What to expect from Meta Connect 2025: Smarter glasses and maybe a smart watch

Meta is setting the stage for its annual technology showcase at its so-called Meta Connect 2025 event, which will kick off on Wednesday at 5 p.m. local time (2 a.m. CET).

While the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp parent company, which also makes smart glasses, has not given away too many details of what we can expect at the unveiling, the company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has been teasing some possible announcements. 

Here are some things we might see. 

Better Meta smart glasses

It is widely believed that Meta will launch its third generation of smart glasses. 

“Our Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses are a real hit, and this will be the year when we understand the trajectory for AI glasses as a category,” Zuckerberg said on a call with investors in January.

“Many breakout products in the history of consumer electronics have sold 5-10 million units in their third generation. This will be a defining year that determines if we're on a path towards many hundreds of millions and eventually billions of AI glasses – and glasses being the next computing platform like we've been talking about for some time – or if this is just going to be a longer grind,” he added. 

Meta launched its first pair of smart glasses in 2021 with Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica.It has since also teamed up with Oakley. 

The current Ray-Ban Meta Glasses and Oakley Meta AI Glasses can access Meta AI for vocal queries, live translation and can make calls or texts when connected to a smartphone.

If Zuckerberg is good on his word, we could see more use of Meta AI. 

The Information reported that Meta may show off a Live AI upgrade, which would mean the glasses could use AI to "see what its user does and respond in real-time, for hours".

Meanwhile, the upgraded Ray-Ban/Meta smart glasses have been code-named Aperol and Bellini, according to a group calling itself the XR Research Institute.

Celeste

Details on another pair of Meta smart glasses, which has been rumoured to be called Celeste, may also be shared on Wednesday. 

Celeste, if it keeps its code name, is supposed to look like the 2023 Ray-Ban smart glasses with all the features – but have a display as well.

Media reports have said the glasses probably won’t be ready this year, but Zuckerberg could talk concretely about it. 

A smartwatch?

Meta does not have a smartwatch.It has long been rumoured to be in development as well as long been rumoured to be cancelled. 

According to a DigiTimes report, Meta is "reviving" its smartwatch plans and developing a new wearable device, which may have a built-in camera lens. It's reported to work alongside its upcoming smart glasses.

The metaverse

Though Meta has shifted its focus more towards artificial intelligence (AI), it rebranded its name from Facebook after it decided to go all in on the metaverse in 2021.

Meta’s chief technology officer Andrew Bosworth teased some metaverse software ahead of the Meta Connect event. This might include some games or virtual reality (VR) versions of streaming services, Tech Radar predicted. 

But there has been no official mention of any new Meta VR headsets. Then again, Meta could surprise us.