Meta is expanding the capabilities of its Ray-Ban Display smart glasses by adding support for Instagram Reels and other immersive content directly on the in-lens display, part of a broader feature rollout planned for 2026. Users will soon be able to watch Reels without pulling out their phone, integrating short vertical video and social media experiences into the wearable display experience.
📱 What’s New: Reels on Smart Glasses
The upcoming software update will enable users to:
- View Instagram Reels on the built-in Ray-Ban Display screen.
- Navigate content using gesture controls via the Meta Neural Band wrist accessory.
- Enjoy vertical video formats directly in front of the eye without needing a smartphone in hand.
This enhancement underscores Meta’s push to make its smart glasses true wearable content devices, not just tools for messaging or notifications.
🤖 How It Works
Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses feature a monocular in-lens screen that projects notifications, messages, navigation prompts, and other content into the wearer’s field of view. Originally launched with messaging and basic social features, the glasses are getting a software upgrade in 2026 that includes:
- Instagram Reels support
- Advanced gesture control with EMG signals from the Meta Neural Band
- Potential for more interactive media experiences down the line
Content appears on the right-lens display, allowing users to consume short-form video while on the go—without interrupting real-world activities
📈 Why This Matters
Introducing Reels playback directly on smart glasses is a significant step toward making wearable displays a daily consumer device rather than a niche gadget. Meta’s strategy emphasizes hands-free access to social and AR content, blending mobile entertainment into everyday life in a more seamless way.
This feature could:
- Increase engagement with social media content by reducing dependence on phones.
- Drive adoption of AR-capable wearables.
- Position Meta’s hardware as a lifestyle accessory rather than just an advanced tech product.
🧠 Looking Ahead
Meta’s roadmap for 2026 includes other notable upgrades for Ray-Ban Display glasses, such as virtual handwriting recognition using muscle-gesture input and deeper social media integrations, further blurring the line between wearable tech and everyday content consumption. Android Central
As smart glasses evolve, they may offer increasingly rich media experiences that cater to entertainment, communication, and interactive content consumption—all from a glasses-mounted display.
