Meta’s new Ray-Ban Display glasses come with a catch: You can’t just click “buy.” Customers will be limited to purchasing at the point of sale (POS), where they can complete an in-store demo in participating retail stores. If you’re trying to be an early adopter, the best strategy would be locking in a demo slot right now — availability is already beginning to constrict in big cities and spill into later weeks.
Where to book a demo for Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses
These will be the gatekeepers for the first wave of sales: Meta’s retail partners — Best Buy, LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut and Ray-Ban stores. Only some locations are offering demonstrations, and every store’s timing is different.
The quickest route is to use the retailers’ appointment tools, either by searching for “Meta Ray-Ban Display demo” on their sites or clicking on their store locators. If your favorite shop is not listed, expand your search to neighboring suburbs and look for weekday morning slots, which tend to become available first.
Appointments at optical partners like LensCrafters will be 20 minutes long. Associates will lead you through hands-on experiences, fit frames and answer performance and prescription questions. In most metro areas, the first available times are already shifting to later weeks, and some areas are booking farther in advance.
What to expect at your in-store demo appointment
The trial is meant to be a full try-before-you-buy. You’ll get to try the built-in monocular LCOS display, sample some AI and camera features, and demo Meta’s Neural Band wrist accessory for input based on EMG. Associates generally assist you with comparing frame shapes and lens tints, and they’ll guide you to what’s included in the $799 bundle (the Neural Band and a folding case).
Prescription details matter. Most demo units cover around -4.00 to +4.00 total power single vision. Bring contacts if you have them, or else you won’t see the display. Bring along your current prescription and pupillary distance if you need prescription lenses, so that staff can check the fit and what options can be ordered.
You must complete a demonstration to buy at launch. Many stores will process your order on the spot following your session, based on availability.
Why Meta is starting sales with retail-only demos
Meta executives have presented this retail-first approach as temporary and deliberate. In a public question-and-answer session, company CTO Andrew Bosworth said in-store demos help make sure early units don’t go to people who just want the product to play around with (and return) and instead go to folks who really want it.
It also makes sense when it comes to the actual supply of units. The glasses feature nascent tech — a microdisplay and EMG wrist input that is difficult to scale. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had projected low production in the first few years. For appointment-gated access, tight supply plus high interest equals a reasonable way to meter demand.
Returns are another factor. The National Retail Federation says the overall U.S. return rate is in the mid-teens as a percentage of sales, with electronics traditionally running above average. Hands-on demos also limit mismatched expectations, which is important for a new category, and AI smart glasses qualify.
How to get a demo slot before they’re all booked up
- Cast the net: Check several ZIP codes, which will include suburban stores that are likely less crowded. In early checks of major metro areas, suburban stores appeared to have earlier opening times than flagship urban locations.
- Target off-peak times: Weekday mornings and late afternoons usually clear first. Wherever a store has a waitlist, put your name down; cancellations occur.
- Call the store: Employees can sometimes see inventory or appointment changes before an online tool gets refreshed. A last-minute phone call can turn up just-posted slots on the site.
- Come prepared: Bring your prescription information, wear contacts if you normally do, and write down what you want to test — outdoor readability, comfort/fit for all-day use, voice responsiveness and Neural Band gestures. Good demos can sometimes take a few add-on questions if time permits.
Should you buy now or wait for online availability?
And if you want the glasses for a particular use case (hands-free capture, real-time assistive prompts, or early development and testing), the demo path is your only path forward to buy. Anticipate a small allotment at each participating store.
If you can be more flexible, Meta says it is planning for online release as well. Waiting might lead to an easier ordering process and more prescription options, but it comes with the risk of longer lead times if demand remains high.
Either way, go ahead and book a demo now if you’re curious. You can always cancel, but once the local slots are gone, you might face a much longer wait to try — and buy — the Meta Ray-Ban Display.