The Meta Ray-Ban Display has proven to be a little too successful for its own good. Thanks to overwhelming demand in the United States, Meta has officially paused plans to launch the augmented reality glasses in international markets.
Back on September 30, 2025, Ray-Ban unveiled the Meta Ray-Ban Display—an advanced new entrant in the smart glasses space that goes far beyond the existing Ray-Ban Meta lineup. Priced at $800, the Display model introduces features not even found on the Oakley Meta HSTN, positioning it as Meta’s most ambitious wearable yet.
For US consumers, the launch experience has been complicated. Availability has been limited due to a staggered rollout, making the glasses difficult to purchase. Outside the US, anticipation had been building as international buyers waited for Meta to expand distribution. However, during CES announcements on Tuesday, January 6, Meta quietly confirmed a disappointing update: the international launch has been put on hold—because sales have exceeded expectations.
Yes, demand has been so strong that Meta simply can’t keep up.
One of the Meta Ray-Ban Display’s standout innovations is the Meta Neural Band, a wrist-worn accessory that interprets muscle signals to control the glasses. Meta describes it as a more natural, intuitive way to interact with digital experiences, setting the Display apart from earlier smart glasses.
In a brief blog post, Meta explained the decision:
“Meta Ray-Ban Display is a first-of-its-kind product with extremely limited inventory. Since launching last fall, we’ve seen an overwhelming amount of interest, and as a result, product waitlists now extend well into 2026.”
The company went on to say that due to this unprecedented demand and constrained supply, it has paused its previously planned expansion into the UK, France, Italy, and Canada—markets that were originally slated for release in early 2026.
“We’ll continue to focus on fulfilling orders in the US while we re-evaluate our approach to international availability,” Meta added.
Even for American buyers, securing a pair remains a challenge. The Meta Ray-Ban Display is not available for online purchase and can only be bought in physical retail locations. Customers must visit select Best Buy, LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, or Ray-Ban stores to schedule a demo before purchasing.
For anyone living outside major cities—or outside the US entirely—the wait continues. While Meta figures out how to scale production, the Meta Ray-Ban Display remains one of the rarest and most sought-after pieces of consumer tech on the market.