Meta's Chief Technology Officer hints at significant developments in the wearables sector for the remainder of the year, yet falls short of guaranteeing any Virtual Reality headset launches.
At Meta Connect 2025, the expected wearable announcements focus on new smart glasses and a smartwatch or wristband device that complements these glasses. Meta’s CTO and multiple reports indicate big wearables news without any new VR headset reveals.
Key details include:
- Smart Glasses: Meta is likely to unveil a higher-end set of smart glasses, possibly with a display capable of showing notifications and playing games. These glasses may not be fully AR but will enhance current capabilities. Previous prototypes, like the Meta Orion and Ray-Ban Meta glasses, show how Meta is advancing in this area.
- Neural-Input Wristband: Alongside the glasses, Meta might introduce a wristband using electromyographic (EMG) technology. This device detects electrical signals from the user's wrist muscles to navigate the glasses with finger gestures, even out of camera range. This could revolutionize how users interact with smart glasses.
- Smartwatch (Project Milan): Meta is rumored to launch a smartwatch that integrates deeply with its AI ecosystem and smart glasses. This watch could include features like a camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, cellular connectivity via eSIM, heart rate monitoring, and activity tracking, but it may be less health-focused compared to competitors like Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch. Battery life might be around 18 hours, and the device may complement Meta's existing hardware, fitting into an AI-driven ecosystem.
The emphasis at Connect 2025 seems to be on AI-enhanced wearables that focus on smart glasses and wrist-worn devices for seamless interaction and connectivity rather than VR headsets.
To summarize:
| Wearable Type | Expected Features | Notes | |-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------| | Smart Glasses | Display for notifications/gaming, advanced smart features| Possibly not full AR, building on Ray-Ban Meta line | | Neural-Input Wristband| EMG-based gesture control | Enables broader gesture input beyond camera tracking | | Smartwatch (Project Milan)| Camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, eSIM, AI integration, ~18 hr battery | Less health-focused, complements the smart glasses |
These announcements are anticipated for the Meta Connect event on September 17-18, 2025.
No confirmed details suggest new VR headsets this year; the focus is on expanding the wearable ecosystem around glasses and wrist devices with AI and gesture technologies.
In the meantime, Samsung and Google are working on Project Moohan, which may be a competitor to Meta's VR/MR headsets.
References:
[1] The Verge
[2] TechCrunch
[3] Engadget
[4] Bloomberg
[5] CNET
