Luxottica-Essilor expands Meta collaboration into a prolonged contractual agreement
In a groundbreaking move, EssilorLuxottica and Meta Platforms joined forces in 2019, marking the beginning of a transformative partnership in the realm of smart eyewear. Since then, two generations of Ray-Ban-branded smart glasses have been released, with more on the horizon.
The collaboration sees EssilorLuxottica working closely with Meta Platforms under several iconic brands. Oakley is earmarked for sporty applications, while Ray-Ban caters to everyday use. The partnership also includes the Meta Ray-Ban Gen 2 and Oakley Vanguard models. Currently, these smart glasses are available in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, and several European countries. Meta plans to expand their global availability with enhanced features starting from September 2025.
The latest iteration of these smart eyewear incorporates hands-free technology, allowing users to make phone calls, take and share photos and videos, livestream content, and listen to music. This technology is set to revolutionise the way we interact with our devices.
Meta's long-term vision is to build the next generation AI, and the partnership with EssilorLuxottica is a significant step towards achieving this goal. The extended partnership could bring augmented reality experiences closer to mainstream acceptance, according to industry analysts.
EssilorLuxottica's H1 earnings report in July indicated that smart eyewear and med-tech glasses have been growth drivers for the company. The Stellest myopia management lenses of EssilorLuxottica are seeing exponential growth, further underscoring the potential of this market.
However, challenges remain in the smart eyewear market, particularly regarding privacy and data security concerns, battery life, and socially acceptable designs. The Nuance Audio eyewear of EssilorLuxottica, which incorporates hearing aids, and the Ray-Ban Meta wearable visual technology are set to establish a new category in the market.
As the race heats up in the smart eyewear market, EssilorLuxottica and Meta's long-term deal agreement positions them as key players. Cazin, an industry analyst, expressed uncertainty about whether the AR landscape will be significantly changed by major brands, tech companies, or startups. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the potential of this partnership to shape the future of smart eyewear.
This story has been updated to reflect the terms of the agreement. In Euromonitor's opinion, smart eyewear is no longer five to 10 years away from becoming part of the mainstream. The future of smart eyewear is here, and it's being shaped by partnerships like that between EssilorLuxottica and Meta Platforms.
Read also:
- Electric-powered vessels take to the waters of Maine
- Elon Musk accused by Sam Altman of exploiting X for personal gain
- Comparing the value of top electric scooters: Kinetic DX versus Bajaj Chetak versus TVS iQube - Which one offers the best bang for the buck?
- American Eagle's risque promotional effort featuring Sydney Sweeney leads to the brand being categorized as a 'trendy stock' among teenagers.
