Meta’s AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses have been in trend, making sales of over two million pairs. It seems that the company is now collaborating with other brands to bring Meta’s Next AI smart glasses to the market. It partners with EssilorLuxottica, and Meta is planning to release AI-powered smart glasses under the Oakley and Prada brands, as reported by CNBC.
Driven by the success of the second-gen Ray-Ban glasses introduced in 2023, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed that the organisation is looking to sell hundreds of millions and even billions of AI glasses. Meta hinted at its Oakley-branded AI-powered smart glasses on June 16, with a description telling: “The next evolution is coming on June 20.”
Oakley-branded AI-powered Smart Glasses
CNBC reported that the new Oakley-branded smart glasses will focus on athletes who want to record their tennis, skiing, and other matches. These smart glasses are built with weather-resistant features and the same hardware as their Ray-Ban counterparts.
The Oakley smart glasses for athletes are anticipated to launch at $360, which is around 31,074 in Indian currency, compared to the Ray-Ban branded smart glasses, which cost $299 or 29,900 INR. Also, the price could be slightly higher in India. Meta’s Next AI smart glasses are projected to have a camera that shifts to the center of the frame.
Recapping for you, Meta has been steadily incorporating new features into the Ray-Ban smart glasses. These glasses include live AI powered by Meta AI, live translation, features to search songs using Shazam, access music streaming apps like Spotify and Amazon Music, and most importantly, detect landmarks. These features are also anticipated to be in Meta’s Next AI smart glasses.
The Branded Partnership
EssilorLuxottica brand from France and Italy has enforced agreements with over 150 brands, including Ray-Ban, Persol, Oakley, and Vogue Eyewear. Luxottica renewed a 10-year licensing agreement last year with the luxury fashion brand Prada that facilitates the development, production, and global distribution of glasses under the Prada and Prada Linea Rossa brands. Following this partnership, Meta will also release new Prada-branded AI smart glasses.
As almost all Prada glasses come with thick temples, previous Meta employees have reported that it provides room for panicking in important smart glasses components, such as the microphone and chips. However, there is no update on the releasing date of Meta’s next AI smart glasses in collaboration with the luxury brand.
Meta purchased the second-gen smart glasses for India at a cost of 29,900 INR last month. It is available in a variety of styles, like a new Skyler frame, and standard lens options. At the beginning of this year, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth claimed that 2025 will be one of the most significant years for the Reality Labs division of the organisation that specialises in augmented and virtual reality smart glasses and headsets. Meta is also expected to be working on other wearable products, including augmented reality-based smart glasses labelled ‘Hypernova’. The glasses include a built-in display on the bottom right of the lens.
Big techs like Google and Apple are also preparing to introduce their own products. Although smart glasses by Apple may be launched next year in the market, Google announced its partnership with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to launch new Android XR-enabled smart glasses last month.
Competing with Android XR
Meta’s next AI smart glasses are a response to Google’s recent launch of Android XR. Five brands, including Samsung, Gentle Monster, Xrea, etc., have collaborated with Google to make Android XR glasses. However, Meta has only one partner until now. Even though Meta is barely on the back foot, its main USP is that the glasses are readily available in the market and leading the innovative glass marketplace. Hence, the launch of Okaley specs will not let Android XR breathe.
It is not expected that the first Android XR specs will be launched in 2026, and this may cause problems for the new XR operating system if the marketplace is already dominated by great Meta glasses. Another benefit of introducing them now is that they offer Meta’s other rumored smart glasses project a room to enter Meta’s connection.
The rumoured smart glasses may feature a screen, and users may be able to see apps and notifications with a system that sounds similar to everything announced by Google for its AR glasses. Furthermore, although Google was the pioneer in this next-gen AR glasses, Meta is expected to be the first mainstream brand actually to release a pair. The announcement could be made at Meta Connect 2025.
We’ll have to wait to see what Meta announces on June 20 and September. However, Ray-Ban smart glasses are likely to be users’ favorite gadgets.
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