Meta's upcoming Ray-Ban camera glasses, codenamed Hypernova, could potentially outshine smartphones and challenge Apple, if their competitive pricing proves effective.
Meta's anticipated smart glasses, Project Hypernova, are set to make their debut on September 17 at Meta Connect 2025, with preorders opening shortly after and shipping targeted for October 2025. The price point for these glasses, around $800, is significantly lower than the $3,500 price tag of Apple's Vision Pro, reflecting Meta's strategy to boost adoption despite slimmer margins.
Key features of the Hypernova smart glasses include a built-in small color display, a lightweight design, an integrated sEMG wristband for gesture control, potential collaboration with premium brands like Prada for stylish frames, and a focus on ease of use and wearability. The glasses are designed primarily for simple notifications and everyday use, serving as an introductory AR device ahead of more immersive products.
In contrast, Apple's Vision Pro offers a much higher price at $3,500, positioning it as a premium, fully immersive mixed reality headset. The Vision Pro provides a broader and more immersive augmented reality experience with advanced spatial computing capabilities and a focus on high-fidelity video and 3D interfaces.
Adam Juniper, a tech journalist with 20 years of experience, has expertise in camera drones and drone photography. According to Juniper, the Hypernova smart glasses will be capable of capturing photos and videos, making calls, playing music, and providing real-time information about surroundings through Meta AI.
Meta's Hypernova smart glasses appear positioned as a more accessible, everyday wearable device with modest AR integration, primarily aiming to establish early developer adoption and user familiarity with AR technologies and gesture controls. In contrast, Apple Vision Pro targets a high-end market with deep immersive AR/VR experiences and a significant price premium.
The lower price of the Hypernova smart glasses could be a strategic move to encourage mainstream adoption of AR glasses. This move follows Meta's earlier attempts with the Orion glasses, which were more sophisticated but not released due to their cartoonishly thick frames. Meanwhile, the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer glasses, while not revolutionary, have been successful due to their intuitive design and consumer demand.
A guide to the best camera glasses is available, but specific information about its cost is not provided. Furthermore, Frederick Stanbrell, head of wearables at IDC, suggests that the Hypernova smart glasses are taking over more tasks that can be done by a phone.
Stanbrell's comments echo those of Mark Gurman, a well-known Apple-watcher, who describes Apple's approach as 'slow-walking'. This approach, coupled with the high price of the Vision Pro, has been cited as a major reason for its slow adoption.
In summary, Meta's Project Hypernova smart glasses, with their lower price and focus on everyday use, are poised to challenge Apple's Vision Pro in the AR market. The glasses will include a hidden display visible only to the wearer, a lightweight design, and an integrated sEMG wristband for controlling the glasses with hand gestures. With their expected release in October 2025, consumers can look forward to a more affordable and accessible AR experience.
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