Meta Ray-Ban Display, Gen 2, Oakley Vanguard: Meta’s big bet on connected eyewear 👓

Meta is doubling down on connected eyewear with three new models—the Ray-Ban Display, Ray-Ban Gen 2, and Oakley Vanguard. Each pushes in a different direction, blurring the lines between fashion accessory, wearable tech, and social tool. Sleeker, smarter, and more ambitious than ever, these glasses promise to reinvent how we interact with information and each other. But do they live up to the hype?

Ray-Ban Display: augmented daily life🎬

The Ray-Ban Display is the showpiece of the lineup. It hides a microLED color display (peaking at 5,000 nits) seamlessly inside the right temple.

© Meta

Unlike traditional smart glasses, the screen doesn’t just sit there—it only comes alive when triggered through the Meta Neural Band, a wristband that detects gestures. With a flick of your hand, you can type, navigate, or interact with Meta AI—no voice or physical touch required.

© Meta

© Meta

In practice, that means you can view text messages, notifications, GPS directions, music controls, or even live video calls through a discreet 12MP camera capable of recording 3K footage at 30fps. Sync happens through Meta’s cloud, with promised battery life of up to 18 hours (with the Neural Band) or about 4 hours of heavy solo use.

© Meta

© Meta

The trade-offs: they’re bulkier and heavier than standard Ray-Bans, they won’t be cheap (€799 in France, shipping in early 2026), and they raise new privacy questions around subtle gesture controls and constant display access.

Ray-Ban Gen 2: fashion meets content 🌈

The Ray-Ban Gen 2 sticks closer to the classic Wayfarer look but dials up the tech under the hood. Available in 27 styles (shapes and colors), customization is central to the appeal. The discreet 12MP camera now records 3K video at 30fps, while five microphones enable clearer calls, podcasts, and social clips with active noise reduction.

© Meta

© Meta

Battery life doubles compared to Gen 1—8 hours total—with fast charging (50% in 30 minutes). Voice controls via Meta AI feel more natural this time, letting you request recommendations, translations, or even do quick content edits hands-free. The glasses are also IP54 rated for splash and dust resistance. Pricing remains unchanged, starting at €419, and they’re available now.

© Meta

The compromise? No built-in display. But Gen 2 proves smart glasses can still be stylish, lightweight, and useful without looking like a sci-fi prototype.

Oakley Vanguard: connected performance for athletes🏃‍♂️

The Oakley Meta Vanguard is built for athletes and outdoor junkies. Sporting Oakley’s Prizm™ 24K optics for maximum contrast, a rugged slip-proof frame, and a wide 12MP central camera, these glasses are made to capture action—whether you’re cycling, running, or cliff diving.

© Meta

Open-ear speakers adjust automatically to wind and ambient noise, letting you blast music or hear coaching cues without breaking focus. They also tie directly into Strava, Garmin, Apple Health, and other platforms. Performance data shows up in the Meta app or on your phone, while a voice coach adapts real-time recommendations to your workout.

With 9 hours of battery, IP54 resistance, fast charging, and a €549 price tag, the Vanguard hits shelves October 21.

Comparatifs et vrais plus 👀

Privacy: the elephant in the room 🔒

As futuristic as they look, Meta’s smart glasses come with heavy baggage. Privacy experts warn about silent photo capture, constant voice access, and AI processing of personal data. Concerns range from facial recognition to behavioral profiling and third-party access. Meta promises safeguards, but regulation hasn’t caught up—and “freedom” could come at the cost of intimacy.

Stylish, smart… but subtle ? 🤔

These glasses mark a clear step forward in blending fashion with functional, AI-powered wearables. The integrated display, real-time coaching, and seamless voice interactions are impressive. But they also force us to reconsider how much we want technology embedded in our social lives.

Instant messaging, always-on cameras, and live AI assistants could transform daily interactions—or filter, distort, and isolate them. The real question is: are we ready to let wearable computing rewrite the rules of social connection, or should some aspects of life remain off the grid?

What do you think?
Would you wear Meta’s new generation of smart glasses—or does the privacy trade-off feel too high? Drop your thoughts in the comments.