Meta’s upcoming Q2 2026 earnings call is turning heads, not for its ad business or metaverse ventures, but for an unexpected hardware star: smart glasses. This product has quietly outpaced expectations, redefining the company’s hardware ambitions.
Rapid Growth Behind the Ray-Ban Meta Collaboration
The joint effort with EssilorLuxottica, owner of Ray-Ban and Oakley, has been a big deal. Sales of Ray-Ban Meta glasses surged past 7 million units in 2025, tripling sales from the previous two years combined. This spike caught many analysts off guard. The companies are now aiming to push production capacity to 20 million units annually by the end of 2026, with some forecasts eyeing even 30 million.
The smart glasses range from $299 to $799, including prescription-friendly options, appealing to a wide audience. projections indicate the revenue from smart glasses might have already overtaken Meta’s Quest VR headset line in 2025. This crossover could signal a key shift in how the company balances its hardware portfolio.
Privacy and Regulatory Hurdles Persist
Despite soaring sales, privacy concerns cast a shadow. Cameras and AI-powered features in wearables invite scrutiny that smartphones typically avoid. Authorities in Europe and Asia are considering tighter regulations around wearable cameras, potentially complicating Meta’s growth trajectory in this segment.
In response, Meta launched AI Glasses Impact Grants early in 2026, aiming to foster innovation and responsible use. These initiatives include Accelerator and Catalyst Grants to organizations leveraging smart glasses technology, reflecting a strategic push to shape the ecosystem proactively.
This content is for informational purposes and not financial advice.
