Meta is preparing to expand its smart eyewear lineup with a premium offering that could significantly advance the company's vision for augmented reality wearables. Following the success of their Ray-Ban Meta glasses, the tech giant is developing a more sophisticated and considerably more expensive model that incorporates display technology directly into the lenses.
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| Meta is set to enhance its smart eyewear lineup with the upcoming Hypernova glasses, building on the success of Ray-Ban smart glasses |
The Hypernova Project
Meta's upcoming smart glasses, codenamed Hypernova, represent a major technological leap from their current Ray-Ban collaboration. According to recent reports from Bloomberg, these glasses will feature a small screen embedded in the right lens, positioned in the lower-right quadrant. This design choice means wearers will need to glance downward to view the display content. The screen will function as a miniature heads-up display, showing notifications from apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, providing navigation directions, displaying photos, and enabling interactions with Meta's AI assistant.
Premium Pricing Strategy
Unlike the relatively affordable Ray-Ban Meta glasses that retail for USD $329, the Hypernova model will command a significantly higher price point. Reports indicate the new smart glasses will start at over USD $1,000 and could cost as much as USD $1,400. This substantial price increase reflects the advanced display technology and enhanced capabilities of the device. Despite this premium positioning, Meta reportedly plans to continue offering more affordable options alongside the Hypernova, maintaining a diverse product lineup to reach different market segments.
Control Mechanisms and Functionality
The Hypernova glasses will feature capacitive touch controls built into the stems, effectively turning the arms of the glasses into interactive surfaces. Additionally, Meta is developing a wristband controller codenamed Ceres to provide an alternative method of interaction. When powered on, the glasses will display a horizontal row of icons similar to the Meta Quest interface, allowing users to navigate through various functions.
Camera Improvements
Beyond the integrated display, Hypernova will also boast an upgraded camera system compared to the current Ray-Ban Meta glasses. While specific details are limited, reports suggest the new model will capture higher-quality photos than the 12MP sensor found in the existing product. This enhancement addresses one of the common criticisms of the current model and positions the device more competitively in the smart wearables market.
Controlled Ecosystem
Unlike some competing products, Meta appears to be taking a walled garden approach with Hypernova. The glasses reportedly won't feature an app store, giving Meta tight control over the device's capabilities and functionality. This strategy allows the company to ensure a consistent user experience while potentially addressing privacy concerns that have plagued similar products in the past.
Echoes of Google Glass
The concept behind Hypernova bears some resemblance to Google Glass, which launched in 2013 with a mini-projector that displayed a 640 × 360 image in the wearer's field of vision. However, Google Glass ultimately failed to gain mainstream adoption and was discontinued for consumers in 2015. Meta seems to be betting that improved technology, better aesthetics, and a decade of evolving consumer attitudes toward wearable tech will yield different results for Hypernova.
Future Roadmap
Meta's ambitions extend beyond the initial Hypernova release. The company is reportedly already working on a successor, tentatively called Hypernova 2, which would feature dual screens—one for each eye—and could launch around 2027. Additionally, Meta is developing a separate, more advanced AR glasses project codenamed Orion, which the company has described as the most advanced pair of AR glasses ever made.
Market Expectations
With a potential launch later this year, possibly at Meta's Connect conference in September, Hypernova represents an important step in Meta's hardware strategy. While the company has announced ambitious sales targets of 10 million smart glasses annually by the end of 2026, the premium pricing of Hypernova suggests it will be positioned as a flagship product rather than a volume seller. The success of this device could significantly influence the direction of Meta's future wearable technology initiatives and its broader vision for augmented reality.