Meta's Smart Glasses: A Growing Force in Wearable Tech
Michael Torneau, SmartGlassesOn
Published 19:00, Sun February 16, 2025
Meta's Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Reach 2 Million Sales
Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses have quickly become a significant player in the wearable tech market. Since their launch in October 2023, Meta, in partnership with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica, has sold an impressive 2 million units. This milestone, revealed by EssilorLuxottica CEO Francesco Milleri during the company’s Q4 2024 earnings call, underscores the growing popularity and increasing retention rates of the product.
Plans for Expanded Production
Given the success of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, EssilorLuxottica is planning to dramatically expand production. The company aims to increase annual production capacity to more than 10 million units by the end of 2026. This ambitious move reflects the brand’s confidence in the future of smart eyewear and its long-term collaboration with Meta, which extends at least until 2030.
Aggressive Marketing and Retail Strategy
Meta has been heavily promoting its smart glasses to drive consumer interest. The company ran two high-profile Super Bowl advertisements and even released a limited edition Super Bowl version of the glasses. To further strengthen its retail presence, Meta recently appointed the former CEO of luxury goods website The RealReal as its new Vice President of retail for wearable devices. This aggressive marketing strategy reflects Meta’s commitment to establishing smart glasses as a mainstream technology.
Next-Gen Smart Glasses with Displays
The current generation of Ray-Ban Meta glasses is designed to function without a display, relying instead on voice commands and touch controls. However, Meta is already developing the next generation of smart glasses, which are rumored to feature a small integrated display. This display could provide basic functionalities such as showing notifications and offering visual feedback from Meta AI. These new glasses are expected to launch in the second half of 2025, potentially accompanied by a neural wristband for more intuitive control.
Expanding Product Lineup
Meta and EssilorLuxottica are also expanding their product lineup. Reports suggest that they plan to introduce Oakley-branded smart glasses aimed at athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. These glasses will feature a centrally located camera, differentiating them from the consumer-focused Ray-Ban model.
Increasing Competition in the Smart Glasses Market
Despite the impressive sales figures, Meta faces increasing competition in the smart glasses market. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has acknowledged that other major tech players are preparing to enter the space. Samsung, for instance, is expected to release smart glasses equipped with Google’s Gemini AI as early as the end of 2025. Apple is also rumored to be exploring smart glasses, with a potential release in 2027. Additionally, several startups showcased similar technology at CES 2025, highlighting the growing interest in this emerging market.
The Future of Smart Glasses
As Meta continues to invest heavily in smart glasses, the company envisions these devices becoming “the main digital platform addressing our daily needs.” While reaching the scale of smartphone sales remains a distant goal, Meta’s commitment to innovation and aggressive market expansion suggests that smart glasses will play an increasingly prominent role in the future of wearable technology.