EU battery and AI regulations, alongside supply constraints, delay rollout of Meta’s latest smart eyewear beyond the U.S. market
Meta Platforms is delaying the European Union launch of its display-equipped Ray-Ban smart glasses, developed with EssilorLuxottica, as regulatory hurdles and supply constraints slow the rollout.
The product, currently available only in the U.S., has faced limited production capacity, according to a person familiar with the matter, alongside complications tied to EU regulations governing both battery design and artificial intelligence features.
Under new EU legislation, devices sold in the region will be required to include user-removable batteries by 2027. The rule presents design challenges for compact wearable devices such as smart glasses, where integrating removable battery components can reduce available space and impact performance or battery life.
Meta is in discussions with EU authorities to seek an exemption for smart glasses and similar wearable technologies, the person said. The issue gained public attention this week when Andrew Puzder, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, stated that the glasses could not currently be sold in the bloc “because the battery isn’t removable.”
In parallel, EU regulations affecting artificial intelligence capabilities are also weighing on the launch. AI functions are central to the Ray-Ban Meta Display glasses, and introducing the product without its full feature set is seen internally as a compromised proposition.
Supply limitations have further delayed expansion. In January, Meta acknowledged that the display-equipped glasses were being produced in extremely limited quantities, prompting the company to pause rollout plans beyond the U.S., including in key markets such as the U.K., France, Italy, and Canada.
The postponement underscores broader tensions between fast-moving consumer technology and tightening European regulatory frameworks. Apple has faced similar constraints, delaying the rollout of certain AI-driven features in the EU to comply with local rules.
Despite the challenges, Meta continues to position wearables as a central pillar of its artificial intelligence strategy, redirecting resources from its metaverse initiatives toward AI-enabled devices. The partnership with EssilorLuxottica — owner of Ray-Ban — remains a cornerstone of that push, with both companies reportedly exploring plans to double production capacity by 2026.
Beyond Ray-Ban, the collaboration has expanded to include Oakley-branded models, while discussions are underway with Prada, another EssilorLuxottica partner, to develop luxury-positioned AI eyewear.
For now, however, regulatory friction and production constraints are keeping Meta’s most advanced smart glasses out of the European market, highlighting the growing complexity of scaling next-generation wearable technology globally.