Meta has officially launched the Ray-Ban Display smart glasses, pairing an in-lens digital display with a gesture-reading wristband. According to the Meta newsroom, the glasses arrive at a starting price of $799 and will be available in select U.S. stores beginning September 30. Unlike previous models that were marketed mainly as fashionable camera glasses, this edition integrates a heads-up display (HUD) in the right lens and introduces the Meta Neural Band, an sEMG wrist controller that converts subtle muscle signals into gestures.
What’s Actually New and Noteworthy
The highlight of the launch is the HUD, which allows users to view directions, messages, translations, and Meta AI responses directly in their field of vision. As noted in UploadVR’s coverage, the display is monocular, only visible to the right eye, but that design keeps the glasses light enough to remain wearable. The Neural Band takes things further, with early testers describing the experience as “Minority Report-style” gesture controls. Business Insider called it one of the most striking features of the system.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Hands-on impressions have already surfaced. Popular reviewer Mrwhosetheboss tested the glasses and praised the responsiveness of the HUD, noting that the Neural Band felt surprisingly natural for quick controls. Reporters at The Verge appreciated the clarity of the display in indoor settings but raised questions about outdoor brightness and battery life. Meanwhile, Reuters pointed out that at $799, the price is lower than most full-fledged AR headsets, putting Meta in an interesting middle ground between wearables and mixed-reality devices.
The Trade-Offs You Should Know
While the display technology is innovative, the battery is claimed to last only six hours, and as The Guardian noted, real-world endurance could be shorter under heavy use. Comfort is another question: the lenses are slightly heavier than older Ray-Ban models, and several testers said long wear sessions could feel noticeable. Beyond hardware, there’s also the privacy debate — The Verge and Business Insider both flagged concerns over how people in public spaces might react when someone is wearing smart glasses with a built-in display.
Market Context
At $799, the glasses are cheaper than most mixed-reality headsets but more expensive than simpler wearables. Reuters suggests Meta is taking an incremental approach: make smart glasses genuinely useful today, then push closer to true augmented reality over time. Competitors like Amazon are reportedly working on similar projects, which means the fight for “everyday AR” dominance is heating up.
Bottom Line
The Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses are less a finished revolution and more a practical step forward. They’re compact, stylish enough to wear daily, and offer a HUD that genuinely reduces the need to glance at your phone. Still, long-term comfort, outdoor visibility, and privacy perception will determine whether these become a must-have gadget or remain a niche experiment. For now, reviewers like Mrwhosetheboss are optimistic, but the glasses still have to prove their worth beyond the demo stage.
