Beyond leading social media, communication, and AI innovation, Meta actively pursues groundbreaking wearable tech to revolutionize digital interaction. This dedication was put on full display during the Meta 2025 Connect event, which came with jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring innovations.
Let’s take a look at the products and services showcased during the event and what it means for the future and AI.
Connect 2025
Kicking off with a keynote speech from Meta’s very own Mark Zuckerberg, the event, which took place on September 17-18, was one filled with marvels only thought possible in sci-fi movies.
The overarching theme of the event was the company’s aggressive push in AI, with a particular focus on how smart glasses are the ideal form factor for “personal superintelligence.”
For those of us that have followed the journey of Zuckerberg, you would be no stranger to the long-term strategy Meta has made towards the development of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
Starting from Oculus Rift, released in March 2016, this was Meta’s very first consumer version of the VR headset. Then came Oculus: Go, Quest, Rift S, and Quest 2 (later Meta Quest 2); Meta Quest: Pro, Quest 3, and Quest 3S; and Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Gen 1).
Let’s meet the next generation of Meta’s VR/AR products.
Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses & Meta Neural Band
This pair stole the show, making them a headline product of the event. The Display glasses were Meta’s first attempt at a consumer pair of smart glasses with a built-in heads-up display.
- Display: These glasses have a display resolution of 42 pixels per degree and 5,000 nits. We are talking full color and display resolution that’s there when you want it.
- Additional features: It’s not just about display; the Ray-Ban Display glasses feature microphones, speakers (a 6-mic array), cameras, and a full-color display backed with compute and AI, all in a single stylish and comfortable device.
- Duality: The glasses feature “Transitions® lenses,” making them suitable to wear both at day and at night. It boasts of a 6-hour mixed-use battery life and up to 30 hours of total battery life thanks to a portable and collapsible charging case.
Each pair is controlled by a Meta Neural Band, which allows the user to control the glasses’ function with barely perceptible muscle movements. This is the world’s first mainstream neural interface.
The Neural Band works with electromyography (EMG), which utilizes electrical activity in response to nerve stimulation of the muscles. When paired with the glasses, it allows you to silently scroll, click, and in the near future, write using subtle finger movements without touching your glasses or phones.
With the glasses and band, you can enjoy features for messaging and video calling, pedestrian navigation using a visual map, live captions and translation, music playback, and preview and zoom when taking pictures with the glasses.
The band is made out of a durable, lightweight, and comfortable material called Vectran. It has a battery life of up to 18 hours and an IPX7 water rating.
Together the pair goes for $799 and will be available for purchase on September 30 at Best Buy, LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, and Ray-Ban stores.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Gen 2)
Starting at $379, this new model of Meta Smart Glasses addresses the biggest complaint of its predecessor: a short battery life and average camera. With new and improved features/upgrades, the Gen 2 glasses feature
- Battery: Up to 8 hours battery capacity (which is twice that of Gen 1). It also has an additional 48 hrs courtesy of its charging case, which gives a fast charging capacity of 50% in just 20 minutes.
- Camera: The glasses feature a 12MP camera that can capture Ultra HD 3K video at 60 frames per second. It also has a 32 GB local storage capacity and an IPX4 water-resistant rating.
- Software: The “conversation focus” feature amplifies the voice of the person you are speaking with in a noisy environment. Live translation capabilities were expanded too, with German and Portuguese joining the list of available languages.
Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Gen2 are available immediately for purchase in Wayfarer, Skyler, and Headliner frame styles.
For the sports enthusiasts and persons in the house, this is for you. Starting from $499, the Oakley Meta Vanguard features:
- Battery life: Nine hours of mixed use on a single charge
- Camera: a 122-degree field of view and 3K video with stabilization, which means clear and amazing footage regardless of terrain. It also has two modes, hyperlapse and slow motion (a feature also available on Meta Smart Glasses 2).
- Speaker: It boasts of Meta’s most powerful open-ear speakers. With 6 decibels louder than Oakley Meta HSTN and advanced wind noise reduction, they are perfect for running and biking in up to 30 mph winds.
- Its autocapture feature with Garmin allows your glasses to automatically capture footage based on workout stats and milestones.
- It is also sweatproof and can withstand temporary submersion in water.
Software & Platform Announcements
Zuckerberg also announced new software products powered by “Horizon Engine” and “Horizon Studio.” Let’s take a look at them.
- Horizon TV: This is a new entertainment hub for Meta Quest headsets. Picture having a 3D experience of your favorite movies from the comfort of your home. It includes partnerships with Disney+, ESPN, Hulu, Prime Video, and Twitch.
- Hyperspace Capture: allows the user to scan a room and then turn it into an immersive photorealistic world of their own, all within minutes.
Both products are available on Meta Quest 3 and 3S headsets.
Final Thoughts
While the Connect 2025 event didn’t go by without a hitch, it’ll suffice to say Meta did deliver in making high-end AR and VR products.
That being said, the future where AI becomes a part of our daily lives is no longer futuristic or fiction. It is happening here and now, with Meta taking the reins.
