Meta is preparing to showcase a new generation of smart glasses at its annual Connect event, emphasizing its push into AI-driven augmented reality despite ongoing criticism over child safety on its platforms. At the company’s Menlo Park headquarters, CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to introduce Meta’s first consumer-ready smart glasses with an integrated display, projected to cost around $800. The device, internally called Hypernova and expected to be marketed as Celeste, will include a small screen in the right lens to handle basic tasks like notifications.

Analysts note that while the glasses highlight Meta’s ambition to remain competitive in AI against rivals like OpenAI and Google, the steep price may discourage buyers. The device will reportedly be less advanced than the Orion prototype presented last year, which Meta still plans to release in 2027. Currently, Meta sells smart glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban and Oakley, featuring cameras, AI tools, hands-free operation, and livestreaming capabilities. Zuckerberg has invested more than $60 billion in augmented reality since 2020, positioning smart glasses as the company’s key gateway to merging AI with daily life.

The Connect conference is also expected to introduce a wristband for gesture-based control of the new glasses, along with upgraded Ray-Ban models offering better cameras, improved battery, and enhanced AI functions. Reports suggest the Hypernova glasses may feature Prada’s design influence, given its thick frames suited to house components.

Despite Meta’s relative success in selling about two million Ray-Ban glasses since 2023, the AR division has suffered heavy financial losses. Analysts believe the $800 Hypernova glasses—much costlier than current Ray-Ban ($299) and Oakley ($399) models—will likely sell only a few hundred thousand units, serving more as a stepping stone to attract developers and pave the way for future, mass-market devices.