By Fionnuala Boyle

Copyright dailyrecord

Brits who struggle with their eyesight or want something a bit more extra out of their eyewear may be willing to loosen the purse strings a little when it comes to an indulgent but good cost-per-wear purchase . But what if we told you AI -powered smart glasses were hitting the market with a hefty price tag running into the hundreds? You might wonder what the glasses could possibly contain that would make them cost so much. Well, this week, Meta, the owners of Facebook , unveiled a new range of smart glasses powered by its artificial intelligence (AI) tech which they believe will be the next must-have accessory for people across the world. The glasses are one of several devices born out of a partnership with sunglasses brands Ray-Ban and Oakley, the social media giant’s boss, Mark Zuckerberg, announced, calling the technology a “huge scientific breakthrough”. The firm also introduced a so-called neural wristband that pairs with its Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses to allow users to carry out tasks like sending messages with small hand gestures. So, what are the glasses all about? Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses allows users, with a quick glance at the in-lens display, to check messages, preview photos, see translations , get help from Meta AI, and more, all without needing to pull out your phone. The full-colour high-resolution display is placed off to the side, so it doesn’t obstruct your view. And it isn’t on all the time – it’s designed for short interactions that you’re always in control of. It’s also the first product that takes microphones , speakers, cameras, and a full-colour display backed with computer and AI and puts it all together in a single device. It also features a 12-megapixel camera. The glasses have Transitions lenses, so you can wear them inside and outside, day and night, with up to six hours of mixed-use battery life and up to 30 hours of total battery life thanks to the portable (and collapsible) charging case. Meta Neural Band comes in three sizes so you can find the perfect fit. Meta Ray-Ban Display and the accompanying Meta Neural Band come in two colours – Black and Sand. The glasses start at $799 USD, which is around £586, and includes both the glasses and Meta Neural Band. This is hundreds of pounds more than Meta’s current smart glasses. Mike Proulx, Research Director at Forrester VP, told the BBC “The onus is on Meta to convince the vast majority of people who don’t own AI glasses that the benefits outweigh the cost”. For the very steep price point, the company promises that Meta Ray-Ban Display “will let you experience, learn about, and interact with the world in a totally new way.” Meta Ray-Ban Display will hit shelves on September 30 at limited brick-and-mortar retailers in the US, including Best Buy, LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, and Ray-Ban Stores. Availability in select Verizon stores will follow soon after. UK residents will have to wait a bit longer. The glasses are being planned for release in Britain, Canada, France, and Italy for early 2026. “We’re starting with select retailers and regions to make sure customers get the glasses and band that’s perfect for them, and we’ll expand buying options over time,” Meta explained. Mr Zuckerberg also unveiled $499 (£366) Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses, which are aimed at sports enthusiasts, as well as the second generation of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, priced at $379 (£278).