Meta's next hardware will be wearable - eyes peeled for Oakley and Prada unveiling
Meta's next pieces of hardware will, according to reports, be wearable.
The Facebook and Instagram owner are expected to reveal, on Friday, collabs with Oakley and Prada.
It follows a not-so-subtle 'teaser' earlier this week.
Through a partnership with EssilorLuxottica, parent to the Oakley and Prada brands, Meta aims to build on its Ray-Ban partnership which has seen growing popularity, thanks in no small part to influencers and vloggers.
Speculative reports claim the Oakley glasses may cost $360, and, aligned to Oakley's 'adventurous' brand identity, the collab will target sports people, including skiers and cyclists - I guess, like an action camera but for your face!
Alternatively, the Prada-branded pairs are expected to be designed with notably thick arms, housing microphones that will (presumably) let users chat to Meta's AI systems.
Other speculators are guessing the wearable tech may also layer in some AR (augmented reality) technologies.
The Meta and Ray-Ban collab, in its second generation, has so far sold some 1.30 million pairs since launch in 2023.
Market experts at Swiss bank UBS estimate the 'disruptive' smartglasses market can grow to €80 billion by 2040.
Through brand collaborations, Meta has been the early mover in the smart glasses, though with the advent of widespread AI, industry-watchers anticipate wearable technologies will be a keen growth market.
