Meta wears Prada? Why its next-gen AR glasses may be even more fashionable than Ray-Bans

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• We expect the 3.0 version of Meta’s audio-only Ray-Ban smart glasses at Meta Connect in September with several upgrades.
• Meta executives have teased that multiple wearables are coming this fall.
• There are reports that Meta will also launch a new line of AR smart glasses that have a display and that it will partner with a different EssilorLuxotica brand: Prada.

Multiple reports continue to stream in about Meta launching its next generation smart glasses — the successors to its Meta Ray-Bans, which have far exceeded sales expectations over the past two years. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and CTO Andrew Bosworth have largely confirmed that Meta will release multiple wearable products this fall. 

But one of the things flying under the radar is that Meta will reportedly introduce a new brand partner: Prada. This has been known since a June report from CNBC. It makes sense, not only because Prada glasses tend to be large and bulky enough to hold plenty of technology, but Prada’s glasses are under the umbrella of EssilorLuxotica, the same company that runs the Ray-Ban and Oakley brands. Meta reportedly acquired a 3% stake in EssilorLuxotica in June to officially extend and expand the partnership — and presumably freeze out other tech brands from making similar deals with them. 

There’s been plenty of confusion and speculation about the smart glasses Meta will announce at its Meta Connect event on September 17. Because Meta is launching multiple products, some of the wires have gotten crossed by reporters — for example, conflating features in Meta’s “Hypernova” or “Celeste” glasses (the two codenames most associated with Meta AR glasses) with the next iteration of Meta Ray-Bans AI glasses. So let’s break it down.

Also: I tried smart glasses with a built-in display, and they made my Meta Ray-Bans feel outdated

We expect Meta to launch two products:

1.) The 3.0 version of Meta Ray-Bans audio-only AI glasses — These will potentially come with longer battery life and upgraded cameras to match the recent Meta Oakley glasses, and we have to expect some new AI features as well. These will likely cost $300-$500. 

2.) Next-gen AR glasses with a display — It’s widely reported that Meta will also unveil a set of future-facing smart glasses that will include a color display in the right eye, will use a neural wristband for controls with hand gestures, and will cost around $800. 

It’s the second pair that’s likely to get the most attention since it would be a completely new product line. So let’s double-click on it.

These AR glasses won’t be the consumer version of the Orion glasses prototype that Meta showed off at Meta Connect 2024 last year. Those reportedly cost over $10,000 to make, were very thick and heavy, and not practical for everyday wear. However, they did include a neural wristband (codenamed “Ceres”) that’s likely to be similar to one that’s reportedly in the upcoming Hypernova glasses. 

Also: Samsung ‘Galaxy Glasses’ powered by Android XR are reportedly on track to be unveiled this month

This is where Prada comes in. 

The popular luxury brand is known for its thick-rimmed glasses, such as the Prada Linea Rossa line. In fact, these might even be thicker than Ray-Bans, which would provide extra room for Meta to pack in the latest technologies needed to run cameras, speakers, AI-powered chips, and a color display. 

Getting back to the wristband, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for Meta to include a wristband in a consumer product when it doesn’t do anything else except control your glasses. However, Meta has also long been rumored to be working on a smartwatch, and now a report from DigiTimes expects Meta to also launch a smartwatch at Meta Connect as a companion to its smart glasses and VR headsets. The neural wristband technology would potentially be embedded into the watch.

Also: 5 Meta Ray-Ban upgrades that have me excited for September 17

It makes a lot more sense for Meta to launch a smartwatch that pairs with smart glasses than it does to launch a pair of smart glasses that require a wristband in order to operate them.

Prada makes luxury watches as well. So there’s always the possibility that Meta could offer a Prada-branded watch that goes with the glasses. 

To be clear, this still leaves plenty of questions. Would the watch be sold separately from the $800 AR glasses? Would the watch be a required or an optional accessory? Could it also be used to control Meta Quest headsets in XR? 

ZDNET will be in-person at Meta Connect on September 17 to get the answers and to go hands-on with whatever products Meta unveils.