July 3 2026
THE NEWSLETTER FOR XR, SMART & AI GLASSES, AR, VR AND THE METAVERSE SINCE 2021
Hey,
Thomas here. I am a tech journalist from Cologne, Germany, and I have been wearing Meta Ray-Bans ever since the release of what we now know as the Ray-Ban Meta Gen1.
What came as a surprise to most people working in XR was that these smiled-upon face-furnitures with some built-in electronics would actually become popular. While the Ray-Ban Stories failed to gain any traction two years earlier, the AI-infused wearable hit a nerve.
Two-plus years later, something like 15 million devices might have been sold, and all major tech companies are either about to release their own smart glasses soon or are planning to do so in the near future. About 75+ different models are already available globally. The technology has almost become a commodity.
What Meta did was create a new device category that actually seems to work. And they did it with a trick: partnering with an already established designer eyewear brand.
That seemed to be the blueprint: Smart Technology + designer brand = Success.
Now, that assumption is being challenged by its own creator: Meta just announced „Meta Glasses“, its own „store brand.“ And although they don’t have „Ray-Ban“ written on them, they still look sexy!
But, Houston, we have a problem: Where the beautiful, handwritten Ray-Ban logo used to be, now sits the Meta infinity loop.
In Europe, and I guess especially here in Germany, that logo leaves a bitter mark (pun intended).
The first spas and public baths are already starting to ban smart glasses due to some amateur creeps filming people, especially women. Some even think it’s a good idea to try and pick up women, film it, and analyze the footage on social media.
Media outlets love those click-generating stories, for sure. Women’s rights advocates love-hate those stories, too. And non-creepy people who just enjoy wearing a smart wearable hate-hate them because it makes them look like idiots.
In our latest episode of Spatial Realities, Thomas Bedenk and I talk about all of this. Not so much about the specs, which are becoming more and more irrelevant for this kind of eyewear.
Will people wear glasses with a Meta logo on them? Was Meta forced to go cheaper because the trajectory was already showing signs of slowing down? And what role does EssilorLuxottica play in all of this?
What we haven’t been able to talk about yet: Is all of this maybe irrelevant because Meta lacks a powerful ecosystem of devices and services like Google, Samsung, and Apple?
We keep you covered, here at Spatial Realities.
E132 – Meta goes Store Brand: Introducing Meta Glasses
Listen now via: Blog | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Meta
News related to our top-story.
„Meta Launches Cheaper Smart Glasses Without Ray-Ban Branding„
This article reports on Meta’s launch of a more affordable version of its smart glasses without the Ray-Ban branding, outlining the key design changes, price points, and feature trade-offs readers can expect from the new device. UploadVR.com / also: Auganix.org
„We’re Partnering With EssilorLuxottica to Launch Meta Glasses„
This is the official press release by Meta
„Meta Preempts Google’s Gentle Monster Glasses With Kylie Jenner ‚Starfire‘ Design„
Meta’s release of the new „Starfire“ smart glasses—a fashion-forward collaboration with Kylie Jenner—is detailed in this coverage, which covers the hardware’s unique design features, pricing tiers, and how Meta is strategically using this launch to beat Google’s upcoming competitive eyewear to market. UploadVR.com
„Why Meta’s Kylie Jenner Partnership Could Be a Turning Point for Women in Wearable AI“
In this analysis, author Julie Smithson explores how Meta’s partnership with Kylie Jenner could mark a turning point for women in wearable AI, diving into how the collaboration bridges the gap between high tech and mass-market female fashion. XRWomen.com
„Reasons why I wouldn’t have picked Kylie Jenner to collaborate on the new Meta glasses„
Lauren Hill argues on linkedin.com that the collab makes no sense as Kylie Jenner fans are not the usual smart devices consumers. That’s seem to be a valid argument. But: I guess that’s actually why it has been done.
„Meta Now Sells A Charging Stand For (Most Of) Its Smart Glasses„
The introduction of a new official charging stand for Meta’s smart glasses is explored in this piece, detailing its design, price point, and how it aims to provide a more convenient alternative to the standard charging case. UploadVR.com
„So erkennst du Smart Glasses im Schwimmbad„
Die rechtlichen und datenschutzrechtlichen Herausforderungen beim Tragen von Smart Glasses in deutschen Schwimmbädern und Saunen werden in diesem Beitrag beleuchtet, indem die bestehenden Hausordnungen, die Verletzung von Persönlichkeitsrechten durch heimliche Aufnahmen und praktische Tipps für Betreiber zur Durchsetzung von Verboten verständlich erklärt werden. WDR.de
„Meta Is Giving Free Smart Glasses To Every Blind US Veteran„
Through its new initiative to distribute free smart glasses to every blind US veteran, Meta’s philanthropic partnership and the assistive technology benefits for visually impaired former service members are examined in this report. UploadVR.com
All XR events at a glance!
Do you already know our XR calendar? Find all the XR events at one spot, configure your view and export it into your own calendar. You can also receive a weekly summary.
SIGGRAPH 2026 – July 19
Galaxy Unpacked – July 22
LEXRA Summit 2026 – August 03
next.app devcon – October 07
nextReality.festival 2026 – November 18+19
You miss an event? Just add it!
EssilorLuxoticca
While Meta tries to stay dominant with it’s 80 something market share, EssilorLuxottica might also nose some opportunity.
„EssilorLuxottica and Applied Materials Join Forces to Advance Augmented Reality Optics Platforms for Next-Generation Smart Glasses„
„Meta-Partner EssilorLuxottica stärkt Eigenständigkeit mit neuer Partnerschaft | heise online„
EssilorLuxottica und Applied Materials kooperieren zur Entwicklung von optischen Systemen für Smart Glasses und AR-Brillen, was die technologische Eigenständigkeit des Brillenkonzerns stärkt. heise.de
More Glasses News
„Exclusive: Here’s Your First Look at the Galaxy Glasses Manager App„
In this exclusive first look, author Vineet Washington breaks down a major leak of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Glasses companion app, revealing the setup process, a „One UI XR“ platform, and deep ecosystem features like gesture controls via the Galaxy Ring. SammyGuru.com
„Lumus’s new waveguides enable 70° FOV thin glasses„
„Keine Cloud, kein Smartphone: Diese Smart Glasses laufen autark„
Das Startup Raven Resonance präsentiert die Smart Glasses ‚Raven Prism‘, die unabhängig von einem gekoppelten Smartphone funktionieren und auf Basis eines Linux-Betriebssystems sowie einem austauschbaren Akku betrieben werden, wobei Datenschutz und lokale Datenverarbeitung betont werden. heise.de
„VITURE’s Enterprise Expansion: Hands on with Helix – AR Insider„
„Hyebin Heaven Seo – Soo Soo„
Das Projekt überwindet die Wahrnehmungslücke von Smart Glasses, indem es die Ästhetik traditioneller koreanischer Accessoires nutzt und das Produkt als modisches Objekt statt bloßer Technologie neu definiert. way-to-heaven.com
„Überwachung in China: Wie neue KI-Brillen das Sozialkreditsystem füttern | Telepolis„
In China wird in Metropolen wie Tianjin bereits im Alltag der Einsatz von KI-gestützten Smart Glasses durch die Polizei betrieben, welche Gesichter in Echtzeit scannen und mit Datenbanken abgleichen, was das Sozialkreditsystem nährt. telepolis.de
„At AWE 2026, Spatial Computing Grows Up And AI Is Now The Story„
Apple
„Apple Vision Pro & Smart Glasses Exec Reportedly Leaves for OpenAI Hardware Team„
Ein leitender Hardware-Mitarbeiter von Apple, der für Vision Pro und Smart Glasses zuständig war, wird Berichten zufolge zu OpenAI wechseln, wo er an deren zukünftigen KI-Geräten arbeiten soll. roadtovr.com
Also: Check out the new Neuromancer series teaser!
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