Facebook and Ray-Ban are working on AR smart-glasses

Image Credit: Maurizio Pesce / Flickr

Rumours have begun circulating around Facebook’s possible partnership with Ray-Ban. The two companies are believed to be working on a pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses.

Codenamed “Orion”, Facebook’s foray into smart wearables follows some of the other big tech firms like Google and Apple, who have both announced their own respective smart-glasses.

Google is working on its long-overdue Google Glass, which has had many iterations since it was first announced back in 2013. The newest model, Enterprise Edition 2, will not be aimed at the consumer market, focusing instead on enterprise and industry applications.

Apple is rumoured to be working on their own wearable tech, but little information has been announced. However, Bloomberg reported that Apple’s smart-glasses would run on rOS (reality operating system) and that a working prototype would be ready by 2019.

It is believed that Facebook and Luxottica, the parent company of Ray-Ban, look to completely replace smartphones, and are working on a range of wearables to accompany the glasses, including a ring and another as-yet-unknown smart assistant.

According to sources close to CNBC, the smart- glasses are reportedly able to make phone calls, display information on the inside of the lenses and live-stream video.

Are smart-glasses the new smartwatch?

Smartwatches capture the majority of the wearables market, which is set to break $25 billion by the end of this year. But as innovation in smartwatches stale, the next consumer trend looks set to be digital, smart eyewear.

Of those currently on the market, none have really stood out. But with Microsoft, Apple, Facebook and Google all in on the act, a healthy competition looks set to accelerate the introduction of more advanced smart-glasses.  

Facebook’s Orion is slated for release no earlier than 2023, but before 2025, way off the pace of the 2020 release Apple are reportedly aiming for. Only time will tell which of the tech giants make it to the consumer market first.

Luke Conrad

Technology & Marketing Enthusiast

TPIs are the Future of Energy Solutions

David Sheldrake SVP POWWR • 19th June 2025

The energy industry is undergoing a transformation, and Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs), those brokers and consultants who help businesses procure energy, are at the centre of it. With growing complexity, increasing regulation, and evolving customer expectations, the role of TPIs is shifting from price-focused brokers to strategic energy advisors. While renewable energy adoption continues to reshape...

Quick Commerce and the Retail Media Revolution

Sue Azari • 11th June 2025

Quick commerce has transformed the way consumers shop, redefining convenience with near-instant delivery of groceries, meals, and household essentials. However, beyond its impact on logistics and e-commerce, quick commerce is now emerging as a major force in digital advertising. As consumer behaviours shift toward on-demand purchases, these platforms are leveraging their vast first-party data and...

Is It Time for a VMware Alternative?

Wind River • 22nd May 2025

Companies have options when it comes to replacing VMware as their cloud platform, to address rising costs, support concerns, and a shrinking partner ecosystem. If you are ready to contemplate a different vendor, here are five reasons why Wind River Cloud Platform should be on your short list of VMware alternatives.

AI Leads as VivaTech Unveils Top 100 Startups

Viva Technology • 14th May 2025

Viva Technology has unveiled the first edition of its “Top 100 Rising European Startups for 2025,” spotlighting the most promising young companies shaping Europe’s tech future. Germany, France, and the UK lead the ranking, which highlights high-growth startups across 13 countries. Artificial intelligence dominates the list, with 15 companies spanning AI agents, models, and infrastructure....

Birmingham Unveils the UK’s Best Emerging HealthTech Advances

Kosta Mavroulakis • 03rd April 2025

The National HealthTech Series hosted its latest event in Birmingham this month, showcasing innovative startups driving advanced health technology, including AI-assisted diagnostics, wearable devices and revolutionary educational tools for healthcare professionals. Health stakeholders drawn from the NHS, universities, industry and front-line patient care met with new and emerging businesses to define the future trajectory of...

Why DEIB is Imperative to Tech’s Future

Hadas Almog from AppsFlyer • 17th March 2025

We’ve been seeing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives being cut time and time again throughout the tech industry. DEIB dedicated roles have been eliminated, employee resource groups have lost funding, and initiatives once considered crucial have been deprioritised in favour of “more immediate business needs.” The justification for these cuts is often the...