Meta's new smart glasses, known as the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, represent a significant advancement over previous models in the company's smart eyewear lineup. Introduced at Meta's annual Connect event in September 2025, the new glasses feature a miniature display embedded directly within the right lens, enabling users to interact with digital content more intuitively than before. This display allows for viewing text messages, maps, social media content like Instagram Reels, photos, videos, and live captions or translations right in the user's field of vision. This marks a major step forward compared to earlier Meta models, which were predominantly audio-only or had limited smart capabilities without integrated visual feedback.
Previous Meta smart glasses, including the first generation of Meta Ray-Ban glasses and the Gen 2 versions, focused on audio interaction and basic camera functionalities. The original Ray-Ban smart glasses were primarily designed for capturing photos and videos with a modest resolution and providing audio feedback through open-ear speakers, without any visual display for on-the-go notifications or interaction. Their battery life offered about four hours of audio streaming, typically enough for casual uses but less suitable for intensive prolonged use. The Gen 2 Meta Ray-Bans improved these aspects moderately by extending battery life to about eight hours and enhancing video capture quality to 3K resolution, along with software updates introducing AI features like conversation focus, enhancing voice clarity in noisy environments. However, these models did not include an in-lens display, so users had to rely on smartphones for comprehensive interaction with AI-driven smart features.
The new Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses additionally bring unique navigational benefits. Unlike previous iterations that might show nearby locations or addresses audibly or through paired devices, the Display glasses project real-time maps and directions directly within the visual display. This feature is particularly helpful for discreet, quick access to route information without constantly looking down at a phone screen. Besides navigation, the Display glasses support hands-free control via an optional neural wristband, enabling users to interact with the display through subtle hand gestures instead of physically touching the frames or issuing voice commands. This is a notable evolution in user interface design compared to previous generations, which mainly depended on tapping the frame or voice activation with a wake phrase like "Hey, Meta."
While the new Display glasses offer advanced functionalities, they are somewhat bulkier and heavier than earlier Meta Ray-Ban models or traditional eyewear. However, users report that they become relatively easy to forget during casual wear when not actively using the display features. The glasses also integrate AI technologies for real-time captioning, translations, and interactive AI responses both visually and audibly, enhancing their utility for communication, information access, and entertainment. The neural AI assistant can recognize environmental elements and respond to complex queries, representing a qualitative shift compared to the simpler voice assistants in older models.
Furthermore, Meta expanded its smart glasses lineup beyond the Display model. The latest generation of Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses (Gen 2) features improved colors, camera quality capable of 3K video recording, doubled battery life to about eight hours, and enhanced software capabilities. Meanwhile, the new Meta Oakley Vanguard glasses target sports and outdoor enthusiasts and include features like waterproofing (IP67 rating), louder speakers for wind noise cancellation, and real-time workout metrics integration with platforms like Garmin and Strava. These sports-oriented glasses boast nine hours of battery life, longer than previous Meta offerings, and offer AI-generated summaries of users' activities with automatic photo and video capture based on performance milestones.
In summary, compared to earlier Meta smart glasses, the new Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses distinguish themselves primarily through their in-lens display technology, advanced AI integration, hands-free neural wristband control, and enhanced interaction features. They maintain core strengths like audio clarity and camera functionality but elevate user experience by minimizing reliance on smartphones and enabling immediate, context-aware digital interaction. This reflects Meta's strategic push to mainstream AI-enhanced eyewear, competing against other tech companies while laying groundwork for future augmented reality devices. The broader lineup also caters to different user segments, from fashion-conscious consumers to active sports users, with significant improvements in battery life, durability, and specialized functionalities.