Meta is set to debut its first consumer-ready smart glasses with a built-in display, marking a major step forward in its wearable tech strategy. Expected to be named "Celeste," the glasses will launch alongside Meta's first gesture-control wristband at the annual Connect conference in Menlo Park, California.
Priced around $800, the glasses may feature Prada branding and a right-lens digital display for notifications. They will also integrate features from Meta's existing Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses, including an AI assistant, cameras, hands-free controls, and livestreaming on Instagram and other Meta platforms.
Analysts suggest the device signals progress toward Meta's "Orion" AR glasses, targeted for 2027, which CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called "a time machine to the future." For Zuckerberg, smart glasses are central to his vision of superintelligence, acting as always-on AI-powered personal interfaces.
The launch comes amid scrutiny of Meta's handling of child safety. Reports have highlighted issues with chatbots engaging minors in inappropriate conversations and internal pushback against studying VR's effects on children.
Still, analysts believe consumer adoption of AI glasses with displays will expand rapidly as Meta, Google, and others release new products over the next 18 months. Google, for instance, has partnered with Warby Parker on AI-powered eyewear expected post-2025, supported by a $150 million investment.
Industry forecasts from IDC project 14.3 million AR/VR headsets and smart glasses shipments in 2025, a 39.2% jump, driven largely by Meta's successful Ray-Ban line with EssilorLuxottica.
As competition intensifies, Meta's Celeste launch underscores its push to lead in AI-powered wearables, bridging the gap between today's smart glasses and the immersive future of augmented reality.