[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Meta is making a full-scale push of its smart glasses lineup into the Japanese market. It is launching the everyday "Ray-Ban Meta second generation" and the sports-focused "Oakley Meta" at the same time. The move signals a strategy to expand smart glasses beyond simple wearables into an artificial intelligence-based lifestyle platform.

On May 19, Japan’s ITmedia reported that Meta’s Japan unit Facebook Japan and French eyewear maker EssilorLuxottica said they will launch the Ray-Ban Meta second generation and Oakley Meta in Japan on May 21. The two products are already on sale in the United States and Europe. This launch expands the sales region to Japan.

A key feature of the launch is that Meta is introducing the lineup simultaneously by splitting it into everyday and workout use. The Ray-Ban Meta second generation focuses on daily wear. It has a lightweight design and supports a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera and 3K Ultra HD video recording. The device also includes a dedicated button to run Meta AI.

It also uses open-ear speakers so users can hear voice guidance or music while still hearing ambient sound, and it offers a battery that can be used for up to 8 hours. Users can take photos and videos with a voice prompt by saying, "Hey Meta". Captured content links with the Meta AI app.

The workout lineup, Oakley Meta, is released in two models, "HSTN" and "Vanguard". Both support a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, 3K Ultra HD recording, open-ear speakers and water resistance. The higher-end Vanguard also adds dust resistance.

Meta is also highlighting AI-based translation. At launch, it supports translating foreign-language signs or menus into spoken Japanese. From June, it plans to expand a "live translation" feature that interprets conversations in real time to 20 languages.

It also applied a localization strategy for the Japanese market. For the Ray-Ban Meta second generation, it is also introducing "Ray-Ban Meta Blayzer Optics" that can fit prescription lenses. Meta explained that this allows users who need vision correction to wear them routinely, and said it applied replaceable nose pads suited to Asian face shapes and temples with adjustable length.

Privacy measures reflecting concerns about smart glasses cameras are also included. The device is designed so that an LED on the unit must turn on when taking photos or videos, allowing people nearby to know whether recording is taking place.

Meta also signaled further feature expansion. It is currently preparing an integration feature with Japan’s messaging platform LINE, and plans to disclose a detailed schedule and functions later.

In Japan, the Ray-Ban Meta second generation starts from 73,700 yen (about 700,000 won). The Ray-Ban Meta Optics second generation, a model that supports prescription lenses, is 82,500 yen (about 780,000 won), with lenses sold separately. The Oakley Meta HSTN is 77,220 yen (about 730,000 won), and the Oakley Meta Vanguard is 96,580 yen (about 910,000 won).

The industry views the launch as a signal of an expanded AI wearable strategy by Meta. It says that by segmenting smart glasses combining shooting, voice AI and translation features into everyday and sports use, competition to take the lead in the next interface market after smartphones is intensifying.