QUaando technology and style come together, an accessory destined to change our way of living everyday life is born. This is the case of the Smart Glasses. Today, over ten years after the launch of the Google Glass – who had promised a revolution, but were abandoned just two years later, overwhelmed by technical problems, privacy issues and by an image deemed too “geek” – the market finally seems mature to accommodate a new generation of intelligent glasses.
To guide this renewed enthusiasm is the Ray-Ban Metafruit of the collaboration between Meta and Essilorluxottica. In only 2024 more than one million have been sold worldwide and the company now aims to double the deliveries by the end of the year.
The merit goes to Wayfarer profile, Family and reassuring, which combines the traditional aspect of the ray-ban glasses with advanced functionality governed, even to say it, from artificial intelligence: camera, microphone, voice assistant and lenses with blue light filter designed to protect the eyes during video calls or navigation in front of the screen.
The forecast of Mark Zuckerberg, President and CEO of Meta Platforms, who in the course of last February, said: “Smart Glasses will replace smartphones by 2030”, it could therefore not be so bizarre.
A success confirmed by online research
The success of Smart Glasses is confirmed by the numbers of Trovaprezzi.itprice comparator: Starting from May 2025, the monthly research of Ray-Ban Meta have marked a surge of over 200% Compared to the previous months, revealing growing attention.
It is precisely this combination of classic aesthetics and discreet technology that motivates the growing interest in the ray-ban destination, which they collect almost all research in the category “Smart Glasses”. In particular, The black shiny model With transparent lenses with filter it dominates preferences, representing 73.5% of total searches. Follow, with a clear detachment, the model with green lenses (15.9%) and the opaque one with graphite lenses (7.6%). In the end, Transparent transition/graphite transition lenses – Suitable for those who live very outdoors – they stop at 3%, a sign of a still young but promising proposal.
This distribution highlights an interesting trend: Smart Glasses are no longer only intriguing technology enthusiasts, but They begin to position themselves as a real and concrete alternative to traditional glasses or accessories such as earphones and action cam. The adoption grows precisely because the ray-banms do not seem like Smart Glasses. And in this paradox perhaps their strength lies.
Smart Glasses and price policy
Price policy also plays a crucial role in this phase of product diffusion. On the one hand, accompanies the market consolidation phase; on the other, it contributes to making Smart Glasses increasingly accessible to a large and transversal audience. All four main models of the Ray-Ban Meta have recorded significant discounts Compared to the launch price, a sign of An active and sensitive Dynamic Pricing system to real demand.
The most searched model, Lucid Wayfarer black with transparent lenses with filter, arrived on the site in January 2024 with a minimum price of 296 euros, but – in June 2025 – the best price is 264 euroswith a 10.8% reduction. The most popular second, black shiny Wayfarer with green lenses, followed a similar trend, going from an initial price of 296 euros to current 264 euros, with an identical drop of 10.8%.
The drop in opaque versions are more marked, which have a similar technology but with the most sought after stylistic variants. The black matt Wayfarer with graphite lenses, available from November 2023, went from 323.10 euros to 287.90 euros, with a reduction of 10.9%. The descent of the most recent model is even more evident, launched in August 2024: the black opaque wayfarer with transparent transition/graphite transition lenses, which from an initial price of 388 euros has fallen up to 327.90 euros, with a reduction of 15.5%.
Trovaprezzi.it
Not only does he go down to the field
Currently the Ray-Ban Meta are certainly the most famous and the best seller in the category, but they are not the only Smart Glasses on the market or during the arrival phase. The Xiaomi To the Glasses They are reality and have been presented at the end of June in China (they are not yet available in Italy). They propose a vast series of functionality based on artificial intelligence. They are offered in three shades – black, brown and green – and can host Special lenses called electrocromic.
The frame is with resistant and light titanium alloy hinges, the camera on board is a 12 megapixel with sensor supplied by Sony (IMX681), and complete the equipment two speakers and five microphones with a heaven effect. To govern the device takes care of the Snapdragon Ar1 processor, while the operating system is the owner Sailing OS with IA To make simultaneous translations, answer the questions, transcribe meetings, summarize, collect biometric data and recognize the surrounding environment. The battery boasts beyond 8 hours of use And he recharges via USB Type-C.
Xiaomi
Google try again?
Also Google He recently announced interest in this sector. The US giant has in fact announced that it is collaborating with partners to give life to this technology and has announced the collaboration with innovative glasses brands, starting from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, To create trendy glasses with Android XR. In the future, it also includes collaborations with other partners, such as Kering Eyewear, To offer even more options to users. In addition, Google is strengthening the partnership with Samsung to go beyond viewers and Extend Android XR to glasses. Together, they know by creating a software and a reference hardware platform.
Finally, according to reports from BloombergAlso Apple prepares to make its entrance In the world of Smart Glasses with a product that could arrive on the market already in 2026.
The future of Smart Glasses
To understand what the development trends of this market can be actually asked, we have asked Fabio Borsoi, Head of R&D Smart Eyewear & Hearing Solutions of Essilorluxottica, The company that designed and built the Ray-Ban Meta and the Oakley Meta Hstn.
What do you think can be the evolutions of Smart Glasses?
«The future of Smart Glasses is without limits. It will depend on theirs ability to integrate perfectly into daily life Not as a simple technological device, but as an extension of ourselves. We are moving beyond the novelty, towards a real usefulness, with functionality that maintain us connected and also support our health and well -being. Artificial intelligence will play a fundamental role in this evolution. With our products Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta Hstn, we have already introduced destination to the activable with the entry to improve accessibility and help users to orient themselves worldwide. With the continuous development of technology, we expect An increasingly personalized experience and an even more refined design. We do not believe that Smart Glasses will replace other devices, but rather than redefining the way we interact with the world around us ».
What were the main challenges you found yourself facing in the ideation and realization of the Ray Ban Meta and Oakley Meta?
«We are two global companies, leader in their respective areas of competence. The secret lies in a shared vision of innovation: Create a product that combines form and functionality, opening the way to a new category. Each technological sector involves challenges, and our largest has been Designing a product that balanced innovation and wearing. Together, we have created glasses that not only have an iconic aesthetic, but now they also have ‘superpowers’ thanks to the AI and we are only at the beginning of what can be achieved “.