Meta HYPERNOVA smart glasses – a big step towards future of Augmented Reality

In 2025, wearable technology will evolve into an ecosystem of smart, health-conscious, and performance-driven devices that promise to enhance everyday life.

Among the most popular trends in this area: smartwatches, which are driving the wearable market with innovations in AI, health monitoring, connectivity, and also smart glasses and smart rings, which are gaining traction with lightweight designs and innovative health-tracking capabilities.

The newsmaker among smart glasses manufacturers at the beginning of this year was Meta, which is updating its popular smart glasses, developing new models, and may release its first real AR headset as early as 2027. 

1. Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have been a big success and the company is continuing to expand the capabilities of these stylish tech shades that include a camera and speakers. Since these Ray-Bans can see and hear, Meta is leveraging the advanced AI capabilities of its new Llama 3.2 model to enable live translation. 

The Ray-Ban smart glasses can already describe and answer questions about what you see, snapping a photo with the integrated camera. With the latest update, you can scan QR codes with your Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and call phone numbers you see in print or on a billboard just by asking. Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses also serve as earbud replacements, letting you take calls and play music.

2. Meta’s next smart glasses may be with Oakley. The Oakley-branded glasses, internally referred to as Supernova 2, would be based on the brand’s Sphaera glasses. 

Instead of housing the cameras on the side, the Supernova 2 would shift the camera to the center of the frame. The idea is to appeal to cyclists and other outdoor athletes. While the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are good for discreet, everyday wear, they’re a bit heavy for endurance sports and lack certain features like polarized lenses for better visibility. Oakleys are also considered stylish and popular among professional athletes.

3. Meta is preparing to launch an advanced pair of smart glasses under the codename Hypernova, featuring a built-in display and gesture control capabilities. The new device, developed in partnership with Ray-Ban, aims to enhance user convenience by offering features such as media viewing, map navigation, and app notifications. Notably, the smart glasses could hit the shelves by the end of 2025.

4. Meta is already developing Hypernova 2 with a binocular display system (screens for both eyes) targeted for release in 2027. 

What is known about Meta HYPERNOVA smart glasses? 

Hypernova smart glasses are set to launch by the end of the year, blending augmented reality (AR) features with a sleek design.

The standout feature of the Hypernova glasses is a small screen embedded in the lower-right quadrant of the right lens. Unlike the current Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which lack a display, this screen will let users view apps, photos, and notifications directly in their field of vision.This display will display notifications, maps, some apps, messages, and other useful information, literally right in front of your eyes.

This display will show a boot screen when powered on, followed by a home screen with circular app icons for photos, media viewing, maps, and notifications from phone apps like WhatsApp. 

Hypernova glasses can run apps and display photos, all controlled using hand gestures and capacitive touch on the sides of the frame. Bloomberg reports that the screen will only be visible on the right lens at the lower-right quadrant, and is best viewed when looking downward. When the device is turned on, a home screen appears and displays icons horizontally, similar to a Meta Quest.

Hypernova will also feature an improved camera compared to the current model, and will continue building upon the idea of having an AI chatbot on your face.

These AR glasses will run on a highly customized version of Android, though they're unlikely to feature an integrated app store.

The Hypernova smart glasses may also have touch controls on the sides. Users can scroll through the UI, including menus and apps, by performing touch gestures. Moreover, these smart glasses may ship with a neural wristband that allows you to control the actions of a wearable.

This aside, the Meta Hypernova smart glasses will work similarly to the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses. There are no leaks about the design of the glasses, so far. Whether they will have a fashionable design, or a tech-heavy look remains to be seen.

And lastly: the smart glasses could be shipped in a new carrying case that’s shaped like a triangular prism.

What Apps will these smart glasses support?

Hypernova will feature a dedicated app store developed by Meta. It will support Meta apps like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, along with location-based services, messaging apps, and voice note tools. The platform will also be open to third-party developers, allowing the app ecosystem to grow.

Hypernova’s technological components

Hypernova is expected to include a transparent display panel, voice assistant microphone, built-in speaker, motion sensors, and AI-powered software. Together, these components allow for seamless digital interaction directly through the glasses. Hypernova integrates capacitive touch technology into the glasses’ temples (arms), allowing users to scroll, tap, and select easily. This makes the display experience smooth and intuitive.

Premium price

Bloomberg says that Hypernova will cost over $1,000 and could sell for as high as $1,300 to $1,400. For comparison, the current Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses start at $300. 

And a few more questions…

How about the privacy issues? Smart glasses like Hypernova raise big privacy concerns. Since they have an always-on camera and microphone, people worry about being recorded without knowing it. Unlike a smartphone, which you have to take out and use manually, these glasses could record or listen all the time.

Others might not even realize they are being recorded. The biggest concern is Meta has had privacy concerns in the past. What do they do with personal information collected from these glasses?

Could hackers try to attempt to steal your information or or tap into users if these glasses become widespread?

And a few more caveats… 

The Hypernova glasses are not an independent and complete gadget. You can also control them with hand gestures using a special wristband called Ceres. And you still need a phone: the glasses will depend on the Meta View app, meaning they won’t work alone. 

These glasses won’t have a wide range of apps to download. The built-in screen is small: watching videos or browsing may not be comfortable. And finally, you may have a problem with battery life issues: AR glasses use a lot of power! 

CONCLUSIONS

Meta’s latest smart glasses act as a digital assistant in daily life, powered by an integrated AI system. The glasses offer functions such as calendar reminders, navigation, and message or call notifications via on-screen visuals and audio cues. This enables a hands-free lifestyle where the digital world appears right in your line of sight.

Meta HYPERNOVA smart glasses is a rather interesting innovation in the development of wearable AR devices, creating cutting-edge enterprise AR applications and extending AR capabilities to smart glasses.

Although for now, the Hypernova smart glasses are shaping up as a bold play. If Meta nails the execution, they could redefine what we expect from wearables by year’s end. Today, it seems that Hypernova smart glasses are more of a fashionable and expensive accessory than a standalone device. But time will tell. We'll see!