3 Million Smart Glasses Sold: How Meta and Ray‑Ban Made Wearables Mainstream

The deep partnership between Meta and EssilorLuxottica has moved smart glasses from sci‑fi into daily life—and become a powerful growth engine for a traditional eyewear giant. It’s not just tech meets fashion; it’s a bold step toward the next personal computing platform.

Introduction

Recently, eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica posted exciting results: Q3 2025 revenue jumped 11.7% year‑over‑year, with over 4% of growth contributed by the AI smart‑glasses business co‑developed with Meta. This is a strong signal for the wearables market and shows smart glasses are rapidly evolving from a niche concept into a core revenue driver.

Once seen as an also‑ran, smart glasses are having a moment. The success of Meta and EssilorLuxottica shows that when big‑tech innovation meets deep brand expertise, disruptive products can emerge and win quickly. This isn’t just about selling a few million pairs—it’s redefining how we interact with the digital world and ushering in a new era of "visual computing."

“Ray‑Ban Meta”: from sci‑fi to sales phenomenon

The "Ray‑Ban Meta" lineup’s success is no accident. More than 3 million units have sold globally—over triple last year’s pace. From the original "Ray‑Ban Stories" to the first and second‑gen "Ray‑Ban Meta," and now side lines like "Oakley Meta HSTN" and "Oakley Meta Vanguard," each launch reflects sharp insight into user needs.

The latest Ray‑Ban Meta glasses pack serious tech: a 12 MP ultra‑wide camera that shoots 3K video, up to 8 hours of battery life, and IPX4 water resistance—equally ready for commutes and adventures. Meta’s conversational assistant "Meta AI" elevates the experience, turning the glasses into a true smart companion.

Profits and ecosystem: a clear path to monetization

Sales are strong and margins attractive. A key data point: roughly 20% of buyers opt for official prescription lenses. Beyond convenience for vision correction, this forms a high‑value, recurring ecosystem. It means customers are willing to pay for custom optical solutions alongside their smart glasses—driving steady revenue growth. Confident in momentum, EssilorLuxottica plans to lift annual capacity to 10 million units by end‑2026—and may well hit it early.

Rivalry intensifies: the next battle for smart glasses

This success is drawing rivals. Google is partnering with eyewear brands like Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, working on smart glasses powered by its "Gemini" AI models. The arms race around AI glasses is just beginning; advances in technology, better UX, and compelling use cases will decide winners.

Conclusion

The Meta–EssilorLuxottica story paints a vivid picture of a booming smart‑glasses market. It proves the power of cross‑industry collaboration and signals that smart glasses will integrate deeply into daily life, bridging physical and digital worlds. With ongoing breakthroughs in AI and optics, smart glasses will only expand their reach and deliver more surprises.