At its Connect keynote on Wednesday, Meta officially introduced the $799.99 Meta Ray-Ban Display, also known as Hypernova.
The Verge’s Victoria Song briefly went hands-on with the Meta Ray-Ban Display, and she says the monocular design can be a little distracting, though it doesn’t fully obstruct your vision.
The Ray-Ban Display frames are thicker than the current Ray-Ban Meta, with edges that are more rounded and an overall shape that’s more square.
Meta also announced the follow-up to the popular Meta Ray-Ban glasses, the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2, which you can order today from Meta, Best Buy, and Ray-Ban starting at $379.
Finally, you can preorder the new Oakley Meta Vanguard at Meta, Best Buy, and Oakley for $499, with a launch to come on October 21st.
Meta formally unveiled the $799.99 Meta Ray-Ban Display, also called Hypernova, during its Connect keynote on Wednesday. Using the included new Meta Neural Band, you can control the brand’s new, high-end smart glasses’ in-lens display with wrist-based gestures. Without taking out your phone, you can view text messages, Instagram Reels, maps, and more on the display that pairs with your phone. They will be available on September 30th and appear to be a more developed version of Google Glass. Additionally, Best Buy, LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, Ray-Ban, and Verizon stores will offer in-store demos at that time (retailer availability varies by location). A demo can now be scheduled.
With transition lenses that darken in the sun and turn clear indoors, the Meta Ray-Ban Display is available in two sizes (standard and large) and two colors (black or sand). When turned on, the display, which only appears in the right lens, can display apps in full color with a field of view of 20 degrees and a pixel resolution of 600 by 600. Victoria Song of The Verge briefly used the Meta Ray-Ban Display and commented that, while it doesn’t completely block your vision, the monocular design can be a little distracting.
Compared to the current Ray-Ban Meta, the Ray-Ban Display frames have a more square overall shape, thicker frames, and rounded edges. Additionally, they have overextension hinges on the temple arms, which improves fit for broad faces. We’ll test that claim when we receive a unit to review, but Meta estimates that a battery with “mixed use” will last roughly six hours.
Additionally, Meta revealed the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2, the follow-up to the well-liked Meta Ray-Ban glasses, which retail for $379 and are currently available for purchase from Meta, Best Buy, and Ray-Ban. According to the company, its upgraded smart glasses will have a battery life of up to eight hours on a single charge, which is twice as long as the previous generation’s four-hour battery life. In the meantime, the charging case can give the glasses an extra 48 hours of battery life and recharge them to 50% capacity in 20 minutes. The camera has a three-minute recording time for 3K video at 30 frames per second, 1440p at 30 frames per second, and 1200p at 60 frames per second.
Last but not least, the new Oakley Meta Vanguard will be available for $499 in preorder at Meta, Best Buy, and Oakley. It will launch on October 21st. They have the iconic wraparound design that has made Oakley a household name among dads wearing Patagonia, sports coaches, and avid outdoor enthusiasts. The Vanguard has an Action Button that serves as a shortcut for the different camera modes and a 12-megapixel, 122-degree camera in the nose bridge. They also have Garmin integration, an IP67 rating, and a nine-hour battery life.
