Meta already dominates the connected eyewear market with its Ray-Ban smart glasses, but Mark Zuckerberg is preparing a much bolder move. His next generation of glasses—codenamed “Hypernova”—may cost as much as a flagship smartphone, and the gamble is whether people will actually buy them.
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From Ray-Bans to Hypernova
The Ray-Ban Meta glasses, priced around €300, sold surprisingly well for what many saw as a niche gadget. They offered photo, video, and audio features without venturing into full-blown augmented reality. But Meta knows the competition is closing in, and the next phase of its strategy is more ambitious—and more expensive.
The upcoming Hypernova glasses are expected to include built-in displays that overlay information directly onto the lenses. Think notifications, directions, or even lightweight apps appearing in your line of sight. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Meta is pushing to launch them at a starting price of about $800 (€900 in Europe), a figure well below the $1,000–$1,400 once rumored.
The Price Dilemma
Meta appears willing to cut profit margins to make the glasses more accessible at launch, just as it did with its successful Quest VR headsets. Still, $800 is far from cheap. That’s the kind of money most people expect to spend on their primary smartphone, not a wearable accessory.
And that’s just the entry-level model. Variants with prescription lenses, custom styles, or premium finishes could easily cross the $1,000 mark again—dangerously close to the price of Apple’s Vision Pro headset, which has struggled to find mass-market traction at nearly $4,000.
Can Glasses Replace the Phone?
The big question is whether these glasses are worth the price. If they merely complement a smartphone, as the Ray-Bans do now, it may be a hard sell. But if they genuinely start to replace core smartphone functions, Meta could redefine how people interact with technology.
As tech analyst Carolina Milanesi told CNBC, “People don’t pay $1,000 for a gadget—they pay it for something essential.” Meta will need to prove its new glasses aren’t just a flashy add-on but a real computing device.
A Calculated Risk
Zuckerberg is betting that the shift to augmented reality wearables is inevitable, and that getting in early—at consumer-friendly prices—will cement Meta’s lead. If he’s right, Hypernova could do for smart glasses what the iPhone did for smartphones. If he’s wrong, Meta may end up selling a pricey curiosity to early adopters.
Either way, this fall could mark the start of a new era—when glasses stop being just accessories and begin competing with the smartphones in our pockets.
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I mean, smartphones on your face? Zuckerbergs really reaching for the stars. Its like, sure, take my money, but will they actually be practical or just a flashy gadget? Time will tell… or maybe not.
I remember when smartphones were the new cool kids on the block, now Zuckerberg wants us to drop flagship prices on smart glasses? Call me skeptical, but Ill stick to my good ol regular glasses for now, thanks.
Yo, totally get what youre saying. Smart glasses sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, right? Zuckerbergs really pushing the boundaries here. But hey, sticking to your trusty regular glasses is a solid move. Who needs all that fancy tech on their face anyway?
Man, Zuckerberg really thinks were made of money, huh? Smart glasses at flagship smartphone prices? Id rather stick to my good ol regular glasses and spend the extra cash on, I dont know, actual experiences. Priorities, man!
Man, Zuckerberg got some nerve thinkin wed drop flagship cash on smart glasses. Like, whats next, a smart toothpick for the price of a lobster dinner? Nah, count me out on this one.
I remember when smartphones were the hot stuff, now its all about smart glasses? Zuckerbergs playing 5D chess here. Wonder if Ill ever get used to seeing folks talking to thin air, looking like theyre in a sci-fi movie!
Pfft, Zuckerberg must think we all swim in cash like Scrooge McDuck. Smart glasses at flagship prices? Might as well buy a diamond-studded monocle. Ill stick to my trusty phone, thank you very much.