Meta and EssilorLuxottica Consider Doubling Smart Glasses Production Capacity
PYMNTS.com·2026-01-13 17:42

Core Insights - Meta and EssilorLuxottica are considering increasing the production capacity of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses from 10 million to 20 million units by the end of the year, with potential to further increase to 30 million if demand continues to grow [1][2] - Meta has paused its planned global expansion of smart glasses to the UK, France, Italy, and Canada due to unprecedented demand and limited inventory in the US, with waitlists extending into 2026 [3] - The Meta Ray-Ban Display, launched in September, features AI capabilities and a built-in screen for displaying messages, video calls, and other information [3][4] Industry Context - The smart glasses market is seeing significant interest, with Meta and other tech giants betting on these devices becoming the next popular connected wearables [5] - XReal, a competitor in the smart glasses space, recently raised $100 million and is valued at over $1 billion, indicating strong investment and growth potential in the sector [6]