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Smart Glasses Shift Toward Mainstream as Meta Maps 2027 Orion and Rivals Eye 2026 Launches

Investor interest plus a wave of feature-rich models point to a market maturing beyond prototypes.

Overview

  • Meta’s first consumer AR model, the Ray‑Ban Meta Display, debuted in September with a right‑lens display and integrated Meta AI.
  • Mark Zuckerberg positions glasses paired with a personal “superintelligence” as the next primary device, with dual‑lens Orion reportedly targeted for 2027.
  • Today’s offerings span Ray‑Ban Meta Gen 2 (12‑megapixel photos and 3K video), Viture Luma Pro (micro‑OLED at up to 120 Hz), Xreal One Pro, Oakley Meta Vanguard, and RayNeo Air 3s across roughly $200 to $650.
  • TechCrunch reports 2026 consumer launches in the pipeline, including Google/Xreal’s Project Aura, a lighter Snap Specs model, and Apple AI smart glasses that are described as expected rather than confirmed.
  • Hedge‑fund managers Israel Englander, Ken Griffin, and Philippe Laffont increased Meta stakes in Q3 2025, signaling confidence in its hardware and AI roadmap.