Meta Platforms on Wednesday introduced its first consumer-ready smart glasses equipped with a built-in display, expanding on the success of its Ray-Ban line—one of the early hits of the AI boom. At the Connect event, CEO Mark Zuckerberg showcased the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses along with a new wristband controller. Although some of his demos hit snags, the announcement drew applause.

“Glasses are the perfect device for personal superintelligence,” Zuckerberg said, noting they let people stay engaged in real life while tapping into AI tools that enhance communication, memory, senses, and more. The Display glasses feature a miniature screen in the right lens for basic functions like notifications. Priced from $799, they will launch in stores on September 30, bundled with a wristband that converts hand gestures into actions such as replying to messages or answering calls.

Held at Meta’s Menlo Park headquarters, the Connect conference marked the company’s latest push to stay competitive in the AI race. Despite pioneering smart glasses, Meta still trails rivals like Google and OpenAI in rolling out advanced AI models. Zuckerberg has responded by aggressively hiring engineers from competitors and committing billions toward AI chip development. The launch also comes as Meta faces scrutiny over child safety on its platforms. Recent reports revealed its chatbots had inappropriate conversations with children, and whistleblowers said the company discouraged studying VR’s negative effects on youth.

Oakley smart glasses for athletes: Alongside the Display glasses, Meta unveiled Oakley Vanguard, a $499 pair designed for athletes. Integrated with Garmin and Strava, it delivers real-time training data, post-workout insights, and up to nine hours of battery life. It becomes available October 21. Meta also refreshed its Ray-Ban line, improving battery life and camera performance. Priced at $379—up from $299 in the prior version—the new models don’t include a built-in display.

Analysts expect modest sales of the Display glasses but view them as a stepping stone toward the company’s ambitious Orion glasses, slated for 2027. Last year Meta showed off an Orion prototype, with Zuckerberg calling it “a time machine to the future.” Forrester’s Mike Proulx compared the Display launch to Apple’s early smartwatch strategy, saying glasses are a natural, lightweight form factor. However, he noted Meta must still convince consumers the benefits justify the cost. All new devices feature Meta’s AI assistant, cameras, hands-free navigation, and livestreaming integration with Facebook and Instagram.

While Zuckerberg’s demos had hiccups—such as a failed call attempt—the audience responded with encouragement. “It’s great value for the technology you’re getting,” said Jitesh Ubrani of IDC, though he cautioned that software improvements are still needed before average consumers embrace it. IDC projects global shipments of AR/VR headsets and display-free smart glasses to rise 39.2% in 2025 to 14.3 million units, with Meta’s Ray-Ban line fueling much of the growth.