Analyst Suggests Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Aren’t a Threat to Apple Despite Concerns Over Apple’s Delayed Head-Mounted Wearable Ecosystem

Currently, there is a prevailing belief that Meta has surged ahead of its competitors in the head-mounted wearables market, leaving Apple struggling to catch up. An analyst from Oppenheimer has stated that while Meta’s advancements in the smart glasses arena are notable, they do not pose an immediate threat to Apple’s position. Nonetheless, questions regarding the long-term viability of Apple’s aspirations in this domain remain.

Meta Connect 2025: Unveiling Innovative Smart Glasses

Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses with integrated display — Meta Ray-Ban Display Smart Glasses

The highlight of this week’s Connect 2025 conference was the introduction of Meta’s new Ray-Ban Display smart glasses. These glasses are equipped with an in-built display capable of displaying readable text, playing short videos, providing directions, and even offering live translations. With a resolution of 42 pixels per degree (ppd), they surpass the clarity of all existing Meta consumer VR headsets.

Featuring a custom light engine and waveguide that delivers brightness levels of up to 5, 000 nits, these glasses are designed for optimal performance in both indoor and outdoor settings. Priced at $799 and available for purchase starting September 30, the Ray-Ban Display comes packaged with the Meta Neural Band, a wristband that enables users to control their smart glasses using hand gestures through electromyography (EMG) technology.

Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 smart glasses — Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2

Moreover, Meta has unveiled the second generation of its renowned Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which do not feature an in-built display but boast double the battery life, providing up to eight hours of mixed usage. This iteration supports two hours of continuous ‘live AI’ service and offers ultra HD 3K video recording capabilities. Upcoming enhancements will include a dedicated noise cancellation system known as conversation focus.

Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses — Oakley Meta Vanguard

Additionally, Meta has introduced the Oakley Meta Vanguard, an athletic-oriented smart AI glasses variant designed to integrate with Garmin devices. This model provides users with real-time insights and alerts, alongside supporting 3K UHD video recording through a 12 MP camera.

Oppenheimer’s Take: Apple’s Ecosystem Resilient Against Meta

In a recent commentary, Oppenheimer analyst Martin Yang expressed that Meta’s wearables development does not currently threaten Apple’s ecosystem, which encompasses the iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch.

Yang’s analysis followed a discussion of the specifications of the Ray-Ban Display with his contacts in the supply chain. He pointed out that Meta is not providing a Software Development Kit (SDK) for third-party developers, limiting the device’s immediate utility to integration with smartphones, primarily running Meta’s proprietary apps and displaying information from other third-party applications.

Although the Ray-Ban Display is a compelling addition to Meta’s lineup, Yang noted it lacks some features present in the Orion smart glasses, such as augmented reality capabilities and eye tracking, which were showcased at the Connect 2024 conference. He indicated that it might take Meta years to develop a commercially competitive Orion product.

Yang also highlighted that the Ray-Ban Display employs non-proprietary components like the LCoS microdisplay from Omnivision. In contrast, the Orion glasses utilize more exclusive parts. He added that with a weight of approximately 67 grams, the Ray-Ban Display may not be comfortable for prolonged wear.

The analyst predicts sales of the Ray-Ban Display will fall between 150, 000 and 200, 000 units over the next two years, a figure that would not classify the device as mainstream. However, it is crucial to note that Apple has reportedly abandoned its Mac-connected AR glasses initiative following the announcement of Meta’s Orion glasses.

Additionally, the Apple Vision Pro, priced at a substantial $3, 499, does not currently pose a significant challenge to Meta’s progress. With only around 500, 000 units sold by early 2025, many consumers appear deterred by its high price and insufficient compelling use cases, compounded by the lack of a robust app ecosystem for the headset. The cumbersome design and external battery pack further complicate its marketability.

Given the current landscape and the dynamics of competition, we respectfully disagree with Yang’s assessment, asserting that Apple’s ecosystem remains at risk from Meta’s advancements.

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