Meta to Launch Smart Glasses With Screen & Gesture Controls

Photo: Reuters

Meta Platforms Inc. is working on a new and improved version of its popular smart glasses. These new glasses will have advanced features like hand-gesture controls and a small screen for displaying pictures and apps.

The company is planning to launch its first smart glasses with a screen by the end of this year. Meta sees this as a big step toward creating a new type of device that could compete with Apple’s iPhone and other mobile devices.

People who know about Meta’s plans say that the glasses, which are called "Hypernova," will cost between $1,000 and $1,400. However, the final price won’t be decided until the official announcement.

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Right now, Meta sells the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses for $299, and they have become very popular. Meta will continue selling these glasses but hopes that their success will encourage people to buy the higher-end version. Other companies, like Amazon, are also working on new smart glasses to compete with Meta.

What Makes These New Glasses Special?

The biggest reason for the higher price of the new Hypernova glasses is the built-in screen. The screen will be located in the lower-right corner of the right lens. This means that users will see information only in their right eye, and it will be clearest when they look downward.

Meta is also already working on a second version of the glasses, called "Hypernova 2." The main difference is that this model will have two screens, one for each eye. This version is expected to be released in 2027. The company believes these smart glasses are an important step toward fully developed augmented reality (AR) glasses, which will overlay digital information on the real world.

How Will the Hypernova Glasses Work?

A prototype of the Hypernova glasses shows how they might function when they are released:

• When turned on, the glasses will display a startup screen with logos of Meta and other partners, like Qualcomm.

• The home screen will have circular icons, similar to the app dock on iPhones and Meta’s Quest mixed-reality headset.

• The glasses will have apps for taking pictures, viewing photos, and using maps. They will also show notifications from phone apps, including Messenger and WhatsApp.

• Like the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, the new version will allow users to take photos and videos, talk to an AI assistant, and make calls or listen to music when connected to a phone.

• The glasses will still rely on the Meta View phone app.

• They will run on a customized version of the Android operating system.

• There will not be an on-board app store for now.

• Users can control the glasses by swiping and tapping on the sides of the frames.

A New Way to Control the Glasses

Meta is also planning to introduce a new wristband, called "Ceres," which will allow users to control the glasses with hand gestures. For example:

• Rotating the hand will scroll through apps and photos.

• Pinching the thumb and index finger will select an item.

This wristband will come bundled with the glasses.

Camera Upgrade and New Carrying Case

Meta wants to improve the camera on the new glasses. The current Ray-Ban Meta Glasses have a 12-megapixel camera, which Meta considers similar in quality to an iPhone 11. With the new model, they aim to match the iPhone 13.

Meta is also designing a new carrying case, called "Heres." This case will have a unique triangular prism shape and will be foldable.

Future Plans and Other Smart Glasses

The Hypernova glasses are still months away from being released, and Meta could make changes before the final launch. The company is known for adjusting or even canceling projects at the last minute. About 18 months ago, Meta canceled a model of the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses without a camera, which was called "Luna." That model was supposed to be a cheaper option and offer better privacy.

In addition to Hypernova, Meta is working on another pair of smart glasses called "Supernova 2." These glasses will not have a display but will be based on an Oakley design. They will be made for sports and outdoor activities like biking. Meta has already started testing them in public.

The Future of Augmented Reality Glasses

Meta’s work on Hypernova is just one step toward its bigger goal: fully augmented reality (AR) glasses. AR glasses would allow users to see interactive images and videos over real-world objects.

The company introduced a prototype AR glasses project called "Orion" last year, but the first version for customers will likely be called "Artemis." Orion is currently being used for testing and app development. The Artemis glasses will not be available before 2027.

There is still some debate within Meta’s Reality Labs division about whether the Artemis and Hypernova projects will merge into one device or remain separate products at different price points.

For now, Meta is focused on making its Hypernova smart glasses a success and taking another step closer to the future of AR technology.