Meta just started rolling out a Meta Ray-Ban Display hologram feature, and it’s the strangest video call upgrade smart glasses have gotten yet. Instead of a flat camera feed, the person you’re calling sees a photorealistic digital version of you that moves and reacts based on your voice alone. It’s part of a bigger software update landing across the glasses’ entire feature set this week.
- What’s new: Hologram video calls, transit and cycling navigation, a new “Explore” app, Dolby Atmos capture
- Rollout date: Started September 23, 2026, hologram calls in early access this fall
- Where: Early access on WhatsApp, US users first
- New markets: France, Italy, and Germany join the US, Canada, and UK
- Price: Base model stays at £749 / CA$1,149 / €899 depending on region
Meta Ray-Ban Display Hologram Calls: How They Actually Work
Here’s the part that sounds like science fiction but isn’t. You capture a scan of yourself once inside the Meta AI app, and that becomes the model for your hologram. From then on, whenever you make a video call through your glasses, the other person doesn’t see your camera feed — they see an animated version of you.
Meta says the hologram is “driven entirely by your voice,” meaning the model guesses your facial expressions and mouth movements purely from tone and speech patterns, not an actual camera pointed at your face. That’s a real privacy upside if you’re calling from bed or a messy kitchen, since there’s no live video leaving your glasses.
It’s launching in early access through WhatsApp calling, limited to US users for now. Meta hasn’t said when it expands to other apps or countries, so treat this as a preview rather than a finished feature.
Hands-Free Navigation Just Got a Lot More Useful
The second big change is navigation, and it’s arguably more useful day-to-day than the hologram trick. Your Ray-Ban Display glasses can now give you cycling and public transit directions, not just walking routes, and the update rolls out to the US and Canada later this month.
Even better, directions now reference actual landmarks instead of street names. Rather than “turn left on 5th Avenue,” you’ll hear something like “turn left at the yellow building.” For anyone who’s ever missed a turn because they couldn’t read a tiny street sign while walking, that’s a genuinely practical fix.
The Explore App and Everything Else in the Update
Meta also shipped a new on-glasses app called Explore, built specifically for browsing experiences designed for the display. Think of it as a lightweight app store you can navigate without pulling out your phone.
A handful of smaller upgrades round out the release. Dolby Atmos capture adds spatial surround sound to recorded video. A refreshed calendar shows meeting details and lets you manage invites, though that’s English-only in the US right now. Mirrored phone notifications and Threads community feeds are also on the way, described by Meta as “coming soon” rather than live today.
How the Ray-Ban Display Stacks Up Against Other Smart Glasses
| Device | Standout Feature | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Meta Ray-Ban Display | Hologram video calls, in-lens display | £749 / €899 |
| Samsung Galaxy Glasses | Deep Galaxy AI and phone integration | Not yet confirmed |
| Xreal Aura | Larger AR field of view for media and apps | Varies by region |
Meta still has a head start simply because the Ray-Ban Display has been shipping and iterating for months, while Samsung’s Galaxy Glasses and the Xreal Aura are newer to the race. Software updates like this one are how Meta plans to stay ahead while competitors catch up on hardware.
Where and When You Can Actually Get It
The update itself rolls out automatically to existing Ray-Ban Display owners, so no action is needed on your end beyond keeping the glasses’ companion app updated. Availability of the hardware is what’s expanding.
Online ordering is already live in the US, Canada, and UK. France, Italy, and Germany get progressive pre-orders starting now, with full availability landing on October 13. Retail stores in Paris, Milan, Rome, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich open the same day, joining existing locations in Vancouver, Toronto, and London. This expansion follows the broader push Meta previewed at Meta Connect 2026, where the company laid out its roadmap for AI-powered hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Meta Ray-Ban Display hologram feature?
It’s a video-calling feature that replaces your live camera feed with an animated, photorealistic avatar of you. The avatar’s expressions are generated from your voice rather than a real-time camera.
When does the hologram feature launch?
It’s rolling out in early access starting fall 2026, limited to WhatsApp calls for US users. Meta hasn’t confirmed a date for a wider release.
Do I need to buy new glasses to get this update?
No. If you already own Ray-Ban Display glasses, the software update — including navigation and the Explore app — installs automatically through the companion app.
Does the hologram call feature use your camera?
No. Meta says the hologram is driven entirely by voice, so no live video is transmitted during the call, which is a meaningful privacy difference from a normal video chat.
Where can I buy Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses now?
They’re available online today in the US, Canada, and UK. France, Italy, and Germany get pre-orders now, with full retail availability on October 13.
The hologram feature is the headline, but it’s the navigation and Explore app updates that will actually change how people use these glasses day to day — the avatar trick is fun, though it’s still an early-access gimmick until it works outside WhatsApp. If you already own a pair, this update is worth grabbing the moment it lands; if you’re on the fence about buying, wait for the hologram feature to leave early access before deciding it’s a reason to spend £749.
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