(Credit: Meta)
Meta plans to release a higher-end version of its smart glasses this year that could cost between $1,000 and $1,400. Code-named Hypernova, the specs will come with hand-gesture controls and a built-in display, Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The first-generation Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses launched in 2021, followed by the second generation in 2023. Starting at $299, these glasses let users capture photos and videos, listen to music, and take phone calls, among other things. The product was surprisingly successful, and rumors about an upgraded version started surfacing last year.
At Meta Connect 2024, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also previewed Project Orion, a pair of smart glasses that he pitched as the future of computing and the "most advanced glasses that the world has ever seen." It promises to offer the mixed-reality features found in Meta's bulkier Quest 3 VR headsets, but in a more lightweight and fashionable piece of eyewear, without any wires.
Much of Hypernova’s significant price hike is due to a new display panel, Bloomberg says. The screen will be on the bottom right of the right lens; only the wearer will see what’s displayed.
Additionally, the device will use a Qualcomm chip and run a customized version of Android. When turned on, users will find a home screen with apps placed horizontally. They will also find dedicated apps for the camera, gallery, AI, and navigation. Support for notifications from phone apps, such as Messenger and WhatsApp, will also be included.
To control the device, users will have capacitive touch controls on either side. They can swipe on the temple bars to scroll through apps and tap to open an item.
Meta is also planning to bundle a neural wristband accessory called Ceres, Bloomberg says, which Zuckerberg first teased in 2022. This will support hand gestures, such as pinching a thumb and a finger or rotating a hand, to control the device—much like Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Like Apple, Meta also plans to provide a protective case that's shaped like a prism and folds upward.