Bloomberg News reporter Mark GurmanRefers toMeta plans to officially launch its first smart glasses equipped with a head-up display (HUD) next month, and this product is internally codenamedHypernovaThe actual product name may be Meta Celeste. The price of these glasses will start at US$800 (approximately NT$2.6), lower than the previous market rumors of over US$1000. It is clear that the plan is to stimulate market demand by lowering profit margins.
Equipped with a heads-up display and a neural bracelet controller, it is suitable for daily use scenarios.
The Celeste will be equipped with a small heads-up display (HUD) for one eye, displaying time, weather, notifications, navigation, and other information, and even providing framing assistance when taking photos. The HUD will also instantly convert real-world speech into subtitles or translations, and display Meta AI responses in text format to prevent external interference.
In addition to the heads-up display, Meta will also pair Celeste with its long-developed sEMG neural wristband controller, which detects finger nerve signals to enable more precise and natural gestures. This wristband controller will be shipped with the glasses, becoming an integral part of the complete experience.
In terms of weight, Celeste has increased to 70 grams due to the built-in head-up display. It is slightly heavier than the existing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses at 50 grams, but it is still a lightweight product.
From Hypernova to Celeste, Meta's product strategy adjustment
In July of this year, someone discovered what appeared to be Celeste product renderings on Meta's public server, even with the product name printed directly on the inside of the temples. As early as April of this year, Bloomberg News revealed that the Hypernova might be priced between $7 and $4.
However, earlier reports indicated that Meta ultimately chose to lower the price, keeping the entry price at US$800, but choosing different frames and matching different lenses (such as prescription lenses) could significantly increase the price.
Meta's first smart glasses with a display coming in September will now be priced from $800. They were originally expected to be $1000+. The change stems in part from the company accepting lower margins to boost demand — a common tactic for new products. https://t.co/rgkZsDDEek
- Mark Gurman (@markgurman) August 17, 2025
Release and launch schedule
Meta plans to officially unveil Celeste at the Meta Connect 9 conference on September 17th, with pre-orders opening in October. Currently, internal staff are working overtime to ensure the product can ship on schedule.
Significance and Challenges
For Meta, Celeste is not only a new step forward in smart wearable applications but also a pioneering outpost in its AR and AI ecosystem. Compared to the Ray-Ban co-branded model, which is primarily designed for photography, music, and calls, the Celeste's heads-up display is clearly a true gateway to augmented reality.
However, the starting price of $800 is still not low, and consumers' acceptance of wearable displays remains to be verified. It remains to be seen whether Meta can use this to set off a new wave of AR craze.
On the other hand, Mark Gurman also analyzed the main reasons for the poor sales of Apple Vision Pro after its launch: first, the high price of $3499 is difficult for people to accept; second, it lacks sufficiently fascinating features. Therefore, for most consumers, Vision Pro is a completely unnecessary product. Even if the overall user experience of Vision Pro is indeed better than many similar products on the market, the lack of sufficient content to support the immersive experience is still its fatal flaw.
In contrast, Meta not only continues to update its Quest series of devices with advanced virtual vision, but also attracts a wider market by offering more accessible smart glasses that can be integrated into everyday scenarios. Meta also plans to launch Celeste, which will include a heads-up display, which is expected to attract more consumers.
