Meta's Ray-Ban Display Glasses Sell Out Amid High Demand

Meta's Ray-Ban Display glasses have sold out in nearly all available stores just two days after their release. Meta's Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, acknowledged the strong demand, stating that restocks are forthcoming and the company intends to double the number of retail locations offering the glasses.

The Ray-Ban Display glasses, priced at $799, feature a heads-up display (HUD) in the right lens and are controlled via the Meta Neural Band, a wristband that detects finger gestures through surface electromyography (sEMG). The glasses offer functionalities such as Meta AI with visuals, messaging and video calling through platforms like WhatsApp and Messenger, photo and video capture, pedestrian navigation in select cities, live captions and translation, and music playback.

Weighing 69 grams, the glasses are slightly heavier and bulkier than their non-smart counterparts due to the added display. Meta claims a battery life of approximately six hours under normal use. A software update scheduled for December is expected to enable text input by swiping letters with the index finger on a physical surface.

The initial launch was limited to select Best Buy, LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, and Ray-Ban stores in key U.S. cities, as well as the Meta Lab. Many stores required appointments for purchase, leading to bookings extending into November and December. Some customers reported challenges in locating stores with available stock, encountering empty shelves and staff unaware of restock timelines.

In response to the overwhelming demand, Meta plans to increase the number of retail locations and expedite restocking efforts to meet consumer interest.