U.S. Demand Forces Meta to Hit Pause
Supply can’t keep up
Meta Platforms announced it is delaying the international rollout of its Ray-Ban Display AI glasses after demand in the United States far exceeded expectations.
According to the company, product waitlists for the glasses now stretch well into 2026, prompting Meta to prioritize fulfilling U.S. orders before expanding overseas.
“Since launching last fall, we’ve seen an overwhelming amount of interest,” Meta said in a blog post, citing limited inventory and unprecedented demand.
As a result, planned launches in the U.K., France, Italy, and Canada — originally expected early this year — have been put on hold while Meta reassesses global availability.
Meta’s First True Consumer AI Glasses
A major hardware milestone
CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the $799 Ray-Ban Display glasses in September, positioning them as Meta’s first consumer-ready artificial intelligence wearable.
Key features include:
- A built-in display for videos and notifications
- AI-powered messaging and interaction
- Control via a wristband using neural-interface technology
The glasses represent a major step in Meta’s push to move AI beyond software and into everyday consumer hardware.
A Long-Running Partnership With Ray-Ban’s Owner
Hardware momentum builds
Meta has been working with EssilorLuxottica — the maker of Ray-Ban — since 2019, renewing its long-term partnership in 2024.
EssilorLuxottica previously said its third-quarter revenue growth was partially driven by its collaboration with Meta, underscoring the commercial traction of the smart-glasses lineup.
Big Tech Rushes Into Smart Glasses
The next AI battleground
Meta is not alone in targeting smart eyewear as the next major consumer AI platform:
- Alphabet announced a $150 million partnership with Warby Parker in May
- OpenAI is reportedly developing AI glasses with Apple
The growing competition highlights how wearable AI devices are quickly becoming a strategic focus across the tech sector.
WSA Take
Meta’s decision to delay international launches isn’t a red flag — it’s a signal of strong product-market fit. In hardware, constrained supply paired with overwhelming demand is a better problem to have than the reverse. If Meta can scale production efficiently, Ray-Ban Display glasses could become its most important consumer hardware success to date — and a critical on-ramp for everyday AI adoption.
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Disclaimer
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