Meta Connect 2025 Biggest Announcements: New Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, Neural Band, Quest 3 Upgrades, More

Meta recently showcased its latest advancements in wearable technology, virtual reality, and augmented reality during the Connect keynote. Among the highlights was the introduction of Meta's updated Ray-Ban smart glasses. These new offerings were accompanied by several other intriguing announcements from the company.

The much-anticipated Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses have finally been unveiled. These glasses feature a high-resolution, full-colour screen embedded in the right lens. Users can view messages, engage in video calls, read live captions, access walking directions, and preview photos taken with the built-in 12-megapixel camera.

New Smart Glasses

Control of the display is facilitated through a wristband that allows users to scroll, click, and even write messages using various gestures. The glasses provide up to six hours of mixed-use battery life or up to 30 hours when using the collapsible charging case. Priced at $799, these glasses are available in black or brown and will be sold in the US starting September 30th at Best Buy, LensCrafters, and Ray-Ban stores.

Meta has also introduced a new version of its popular Ray-Ban smart glasses with an improved eight-hour battery life, nearly doubling that of the original model. The second-generation smart glasses retain the 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera but now support 3K video capture and allow recording at 60 frames per second.

The charging case accompanying these glasses has been upgraded to offer an additional 48 hours of charging capacity, up from 36 hours previously. A new "conversation focus" feature is being introduced to both Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta HSTN glasses. This feature amplifies the sound of a speaker's voice in noisy environments.

The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) glasses start at $379 and are available in Wayfarer, Skyler, and Headliner styles. Meanwhile, Meta is collaborating with Oakley to launch smart glasses tailored for high-intensity sports activities. The Oakley Meta Vanguard boasts a wraparound design with an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.

Meta Neural Band

Four years ago, Meta began exploring wrist-based wearables using electromyography (EMG) technology. The Meta Neural Band is the result of this research, informed by data from nearly 200,000 participants. This enables the wristband to function reliably for most users without calibration-an important achievement given the natural variability in human muscle activity.

From an accessibility perspective, EMG signals at the wrist can provide effective control inputs for individuals with limited mobility due to conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, tremors, or partial hand function. The device can detect muscle activity with high precision, including movements that are not yet visible.

The Meta Neural Band is designed for daily use, offering up to 18 hours of battery life, an IPX7 water resistance rating, and a lightweight, durable build. It uses Vectran, a material known for its strength and flexibility, also employed in NASA's Mars Rover landing systems.

Oakley Collaboration and Sports Integration

The Vanguard integrates with fitness apps like Garmin and Strava, enabling users to inquire about fitness data via Meta AI. It features a 12MP camera on the nose bridge capable of recording videos in up to 3K resolution. New capture modes such as slow-motion, time-lapse, and hyperlapse are also supported.

The Oakley Meta Vanguard offers upgraded speakers and up to nine hours of battery life. Priced at $499, it will be available in four frame and lens colour combinations upon its October 21st launch. Preorders are currently open for these innovative sports-oriented smart glasses.

Virtual Reality Enhancements

Meta's Hyperscape feature allows Quest 3 or Quest 3S headset users to scan their surroundings and convert them into digital spaces. Initially demonstrated at last year's Meta Connect event, users can now explore this feature through a beta version using the Hyperscape Capture app.

A new Horizon TV entertainment hub is being integrated into Quest headsets by Meta. This hub will host all streaming apps available on Quest headsets including Prime Video, Peacock, Twitch, YouTube, Disney Plus, ESPN, and Hulu. The Horizon TV hub supports Dolby Atmos surround sound with plans to add Dolby Vision later this year.

Horizon Engine Advancements

Some movies streamed through Horizon TV will include immersive special effects visible only within Quest headsets. Additionally, Meta's Horizon Engine enhances graphics quality while improving performance within virtual worlds. It powers features like Hyperscape while allowing larger capacities within these digital environments.

Meta aims to upgrade its Horizon Studio by incorporating an agentic AI assistant that helps integrate existing AI tools for creating virtual worlds seamlessly. This advancement promises more efficient development processes for users engaging with virtual reality content on Meta platforms.