Meta Sells 7 Million Smart Glasses Despite AI Lag
Meta leads the smart glasses market with 7 million units sold, focusing on style over raw AI power to shape the post-smartphone era.
Key points
- Meta sold 7 million pairs of AI-enabled glasses in 2025, leading the market.
- The company prioritized fashion and a 50-gram weight limit to ensure daily comfort.
- New devices include a 3D hologram feature and a $1,299 VR model shipping in spring.
Meta has sold 7 million pairs of AI-enabled smart glasses in 2025, leading a new hardware race. The company recently showed off its latest devices at its Menlo Park headquarters in California.
The collection includes updated Ray-Ban Wayfarers and new audio-only models. These glasses feature a wristband that lets users control on-screen elements by moving their fingers.
Fashion drives adoption over features
Meta executives say style is the key to success. Users only use the smart features about 10% of the time. Therefore, the glasses must look and feel like regular eyewear.
Partnership with EssilorLuxottica enforced a strict weight limit of 50 grams. This ensures the devices remain comfortable for daily wear. The goal is to make tech invisible in design.
New hologram feature tests reality
A new feature creates 3D animated avatars of the wearer. These digital copies appear on a friend's screen during calls. The technology scans facial expressions to mimic movement.
While impressive, the effect can feel unsettling. Some testers described their hologram as looking like a deepfake. This highlights the uncanny valley of digital identity.
Market competition remains intense
Other tech giants are racing to build similar devices. Apple and various startups are developing new hardware form factors. The industry bets that glasses will replace smartphones.
Meta’s AI models currently lag behind rivals like OpenAI. However, it holds the lead in hardware adoption. The new VR glasses cost $1,299 and ship in spring.
