Meta’s first smart glasses with a display are cheaper than expected
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Meta drives first-half AI smart glasses surge, as Xiaomi emerges as dark horse
The global smart glasses market saw shipments more than double in the first half of the year. The 110 per cent year-on-year surge in shipments was fuelled by robust interest in the artificial intelligence glasses segment.Meta, one of the pioneers in commercialising AI glasses, led the market with a more than 73 per cent share. Other major players include Chinese companies like Huawei
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The 110 per cent year-on-year surge in shipments was fuelled by robust interest in the artificial intelligence glasses segment, which accounted for 78 per cent of total smart frame shipments, according to the report on Tuesday by market research firm Counterpoint.
The remaining market consisted mainly of basic smart glasses, which mostly include smart audio glasses.
Meta, one of the pioneers in commercialising AI glasses, led the market with a more than 73 per cent share. Other major players include Chinese companies like Huawei Technologies , TCL Electronics subsidiary RayNeo , and Xiaomi
Visitors try on smart glasses during the third China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing last month. Photo: Xinhua
Analysts attributed the AI glasses segment’s growth to the popularity of devices like the Meta Ray-Ban series and Xiaomi’s newly launched AI glasses.
Leaked render reveals Meta’s Hypernova smart glasses and wristband controller
Leaker Arsène Lupin has shared a render of a pair of smart glasses and a wrist accessory, claiming the pair to be the upcoming Meta Hypernova glasses. Hypernova is expected to feature a screen in the right lens, an upgraded camera, and the ability to launch apps for taking photos and accessing maps. The glasses are said to be controlled using hand gestures and capacitive touch on the sides of the frame. Meta is also rumored to be working on a higher-end version of the smart glasses with a built-in screen, which is also expected to launch by the end of the year. The final price (and potentially the final marketing name) will be decided closer to the announcement, but the glasses are expected to cost between $1,000–$1,400.
Hypernova is expected to feature a screen in the right lens, an upgraded camera, and the ability to launch apps for taking photos and accessing maps. Users will also be able to see notifications.
The “Ceres” neural wristband will reportedly power gesture-based controls for the device.
Hypernova is expected to cost $1,000–$1,400 and is said to be coming by the end of the year.
Meta’s smart glasses with Ray-Ban have been a runaway hit, and the company is doubling down with more style variants. Beyond these, the company is also rumored to be working on a higher-end version of the smart glasses with a built-in screen, which is expected to launch by the end of the year. These glasses, codenamed Hypernova, have now leaked, giving us our first look at the next generation of Meta’s AI smart glasses.
Leaker Arsène Lupin has shared a render of a pair of smart glasses and a wrist accessory, claiming the pair to be the upcoming Meta Hypernova glasses.
Granted, this is a rather low-resolution render, but it at least gives us a fair look at the wrist accessory. What is this wrist accessory, you ask? A previous report claims that the Hypernova glasses will come with a “neural” wristband controller, codenamed Ceres. These controllers were in the works for Meta’s Orion AR glasses, but they could also seemingly be used by Hypernova to recognize hand gestures such as rotating the hand to scroll through apps, and pinching fingers and thumb to select items. It’s unclear if the pictured wristband controller is the Ceres controller, but it likely is.
As for the Hypernova glasses themselves, they don’t look all that different from the current generation Meta Ray-Bans, but previous leaks suggest these include a built-in screen. The monocular screen will only be visible in the lower-right quadrant on the right lens, but we can’t make out the screen in this low-resolution render.
When turned on, the display will show a home screen comprised of circular icons laid out horizontally, similar to the app dock that we see on a lot of devices. Users will be able to use dedicated apps to take pictures, view photos, and even access maps. Other expected functions are said to include notification support for phone apps, including WhatsApp and Messenger.
These glasses are said to be controlled using hand gestures using Ceres and capacitive touch on the sides of the frame. Meta is also said to be working to upgrade the camera on board the glasses.
Meta’s Hypernova smart glasses are expected to be priced between $1,000 and $1,400. The final price (and potentially the final marketing name) will be decided closer to the announcement. Meta is also said to be already working on a second-generation version of the product, codenamed Hypernova 2, which will have two screens but won’t come out until at least 2027.
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Kuo: Apple working on 7 head-mounted products
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released his updated roadmap forecast for Apple’s headset and smart glasses markets. According to him, the company has at least seven head-worn devices in development across two product families, one coming in 2025. Kuo believes that Apple is prepping an updated M5 Vision Pro version, which is slated to go into mass production during Q3 2025. He said other specs will remain unchanged, and estimates shipments between 150,000-200,000 until the end of 2025. However, given the ongoing technological and design improvements, these products will likely remain over the next two years needed to become a niche market, Kuo said. He also believes the company could leapfrog the smart glasses market, even if its first product arrives after others have entered what is likely to be a crowded space. The company currently has seven projects in development, comprising three Vision series products and four smart glasses variants. Five of these products have confirmed development timelines, while two remain TBD, according to Kuo.
According to Kuo:
Apple views head-mounted devices as the next major trend in consumer electronics. The company currently has at least seven projects in development, comprising three Vision series products and four smart glasses variants. Five of these products have confirmed development timelines, while two remain TBD.
Apple Vision Series and Smart Glasses Roadmap (2025–2028): Smart Glasses Set to Drive the Next Wave in Consumer Electronics
Full story: https://t.co/41Moxlj1Ai pic.twitter.com/U2nQhBmEYg — 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) June 29, 2025
Apple Vision Pro: spec bump in 2025, Vision Air in 2027, 2nd-gen Vision Pro in 2028
M5 Vision Pro: Kuo believes that Apple is prepping an updated M5 Vision Pro version, which is slated to go into mass production during Q3 2025. He said other specs will remain unchanged, and estimates shipments between 150,000-200,000 until the end of 2025.
Apple Vision Air: As for the rumored Vision Air, Kuo says that the cheaper sibling of the original Vision Pro is expected to enter mass production in Q3 2027. He says it will weigh 40% less than the original Vision Pro and use plastic and a magnesium alloy rather than glass and the current titanium alloy. Finally, it will feature a “highest-end” iPhone processor and fewer sensors.
2nd-gen Vision Pro: Kuo claims that a second-generation Vision Pro will feature a new design, a “Mac-class” processor, and will enter mass production in 2H-2028. He claims that it will also be cheaper and significantly lighter than the original version.
Apple Glasses: no earlier than 2027, two XR glasses underway, ‘display accessory’ on pause
1st-Gen Apple Glasses: Contrary to recent reports that pegged 2026 as the possible debut year, Kuo says that Apple’s first crack at a Meta Ray Ban’s smart glasses competitor is expected to enter mass production in the second quarter of 2027, with an estimated 3–5 million units shipped.
Kuo also says there will be multiple frames and materials options. Key features will include voice control, gesture recognition, photo and video recording, AI-powered environmental sensing, and audio (unclear if built-in or AirPods-dependent).
Two XR smart glasses underway: According to the report, Apple’s first pair of glasses with a built-in display is expected to enter mass production in 2028, and will also feature gesture and voice control. The display will use Liquid Crystal on Silicon and waveguide technology.
Kuo also notes that Apple is developing a second display-equipped model, though details on its features and launch timeline remain unclear.
According to the report, Apple’s first pair of glasses with a built-in display is expected to enter mass production in 2028, and will also feature gesture and voice control. The display will use Liquid Crystal on Silicon and waveguide technology. Kuo also notes that Apple is developing a display-equipped model, though details on its features and launch timeline remain unclear. Display accessory: Kuo says that work on a cable-bound accessory for the Mac and even the iPhone has been paused due to weight challenges, but still could be resumed at a later date. The product was expected to use Birdbath optics for display technology, and was slated to begin mass production in Q2 2026.
Whether by design or out of necessity, Apple is playing the long game
One interesting takeaway from Kuo’s report is that he doesn’t just expect Apple to draw attention to the smart glasses market, increasing its potential market size.
He also believes the company could leapfrog the competition with superior technology, even if its first product arrives years after others have entered what’s likely to become a crowded space:
“Apple’s entry is expected to push total market shipments for this category beyond 10 million units in 2027, marking a significant emerging trend.“
And
“Before Apple launches display-enabled smart glasses, several brands are expected to release similar products to establish early market presence. However, given the ongoing technological and design improvements needed, these products will likely remain niche offerings over the next two years.”
Are you excited about any of these products? Which one would you buy? Let us know in the comments.
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XREAL One Pro AR reviews: What the critics love — and don’t love — about them
XREAL just launched its latest pair of smart glasses, the XREAL One Pro. The One Pro may just be the new best-in-class way to experience AR. It has a significantly improved field of view (FOV) and is just as thin and light as previous models. The Eye accessory is pitched as the perfect companion to the new glasses, adding a 12MP camera you can use to capture photos and videos. It isn’t technically part of the One Pro base unit, but it’s being marketed as a companion to XREal’s new “Project Aura” eyewear, which is rumored to be coming to Google Glass in the near future. It’s not clear if the Eye accessory will be available in the U.S. yet, but if it is, we’ll be sharing our detailed analysis of it in our full review soon. We’ll also share some of the drawbacks you should keep in mind before buying the Onepro. We’ve also shared some of our thoughts on the XReal One Pro’s price and availability.
XREAL impressed us in the past with its Editor’s Choice Air 2 glasses, but the One Pro could be even better thanks to a slew of exciting upgrades. The One Pro may also give us some hints at what to expect in XREAL’s upcoming collaboration with Google on a mysterious pair of mixed reality glasses called “Project Aura.”
If you’ve got your eye (or… eyes) on the One Pro glasses but you’re still on the fence, we’ve got you covered.
We’ll be sharing our detailed analysis of the XREAL One Pro in our full review soon, but in the meantime, here’s a look at what’s being said so far, including a couple of drawbacks you should keep in mind before buying.
XREAL One Pro’s improved Field of View is a huge upgrade
A significantly improved field of view (FOV) is arguably the biggest win for the XREAL One Pro. All of the reviews seem to agree on this, too. XREAL increased the FOV on the One Pro to 57 degrees, over 10 degrees more than the Air 2.
PCMag’s Will Greenwald highlighted this upgrade in his review, stating, “The XReal One Pro is one of the most advanced pairs of AR smart glasses available, with a record-breaking field of view for the biggest picture you can get in this category.”
(Image credit: XREAL)
Greenwald also pointed out that the One Pro has a significantly wider FOV than competitor Viture’s Pro XR glasses.
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Laptop Mag rated the Viture Pro XR slightly higher than the XREAL Air 2, but it seems like XREAL’s latest pair of glasses has at least one significant edge over Viture’s offerings.
That wider field of view means you can see a larger virtual display on the XREAL One Pro compared to other AR glasses (or, alternatively, view more small displays side-by-side).
XREAL One Pro’s lightweight design holds some impressive new optical tech
The XREAL One Pro has more advanced tech inside, so it might come as a surprise that it’s just as thin and light (if not more so) than previous models. The design still looks like basic black sunglasses, so you might not notice the difference compared to older XREAL glasses at first, but if you look a little closer, there’s some impressive new tech inside.
TechRadar’s Hamish Hector pointed out the new optical tech XREAL worked into this design, explaining, “The Xreal One Pro glasses have a new shape of lens which is flatter and thinner, rather than being chunky and more triangular in shape.
This means the resulting image is disrupted by fewer reflections caused by light from the world around you, and it’s able to boast a wider field of view to boot.”
Brandon Hill of Tom’s Hardware touched on this in his review, as well, saying, “Not only does the flat-prism design reduce the visual heft of the glasses, but it also boosts the total field of view from 50 degrees on the One to 57 degrees on the One Pro.”
XREAL Eye performance is hit or miss
While it isn’t technically part of the XREAL One Pro base unit, the new XREAL Eye accessory is pitched as the perfect companion to the new glasses, adding a 12MP camera you can use to capture photos and videos.
This gives the One Pro a highly coveted feature that fans of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses might miss if they make the switch to XREAL. Unfortunately, reviews so far have revealed that performance with the XREAL Eye has its ups and downs.
Brandon Hill of Tom’s Hardware summed it up well, stating, “I didn’t find the photos or video to be particularly impressive from the Eye. In low-light conditions, photos looked drab and dark.” He also added that, “Videos also looked fuzzy, more akin to something from an iPhone 4 than something more modern.”
(Image credit: XREAL)
Aside from camera quality, the practicality of the XREAL Eye isn’t ideal, especially if you use the glasses while tethered to a computer. So the potential advantage of taking photos and videos hands-free with the glasses is effectively cancelled out by the need to carry around some tethered device with you.
With that said, the XREAL Eye adds one major new feature that may still make it worthwhile for some people: 6 Degrees of Freedom, or 6DoF.
This feature allows you to geographically “place” your virtual displays like you can on the Apple Vision Pro. That could be useful if you want to use multiple virtual displays at once. However, the XREAL Eye doesn’t come cheap at €119 (approximately $136).
The high price is a bit of a letdown on an otherwise great pair of glasses
The XREAL Eye accessory isn’t the only thing that’s pricey. The XREAL One Pro itself has a pretty steep asking price, which was a drawback for several reviewers.
At $649, the XREAL One Pro is more expensive than some phones and tablets, not to mention the Meta Quest 3 VR headset.
To put that into context, the XREAL Air 2 costs $299, less than half the price of the One Pro. Of course, you’re getting better tech for that price, but it still puts the One Pro out of reach for some people.
While reviewers listed the price as a negative, they also acknowledged it delivers on its high price. As PCMag’s Will Greenwald put it, “The One Pro is expensive at $650, but its huge field of view and all-around strong performance and feature set justify that price, resulting in a top-notch wearable display experience.”
Should you buy the XREAL One Pro?
The XREAL One Pro is a pricey, but feature-packed pair of AR glasses that really shines when it comes to its top-notch field of view.
We’ll have our full analysis of these glasses in our upcoming review, but at first glance, they could be a good buy for some people.
The high cost is a significant drawback and may make the XREAL Air 2 a better option for some, but if you can afford it and want the best AR experience around, the XREAL One Pro should be on your shortlist thanks to its cutting-edge optical tech, great visuals, and sleek build.
Apple’s Smart Glasses Launch 2026: Revolutionary Tech to Rival Meta!
According to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple is setting its sights on competing with the Ray-Ban Meta glasses by targeting a release by the end of 2026. This information comes from Mark Gurman, who is noted for his reliable insights into Apple’s plans. Gurman states that Apple is intensifying its efforts to meet the 2026 target, with plans in place to start mass production of prototypes through overseas suppliers this year. The functionalities are expected to cover making phone calls, playing music, providing live translations, and offering turn-by-turn navigation instructions. Google is not far behind, as it is developing its smart glasses based on the Android XR platform.
According to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple is setting its sights on competing with the Ray-Ban Meta glasses by targeting a release by the end of 2026. This information comes from Mark Gurman, who is noted for his reliable insights into Apple’s plans.
Gurman states that Apple is intensifying its efforts to meet the 2026 target, with plans in place to start mass production of prototypes through overseas suppliers by the end of this year. Just weeks earlier, Gurman disclosed that Apple is also working on developing a custom silicon chip exclusively for these smart glasses, with mass production expected to commence next year.
The initiative is spearheaded by Apple’s Vision Products Group, which is also the creator of the Apple Vision Pro. Currently, this team is developing two new iterations of the mixed-reality headset.
The anticipated features of Apple’s new smart glasses include cameras, microphones, and speakers, enabling them to scan the environment and respond to voice commands through Siri. The functionalities are expected to cover making phone calls, playing music, providing live translations, and offering turn-by-turn navigation instructions. Sources suggest that while the glasses will bear a resemblance to Meta’s version, they will boast a superior build quality.
Meta Advances While Apple and Google Play Catch-Up
Previously, Gurman had projected a 2027 launch for Apple’s smart glasses. However, it seems Apple has adjusted its timeline, likely due to concerns about falling too far behind its competitors if it delayed its entry into the market.
Meta has been active in the smart glasses arena since 2021 and has sold approximately two million units of its Ray-Ban Meta Glasses. This fall, the lineup is expected to expand to include new models, such as Oakley-branded glasses equipped with smart features similar to the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, and a more expensive model featuring an integrated heads-up display. Meta also plans to launch its first full-fledged AR glasses by 2027.
Google is not far behind, as it is developing its smart glasses based on the Android XR platform. At the Google I/O developer conference, Google showcased an advanced prototype and announced collaborations with eyewear brands such as Warby Parker and Gentle Monster.
A significant challenge for Apple in its quest to enter the smart glasses market is its ability to compete in the artificial intelligence (AI) arena. Both Meta and Google are marketing their products as “AI glasses.” The success of Apple’s smart glasses could hinge on the capabilities of its AI platform, Apple Intelligence, and its ability to integrate and leverage AI effectively in its products.
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Passionate about the intersection of technology and user experience, Emily explores the latest innovations in augmented reality and their impact on our daily lives.
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