Meta opens Ray-Ban Display smart glasses to third-party developers
The move expands functionality beyond Meta’s own software, targeting information overlays, streaming media, and real-time data displays on the device’s monocular screen.
Meta has announced that its Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses are now open to third-party developers, marking a significant shift in the hardware’s software ecosystem. Previously, the $800 device relied exclusively on applications created by Meta, limiting its utility despite its capable display hardware. The new platform supports iOS and Android mobile apps, web apps, and experiences that utilise the device’s Neural Band controller, allowing external creators to build tools tailored to the glasses’ specific form factor.
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth highlighted several potential use cases for the expanded platform, including information overlays, streaming media, and real-time data displays such as sports scores or status updates. To demonstrate the capability, Bosworth shared a video of an early app called Darkroom Buddy, an interactive guide for developing film designed to serve as a glanceable reference. The company is also exploring minigames, with examples including chess, snake, and brick breaker-style games, aiming to leverage the 20-degree field-of-view monocular display for compact, micro-app experiences.
This update addresses a primary criticism of the glasses, which were introduced last autumn but remained constrained by a narrow selection of Meta-made applications. While Meta announced third-party support for its non-display smart glasses last year, most of those apps remain unavailable. The current rollout for the Display model aims to bridge the gap between concept and prototype, providing developers with a mobile SDK and web app compatibility to create more diverse functionalities for the wearable.
In addition to opening the platform to external developers, Meta is rolling out several software updates for existing users. Neural handwriting, which allows users to respond to messages by tracing letters with their fingers, is now available to all users. The company is also introducing display recording capabilities, enabling wearers to capture what is happening on the in-glasses display alongside their own view for sharing. Furthermore, live captioning is being added to calls made through Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
The timing of the announcement coincides with Meta’s recent confirmation of dates for its next Connect event, where further updates on smart glasses plans are expected. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also teased a new pair of glasses that could represent the next iteration of the Meta Ray-Ban Display frames. It remains unclear when third-party apps will become widely available, and observers will be watching closely to see how these display-intensive experiences impact the device’s battery life.
