represents a technological innovation: a wristband that detects wrist muscle signals and translates subtle finger movements into control commands. Users can select elements by pressing with their thumb and index finger together, navigate with a swipe, or activate the AI assistant with a double tap.
As Meta explained in a blog post, the glasses are designed to help you "keep your head up and stay focused" without constantly picking up your smartphone. The display shows text messages, video calls, navigation assistance, and AI responses directly in your field of view. Other features include live captions with translations, camera previews, and music controls.
Positive Feedback from Early Testers
Early testers have reported positive experiences with this new technology. The combination of the glasses and the Neural Band, in particular, is groundbreaking. "I'm sad to report that Meta's new smart glasses are the best I've ever experienced," wrote Victoria Song in a headline article for The Verge.
The display technology offers a 20-degree field of view and a 600 x 600 pixel resolution. Brightness ranges from 30 to 5,000 nits, sufficient for most outdoor conditions. Battery life is 6 hours, with the charging case providing an additional 30 hours.
With the Ray-Ban Display, Meta expands its smartglasses portfolio into three categories: in addition to camera-based, displayless models and full-fledged AR glasses planned for 2027, the new glasses slot in the middle. Meta also introduced the sporty Oakley Vanguard ($499, approximately 420 euros) and the redesigned Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 ($379, approximately 320 euros).
Mark Zuckerberg's company sees these glasses as a key cornerstone of a future where AI is integrated into daily life—despite some technical issues during a live demonstration. The challenge now lies in convincing consumers that this new technology is suitable for everyday use. While Meta always adds a "data protection but" caveat, the Ray-Ban Display demo certainly leaves us eager to learn more.
