Closeup of the Ray-Ban logo and the built-in ultra-wide 12 MP camera on a pair of new Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer smart glasses. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
At under US$1,000, Hypernova isn’t just eyewear—it’s Meta’s push to make AR feel ordinary.
Updated
November 27, 2025 3:26 PM
Closeup of the Ray-Ban logo and the built-in ultra-wide 12 MP camera on a pair of new Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer smart glasses. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
Meta is preparing to launch its next big wearable: the Hypernova smart glasses. Unlike earlier experiments like the Ray-Ban Stories, these new glasses promise more advanced features at a price point under US$1,000. With a launch set for September 17 at Meta’s annual Connect conference, the Hypernova is already drawing attention for blending design, technology and accessibility.
In this article, let’s take a closer look at Hypernova’s design, features, pricing and the challenges Meta faces as it tries to bring smart glasses into everyday life.
Meta’s earlier Ray-Ban glasses offered cameras and audio but no display. Hypernova changes that: The glasses will ship with a built-in micro-display, giving wearers quick access to maps, messages, notifications and even Meta’s AI assistant. It’s a step toward everyday AR that feels useful and natural, not experimental.
Perhaps most importantly, the price makes them attainable. While early estimates placed the cost above US$1,000, Meta has committed to a launch price of around US$800. That’s still premium, but it moves AR smart glasses into reach for more consumers.
Hypernova weighs about 70 grams, roughly 20 grams heavier than the Ray-Ban Meta models. The added weight likely comes from added components like the new display and extra sensors.
To keep the glasses stylish, Meta continues its partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the company behind Ray-Ban and Prada eyewear. Thicker frames—especially Prada’s designs—help hide the hardware like chips, microphones and batteries without making the glasses look oversized.
The glasses stick close to the classic Ray-Ban silhouette but feature slightly bulkier arms. On the left side, a touch-sensitive bar lets users control functions with taps and swipes. For example, a two-finger tap can trigger a photo or start video recording.
Hypernova introduces something the earlier Ray-Ban glasses never had: a display built right into the lens. In the bottom-right corner of the right lens, a small micro-screen uses waveguide optics to project a digital overlay with about a 20° field of view. This means you can glance at turn-by-turn directions, check a notification or quickly consult Meta’s AI assistant without pulling out your phone. It’s discreet, practical and a major step up from the older models, which were limited to capturing photos and videos, handling calls and playing music via speakers.
Alongside the glasses comes the Ceres wristband, a companion device powered by electromyography (EMG). The band picks up the tiny electrical signals in your wrist and fingers, translating them into commands. A pinch might let you select something, a wrist flick could scroll a page, and a swipe could move between screens. The idea is to avoid clunky buttons or having to talk to your glasses in public. Meta has also been experimenting with handwriting recognition through the band, though it’s not clear if that feature will be ready in time for launch.
Meta doesn’t just want Hypernova to be useful—it wants it to be fun. Code found in leaked firmware revealed a small game called Hypertrail. It looks to borrow ideas from the 1981 arcade shooter Galaga, letting wearers play a simple, retro-inspired game right through their glasses. It’s not the main attraction, but it shows Meta is trying to make Hypernova feel more like a playful everyday gadget rather than just a piece of serious tech.
Hypernova runs on a customized version of Android and pairs with smartphones through the Meta View app. Out of the box, it should support the basics: calls, music and message notifications. Leaks suggest several apps will come preinstalled, including Camera, Gallery, Maps, WhatsApp, Messenger and Meta AI. A Qualcomm processor powers the whole setup, helping it run smoothly while keeping energy demands reasonable.
Meta is also trying to bring in outside developers. In August 2025, CNBC reported that the company invited third-party developers—especially in generative AI—to build experimental apps for Hypernova and the Ceres wristband. The Meta Connect 2025 agenda even highlights sessions on a new smart glasses SDK and toolkit. The push shows Meta’s interest in making Hypernova more than just a device; it wants a broader platform with apps that go beyond its own first-party software.
During development, Hypernova was rumored to cost as much as US$1,400. By pricing it around US$800, Meta signals that it wants adoption more than profit. The company is keeping production limited (around 150,000 units), showing it sees this as a market test rather than a mass rollout. Still, the sub-US$1,000 price tag makes advanced AR far more accessible than before.
Despite its promise, Hypernova may still face hurdles. The Ceres wristband can struggle if worn loosely, and some testers have reported issues based on which arm it’s worn on or even when wearing long sleeves. In short, getting EMG input right for everyone will be critical.
Privacy is another major concern. In past experiments, researchers hacked Ray-Ban Meta glasses to run facial recognition, instantly identifying strangers and pulling personal info. Meta has added guidelines, like a recording indicator light, but critics argue these measures are too easy to ignore. Moreover, data captured by smart glasses can feed into AI training, raising questions about consent and surveillance.
The Meta Hypernova smart glasses mark a turning point in wearable tech. They’re lighter and more stylish than bulky AR headsets, while offering real-world features like navigation, messaging and hands-free control. At under US$1,000, they aim to make AR glasses more than a luxury gadget—they’re a step toward everyday use.
Whether Hypernova succeeds will depend on how well it balances style, usability and privacy. But one thing is clear: Meta is betting that always-on, glanceable AR can move from science fiction to daily life.
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Mainland giants accelerate expansion as local players face unprecedented competition.
Updated
November 28, 2025 4:18 PM
HKTV Mall in Amoy Plaza. PHOTO: WIKIPEDIA USER -WPCPEY
Hong Kong is entering a new phase of competition as mainland platforms accelerate their expansion into the city, turning it into a frontline testing ground for Chinese companies preparing to push into global markets. With retail, logistics and food-delivery businesses all reshaped in the past year, Hong Kong has become the closest international environment where mainland firms can experiment with pricing, supply chains and customer behaviour under a familiar regulatory and cultural framework.
The shift became especially clear this week. At HKTVmall’s Vision Day on November 11, 2025, CEO Ricky Wong warned that Hong Kong’s traditional retail model is facing its toughest moment yet. He said the biggest threat is not mainland competitors like Taobao, JD.com or Pinduoduo entering Hong Kong, but the city’s longstanding dependence on physical shopping. If local retailers do not evolve, he said, they risk becoming “very easy to die of thirst in the desert”. Wong even welcomed the rise of mainland e-commerce giants, arguing that the more players enter the city, the faster consumers will shift online — a transition HKTVmall relies on for growth.
Yet his optimism is layered over a challenging reality. HKTVmall’s own numbers reflect pressure from competition and changing consumer habits. The company reported average daily GMV of HK$22.2 million during the latest shopping festival season — up 2.8% month-on-month but still down 4.3% compared year-on-year — showing that even established online platforms are struggling to maintain momentum as mainland entrants squeeze prices and widen product selection.
The city’s food-delivery market illustrates the shift even more sharply. Deliveroo, once the fastest-growing platform in Hong Kong and at one point holding more than half of the market, officially shut down in April this year after a long decline. Its trajectory mirrored the sector’s upheaval: the company surged during the pandemic but lost ground after restrictions eased, first overtaken by Foodpanda and then pressured heavily by Meituan-backed Keeta, which entered Hong Kong in 2023 and quickly seized about 30% of citywide orders.
Deliveroo’s exit and the handover of parts of its business to Foodpanda did little to stabilise the market. Keeta’s rapid expansion instead pushed Foodpanda onto the defensive, leaving two major players competing in a market shaped by mainland-style pricing and operations. Hong Kong’s delivery sector, once dominated by global firms, is increasingly defined by Chinese platforms optimizing speed and efficiency at a scale few competitors can match.
These changes are unfolding as Chinese companies shift their focus toward new global markets.
With China reducing its reliance on the US and EU and exports steadily moving toward ASEAN, Hong Kong has become a strategic launchpad. The city’s proximity, language familiarity and regulatory structure make it the nearest international setting where Chinese firms can test overseas strategies before expanding into Southeast Asia, the Middle East or Latin America. The result is a competitive intensity that local companies have rarely experienced. Retailers face price pressure they can’t match, local platforms are losing ground to mainland giants and global players are struggling to stay in the game.
Consumers benefit from lower prices, faster delivery and wider choice — but for Hong Kong businesses, the landscape has turned unforgiving. Mainland companies are not treating Hong Kong as a final destination but as the first stop in a broader global push. That positioning is reshaping the city’s entire consumer economy. As more mainland firms look outward, Hong Kong’s role as a testing ground will only deepen and the first players to feel the impact will be those operating closest to the consumer.