Meta’s Global Smart Glasses Rollout Hits Supply Wall

At the CES 2026 event in Las Vegas this Tuesday, Meta Platforms announced a significant strategic pivot. The company is indefinitely postponing the international launch of its Ray-Ban Display Smart Glasses. This decision stems from a fundamental imbalance: consumer demand within the United States has dramatically outstripped the available production capacity, creating waitlists that now extend deep into 2026.

Initially, Meta had targeted an early 2026 market entry for the $799 smart glasses in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Canada. In a recent corporate blog post, however, the tech giant stated its current focus is now exclusively on fulfilling the existing backlog of U.S. orders. "We have witnessed overwhelming interest since the product's launch last fall," a Meta representative explained, describing the augmented reality glasses as a "first-generation product" operating with severely constrained inventory.

Market data supports Meta's claim. According to figures from IDC EMEA, the company sold 15,000 units in the initial sales quarter, capturing a 6% market share in the smart glasses category. Production partner EssilorLuxottica, which manufactures the hardware under the Ray-Ban brand, had already signaled in October its plans to significantly ramp up production capabilities.

Product Enhancements Unveiled Amid Delays

Despite the supply chain challenges, Meta used the CES platform to showcase several key upgrades for the product line:

• Integrated Teleprompter: A new feature allows users to view notes directly within their field of vision during recordings or presentations. Text navigation is controlled via the Meta Neural Band worn on the wrist.
• EMG-Based Handwriting Recognition: Utilizing the Neural Band, this technology enables users to write on any surface and send messages without touching their smartphone, a capability Meta labels "future technology."
• Expanded Navigation Coverage: Pedestrian navigation services are being added to four new U.S. cities: Denver, Las Vegas, Portland, and Salt Lake City. This brings the total number of covered metropolitan areas to 32.

Market Analysts Maintain Bullish Stance

The Tuesday announcements had a muted impact on Meta's share price. The equity traded in a narrow range around $658 to $660, which remains approximately 15% below its 52-week high of $796.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Meta?

Sentiment among financial experts, however, continues to be overwhelmingly positive. Out of 40 analysts surveyed, a full 96% maintain either a Buy or Strong Buy rating on the stock. The consensus median price target sits between $833 and $835, implying a potential upside of roughly 26% from current levels.

Scaling Ambitions Meet Fierce Competition

The supply constraints highlight the ongoing challenges Meta faces in scaling its hardware ambitions. While its long-term partnership with EssilorLuxottica, extended in 2024, has proven commercially successful, it is now encountering scalability limits.

Concurrently, competitive pressures are intensifying. Alphabet has entered a collaboration with Warby Parker, and industry rumors suggest OpenAI and Apple are jointly developing smart glasses solutions.

The next major catalyst for Meta investors will arrive in late January or early February, when the company releases its Q4 2025 financial results. Analysts project full-year 2025 revenue of approximately $199 billion. For 2026, forecasts point to an 18% revenue increase to $235 billion. Capital expenditures are also expected to surge from $70 billion to $108 billion, driven largely by massive investments in AI infrastructure.