Meta's Next-Gen Smart Glasses with Display Accidentally Leaked Ahead of Connect Event

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – September 17, 2025 – Just days before its major annual Connect conference, Meta Platforms appears to have inadvertently revealed its next generation of smart glasses, including new Meta Ray-Ban models featuring an integrated display and a new line of Oakley "Sphaera" smart glasses. The premature reveal came via a video, reportedly published briefly by Meta itself, which was swiftly spotted and reported by tech news outlet UploadVR and subsequently detailed by The Verge on Monday.

The leak offers a tantalizing glimpse into Meta's ambitious roadmap for augmented reality (AR) hardware, confirming persistent rumors of smart glasses that move beyond simple audio and camera functionalities to incorporate visual displays. This development marks a significant step in Meta's long-term strategy to integrate digital information seamlessly into daily life.

Details of the Leak: What Was Revealed

According to UploadVR and The Verge, the video showcased two distinct lines of upcoming smart eyewear. The most notable reveal was a new iteration of the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, which critically feature an integrated display. While specifics about the display technology — such as whether it employs micro-LED, waveguide, or another solution — remain undisclosed, its inclusion suggests a leap towards true augmented reality capabilities, allowing users to view information directly within their field of vision.

The current Meta Ray-Ban Stories glasses, launched in 2021, primarily focus on hands-free photo and video capture, alongside audio playback. The addition of a visual display would fundamentally transform the user experience, potentially enabling navigation prompts, notifications, or even basic AR overlays without the need to glance at a smartphone.

Alongside the updated Ray-Bans, the leaked video also presented new "Sphaera" smart glasses under the Oakley brand, another Luxottica-owned entity. Oakley is known for its performance eyewear, particularly in sports. While less information is available about the Sphaera model's specific features from the leak, its branding suggests a focus on performance, durability, and potentially advanced audio or biometric tracking capabilities tailored for active users. The presence of both Ray-Ban and Oakley models reinforces Meta's strategy of partnering with established eyewear brands to drive mainstream adoption.

Meta Connect and the Significance of the Display

The timing of this leak is particularly critical, coming just before Meta's annual Connect conference, typically a platform for major hardware and software announcements related to the company's metaverse vision. The accidental reveal potentially spoils one of Meta's marquee product unveilings, a device that has been anticipated as a crucial component of its AR strategy.

For years, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has articulated a vision where smart glasses eventually replace smartphones as the primary computing interface. The integration of a display in the Ray-Ban line signifies a tangible step towards this goal, bridging the gap between current camera-and-audio-centric wearables and full-fledged augmented reality glasses. The challenge, however, remains in balancing advanced technology with a sleek, fashionable design and an accessible price point, crucial for mass market appeal.

Competition in the Smart Eyewear Market

The move to incorporate a display also intensifies competition in the nascent but growing smart eyewear market. While Meta has focused on fashionable, everyday glasses, other tech giants are also investing heavily in the space. Apple, for instance, launched its Vision Pro mixed-reality headset earlier this year, positioning it as a high-end spatial computing device. Google has also historically experimented with smart glasses, albeit with mixed results.

Meta's approach, leveraging existing, popular eyewear designs from Ray-Ban and Oakley, aims to overcome the social acceptance hurdles that have plagued earlier attempts at smart glasses. The integration of a display within familiar form factors could be a key differentiator, making the technology less obtrusive and more appealing to a broader consumer base.

Analysts suggest that the success of these new smart glasses will hinge not only on their technical capabilities but also on battery life, user interface intuitiveness, and, crucially, privacy considerations given their always-on potential. The display itself needs to be subtle yet effective, avoiding the "glasshole" perception that dogged early smart glasses.

Looking Ahead to Meta Connect

With the leak now public, anticipation for Meta Connect has only grown. The company will likely provide official details, specifications, pricing, and availability for these new devices. The challenge for Meta will be to manage expectations following the premature reveal and to present a compelling narrative that highlights the innovation and real-world utility of its new display-equipped smart glasses. The incident underscores the intense pressure and secrecy surrounding product development in the highly competitive tech industry.

What's Next for Wearable Tech?

The race to deliver genuinely useful and socially acceptable AR glasses is heating up. Meta's latest offering, even through an accidental leak, signals a maturing approach to wearable technology that prioritizes integration into fashion and daily routines. The successful adoption of display-equipped smart glasses could reshape how we interact with digital information, moving beyond screens and into our physical environment.