Meta’s latest move of buying a nearly 3% stake in eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica is telling us there will be some noise in the wearables tech sector. At first glance, this deal looks like another business partnership. But if you look closer, it’s a signal of something bigger: Meta wants to own the future of wearable computing, and these smart glasses might be their gateway to get in.
This is not the first time Meta has revolutionized the headset specs in the past few years. The Oculus VR headset and the Metaverse are examples of it. Moreover, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, released in 2023, gained popularity as well. Millions of units were sold upon release and they were easier to wear than a bulky headset. These gadgets not only bring success but also the trust of the users. If Meta increases its stake to 5% or more, it will not just be working with eyewear brands, but it’ll start having real influence over how those products are designed and developed.
Other tech giants are also working to compete, but their strategies feel distant. Apple’s Vision Pro is powerful but too expensive for everyday use. Google’s Glass project faded after its early flop, and Amazon’s Echo Frames have never caught on with Meta’s strategy. Meanwhile, the only one making leads in this market by collaborating with tech giants to maintain their style pattern is Meta.
Furthermore, users are already replacing their regular glasses with Meta’s smart ones, like one parent who captured their baby’s first smile with no phones in their hands, calling it a moment they’ll never forget. We are moving towards screenless computing and in this, Meta’s smart glasses push feels less like a trend and more like a planned power move. One that’s not just about looking ahead, but about owning how we see the future.
