The veil of secrecy surrounding Meta’s next-generation smart glasses has been dramatically lifted. TechRadar can exclusively reveal the first leaked image of "Project Hypernova," Meta's highly anticipated follow-up to its Ray-Ban Stories collaboration, and this isn't just an incremental update – it’s a paradigm shift featuring a built-in display.
The image, recently surfaced by renowned leaker MysteryLupin on X (formerly Twitter), shows a sleek, modern pair of glasses that retain a distinctly wearable, everyday aesthetic. However, a closer look reveals the critical innovation: a subtle, translucent OLED display projected onto the right lens, visible only to the wearer. This aligns perfectly with earlier reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman detailing Meta's ambitious plans.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GKcX7Z5WwAApX7G?format=jpg&name=medium
(Image Credit: @MysteryLupin / X - Click image to view source post)
Beyond the Lens: What the Leak Shows & Confirms
- The Display is Real: The grainy but clear image confirms Bloomberg’s April report: Meta is embedding a display. This moves beyond the camera-and-audio focus of the Ray-Ban Stories into true augmented reality territory, enabling information overlay (texts, directions, basic notifications) directly in the user's field of view.
- Sleek, Premium Design: The glasses appear significantly more refined than the current Ray-Ban models. The frame looks slimmer, potentially using lightweight titanium or advanced composites. The arms house the necessary compute and battery, but integration seems seamless. The overall look is tech-forward yet avoids being overly bulky or "geeky."
- Discreet Camera: A small camera notch is visible on the right temple, similar to the current generation, suggesting continuous photo/video capture and livestreaming capabilities remain core features.
- Focus on Wearability: Crucially, the glasses look like regular glasses. Meta seems determined to avoid the pitfalls of bulky AR headsets, prioritizing a form factor people will actually wear daily.
How Will Hypernova Work? Insights from the Blueprint
Based on the leak and Bloomberg's earlier, detailed report (which included internal Meta documents), we can piece together Hypernova's potential functionality:
- Information at a Glance: The micro-OLED display will project notifications, messages, turn-by-turn navigation prompts, and potentially live translations or basic app information directly onto the lens. Think of it as a smartwatch for your eye-line.
- AI-Powered Interaction: Expect heavy integration with Meta AI. Users could interact via voice commands ("Hey Meta, read my last message," "Record a video," "What's this building?") for hands-free control. Advanced contextual awareness might suggest actions based on location or activity.
- Enhanced Camera & Livestreaming: Building on Stories' success, Hypernova will likely feature improved cameras (potentially higher resolution or better low-light performance) for photos, videos, and seamless livestreaming directly to Facebook or Instagram.
- Audio Experience: High-fidelity open-ear speakers and microphones for calls, music, and interacting with the AI are a given. Improved noise cancellation for the mic is highly probable.
- Standalone Power? Rumors suggest Hypernova might have optional cellular connectivity (likely via eSIM), reducing dependence on a paired phone. This would be a major step towards true independence.
- Price Point: Bloomberg reported Meta targeting a premium $1,000 price tag, positioning Hypernova as a luxury tech item. This reflects the significant cost of the display technology and advanced internals. Read the full details on the ambitious specs and challenges here:
- Bloomberg: How Meta's Upcoming $1000 Smart Glasses With a Screen Will Work
Challenges & Implications:
The inclusion of a display introduces new hurdles:
- Battery Life: Powering a display is energy-intensive. Meta will need significant battery breakthroughs or very efficient display tech to achieve acceptable all-day wear.
- Privacy Concerns: A visible display projection (even if faint) and a built-in camera will inevitably reignite privacy debates. How Meta addresses recording notifications and bystander awareness will be crucial.
- The "Killer App": What compelling daily use case justifies $1,000 beyond notifications? Meta needs software that truly leverages the unique display advantage.
The Race Heats Up
This leak firmly places Meta in the next phase of the smart glasses/AR race. While Apple's Vision Pro focuses on immersive spatial computing, Meta's Hypernova aims for all-day, ubiquitous augmentation. It directly challenges rumored AR glasses projects from Apple, Google, and others focused on the lightweight display form factor.
Availability & Next Steps
Meta has not officially commented on the leak. Based on development timelines and previous reports, a potential unveiling could happen at Meta Connect later this year, with a launch in early 2026. If successful, Hypernova could be the device that finally brings practical, display-based AR into the mainstream.
Want to see the current state of smart glasses? Check out the latest Ray-Ban Meta models:
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses on Amazon
Stay tuned to TechRadar for further analysis and official updates as this story develops.
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