Meta unveils smart sunglasses with built-in display at connect conference
Users will be able to check WhatsApp messages, Google Maps directions or video calls directly from their sunglasses.
At this year’s Meta connect conference on Thursday, the future of technology did not arrive in the form of flying cars or full-body VR suits. Instead, it came in something many Kenyans already wear, sunglasses.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, officially launched a new pair of Ray-Ban smart glasses, now featuring a built-in display inside the lens.
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Users will be able to check WhatsApp messages, Google Maps directions or video calls directly from their sunglasses.
This was just one of five major announcements made at the event.
1. Ray-Ban Meta Display glasses with built-in screen
The headline innovation is the Ray-Ban Meta Display, smart sunglasses with a small screen inside the right lens.
According to Meta, “You don’t need to remove your phone to reply to texts, check caller ID or get GPS directions. Just glance and the information appears.”
The glasses are powered by Meta’s AI assistant and controlled using a futuristic wristband called the Meta Neural Band, which reads finger and wrist movements to navigate menus hands-free.
Priced at around Sh120,000 ($799), they will launch first in the US on 30 September, with a global rollout, including the UK, France and potentially Africa, expected next year.
2. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2: Smarter sunglasses with upgraded camera and audio
Meta also unveiled the second generation of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses with a sharper 12-megapixel camera, 3K video recording even in poor lighting, improved speakers and eight hours of battery life.
Starting at Sh58,000 ($379), these come in more styles, including rounded frames and tinted lenses, blending fashion and function.
3. Oakley Meta Vanguard for fitness and outdoors enthusiasts
Targeting active users, the Oakley Meta Vanguard is a sportier, rugged smart eyewear option with workout overlays showing pace and heart rate, real-time syncing with apps like Garmin and Strava, a front-facing camera for recording outdoor activities and a durable, sweat-resistant design.
It will cost about Sh75,000 ($499).
4. Horizon TV: Virtual reality streaming platform
Meta also expanded its VR ecosystem with Horizon TV, a platform allowing users to stream Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and more inside a Meta Quest headset.
Viewers can relax on a large virtual screen in a digital living room and watch shows with friends remotely, whether they are in Kisumu or Nairobi.
The success of this in Kenya will depend on broader access to VR headsets, which remain relatively costly.
5. Meta Neural Wristband
Meta confirmed the launch of a Neural Wristband wearable that monitors micro-signals from muscles, enabling users to scroll, type or click using finger movements, no touchscreen, buttons or voice commands required.
Designed as the core companion for the new glasses, it could also control other smart home or office devices.
While most products will initially launch in Europe and North America, Meta’s message is clear: technology is moving off screens and becoming an integral part of the body.
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