Meta Set to Unveil Display-Equipped Smart Glasses and Neural Wristband at Connect 2025 on September 17

Meta is poised to reveal its first consumer-ready smart glasses featuring a display, alongside a groundbreaking neural wristband, at its annual Connect 2025 conference, commencing September 17. The highly anticipated announcement, which aligns with recent industry speculation, marks a significant step in the company's augmented reality ambitions. The new device, reportedly codenamed Hypernova or Celeste, is expected to offer a heads-up display in one lens for notifications and AI interactions.

The accompanying wristband, internally known as Ceres, utilizes surface electromyography (sEMG) technology to detect subtle muscle signals from the wearer's wrist and fingers. This innovative input method allows for precise gesture control, enabling users to interact with the glasses through minimal movements like pinching, swiping, and tapping, without requiring overt hand motions or voice commands. This technology, developed from Meta's 2019 acquisition of CTRL Labs, aims to provide a more natural and discreet user experience.

Industry reports suggest the Hypernova glasses will be sold in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, potentially under the Ray-Ban brand, with an estimated price point ranging from $800 to $1,400, including the wristband. While not offering full immersive augmented reality like Meta's experimental Orion prototype, the single-lens display is designed to provide essential visual information and enhance interaction with Meta AI. The company has reportedly been setting low expectations for initial sales, focusing on gathering data to refine future versions.

This launch represents a crucial step in Meta's long-term strategy to develop advanced AR glasses and neural interfaces that could eventually succeed smartphones as a primary computing platform. The data collected from the Hypernova glasses and Ceres wristband is expected to inform the development of more sophisticated AR experiences, moving closer to the vision of seamless digital interaction. As social media user Chris accurately predicted, "September 17-18th we will see a glimpse into the AR future," with Meta including "some type of finger gesture pad or wrist tracker as well with these glasses."

The Connect 2025 event, scheduled for September 17-18, will feature a keynote address by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, where further details on the new hardware, software, and the company's broader metaverse strategy are expected to be unveiled. The introduction of these smart glasses and the neural wristband highlights Meta's continued investment in wearable technology and its commitment to shaping the future of human-computer interaction.