Large buzz, small market: Meta’s smartglasses are a specialty gadget this vacation

NEW YORK, Nov 25 (Reuters) – Early tech adopters are gobbling up smartglasses like Thanksgiving turkey – particularly Meta’s new, retro-chic model with a visible show within the lens. But issues about value, privateness, and the consolation of carrying a pc on one’s face are giving mainstream consumers pause this vacation season.

Sign up right here.

U.S. smartglasses gross sales tripled year-over-year in 2025, based on market analysis agency Circana – nice information for a sort of gadget that crashed and burned after Google’s ill-fated ‘glass’ experiment in 2013, and which has been attempting to regain respect ever since.

Holiday gross sales this season will seemingly dwarf the $52.6 million U.S. consumers spent on good glasses within the remaining quarter of 2024, mentioned Ben Arnold, a shopper know-how business analyst with Circana. Analysts count on tech firms like Apple and Samsung to launch their very own smartglass merchandise quickly.

John Paul Stewart, a New York City resident, was intrigued sufficient to go to a Meta Lab retailer in Manhattan final week, certainly one of dozens of customers crowding round show circumstances or receiving demos of the glasses from Meta employees. But he discovered the glasses just a little heavy.

“I don’t know how comfortable it’s going to be, like, to wear them for a long period of time,” mentioned Stewart, 51. “I feel like I’m going to wait for one more generation.”

About 25% of respondents surveyed by CivicScience – a shopper analysis agency that embeds survey questions in information, way of life and leisure web sites – lately mentioned they’re concerned about attempting smartglasses, up from 20% early this 12 months.

Smartglasses possession now’s about the place smartwatches had been in 2017, and curiosity is rising, CivicScience surveys present.

Still, “We’re not quite there” by way of mainstream adoption, mentioned Avi Greengart, a tech business analyst who runs market evaluation agency Techsponential.

“Long term, who knows? We’ll all be cyborgs.”

A spokeswoman for Meta declined to touch upon what number of Displays have been bought, or what number of will likely be produced for the vacations. The Displays – which promote for $799 earlier than including prescription lenses – won’t be discounted for Black Friday or Cyber Monday, the spokeswoman added.

EssilorLuxottica didn’t instantly reply to questions concerning the availability and pricing of the smartglasses this vacation season.

GROWTH SURGING

The Display – Meta’s most superior AI-powered eyewear – comes with a smartphone-like show in the proper lens, and an accompanying bracelet that tracks hand actions. With pinches and thumb flicks, customers can scroll by means of apps to play music, converse with AI, file video, and even translate languages in actual time.

User Silvia Rendon – talking remotely on her “Displays” – says she makes use of the glasses in her job as a San Antonio schoolteacher. Rendon, 42, was so eager for hands-free entry to AI throughout classroom classes that she purchased her Displays at an enormous markup on eBay – spending $1,200 – after they bought out at shops.

Greg Dow, 62, mentioned he’s contemplating a purchase order, however worries about who would possibly be capable of entry monitoring information. “I feel there may be massive potential to misuse the know-how,” Dow said.

For some, including 48-year-old Iliak Castro, price poses a barrier.

“Maybe,” he mentioned with a smile, “I’ll ask Santa for some.”

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab