"Meta's latest smart glasses blend style with AI. The Ray-Ban Display has an in-lens color screen and a Neural Band for gesture control, while the new Gen 2 model offers 3K video and longer battery life."
Meta's Ray-Ban Display AI Glasses: A New Wearable Era
Meta has introduced two new smart glasses in 2025: the high-end Ray-Ban Display AI glasses and the more affordable Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) smart glasses. The Ray-Ban Display glasses cost $799 (including the Meta Neural Band controller) and feature a built-in color display in the right lens and an innovative EMG wristband for touch-free control. The Gen 2 glasses build on the previous generation with better battery life and video capture, starting at $379. Both models blend classic Ray-Ban style with hands-free AI technology.
What makes Meta Ray-Ban Display AI Glasses special?
The Ray-Ban Display glasses have a high-resolution in-lens screen on the right side. This display can show notifications, navigation cues, real-time info and more, then disappear when not in use so your view stays natural. Meta says the display is placed off to the side and is only on for quick glances it’s designed to help you look up and stay present in the real world. In short, it’s like having a tiny smartphone HUD in your glasses.
The Display glasses include a 12MP camera, dual speakers, microphones, and run Meta’s AI assistant. For example, incoming messages and calls can appear directly on the lens display, and you can answer or scroll through them using simple gestures on the Neural Band. Navigation prompts and translations can also appear in your view, while the band lets you navigate by swiping or pinching. It’s a hands-free way to get information without pulling out your phone or being distracted from your surroundings.
How does the Meta Neural Band wristband work?
The Meta Neural Band is a breakthrough EMG (electromyography) wristband that comes with the Display glasses. It reads subtle muscle signals from your hand and wrist and turns them into digital commands. For example, you can scroll content by sliding your thumb along your palm, select items by pinching two fingers, or adjust the volume by rotating your wrist. The Neural Band was trained on data from hundreds of thousands of users, so it works right away for most people without special calibration.
All gesture processing is done on the wristband itself, preserving privacy by sending only commands (not raw muscle data) to the glasses. The band lasts about 18 hours on a charge and is water-resistant (IPX7). It’s made of a durable Vectran fiber so it can bend easily without breaking. Meta envisions the Neural Band as a universal controller it could potentially control all kinds of devices hands-free, which could help users who can’t rely on touch or voice input.
What’s new in Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) smart glasses?
The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) glasses are a more traditional smart eyewear ($379) that got some key upgrades. They still have a 12MP camera and open-ear speakers, but now they can record video at up to 3K resolution (30 fps) and 1440p (30 fps) or 1200p (60 fps). New video modes like hyperlapse and slow-motion are coming soon. These glasses have 32GB of storage, enough for about 500 photos or 100 short (30-second) videos.
Battery life has doubled: Gen 2 lasts up to 8 hours per charge (vs ~4 hours before), and the charging case provides about 48 hours more. You can get to half-charge in just 20 minutes. A new feature called “conversation focus” will soon let the glasses amplify the person you’re talking to in noisy places. Finally, Gen 2 comes in more frame shapes, colors, and lens options for greater style flexibility. In summary, Gen 2 is about better video capture, more stylish options, and much longer battery life.
How do the Display and Gen 2 glasses compare?
| Feature | Gen 2 Smart Glasses | Ray-Ban Display Glasses |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Display | No | Yes (in right lens, hidden when off) |
| Gesture Control | No | Yes (Meta Neural Band EMG wristband) |
| Camera/Video | 12 MP camera, 3K video recording | 12 MP camera (focus on AR display) |
| Battery (glasses) | Up to 8 h use, 48 h w/ case | Up to 6 h use, ~30 h w/ case |
| Battery (wristband) | N/A | Up to 18 h |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX7 (band) |
| Price (USD) | $379 | $799 (includes band) |
| Main Use | Hands-free media capture & AI assistant | AR info, navigation, notifications |
The table highlights the key differences: the Gen 2 glasses are a camera-centric wearable (no in-lens display) aimed at capturing media and providing AI features, while the Ray-Ban Display glasses focus on augmented reality and hands-free control via the built-in screen and Neural Band.
FAQs
What can I do with the Meta Ray-Ban Display AI Glasses?
You can check texts, messages, navigation prompts, translations, and AI assistant answers right in your field of view. For example, walking directions appear on the lens, and you use simple band gestures (swipe or pinch) to move through each step. You can also stream music or take calls through the glasses’ speakers while seeing related info on the display. Essentially, it lets you access useful info hands-free while staying engaged with the real world.
How does the Meta Neural Band improve accessibility?
Because the Neural Band senses even tiny muscle movements, it can help people who have difficulty speaking or moving their hands. Meta notes that it could enable control signals for users with spinal injuries, tremors, or missing fingers. It also means anyone can control the glasses when touch or voice isn’t practical (like in very quiet or noisy places). In other words, it’s a new hands-free interface that could assist people with various physical limitations.
When will these glasses be available?
Meta says the Ray-Ban Display glasses (with the Neural Band) will go on sale on Sept 30, 2025 at select U.S. retailers (Best Buy, LensCrafters, etc.) and ship internationally soon after. The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 smart glasses were announced at the same event and are already selling in many countries for $379.
