> At a Glance
> – Meta pauses international launch of Ray-Ban Display glasses
> – Waitlists stretch “well into 2026” after fall debut
> – Planned rollout in France, Italy, Canada, U.K. now on hold
> – Why it matters: Buyers outside the U.S. face an open-ended delay as the company diverts its limited supply to domestic customers.
Meta’s buzzy Ray-Ban Display smart glasses won’t be leaving U.S. soil anytime soon. The company says record-breaking demand has forced it to shelve early-2026 expansion plans while it scrambles to fill American orders.
Supply Crunch Derails Global Launch
Since their September unveiling, the glasses have racked up waitlists that extend deep into next year. Meta’s Tuesday statement blamed “unprecedented demand and limited inventory” for the decision to keep the product Stateside for now.
- Affected markets: France, Italy, Canada, U.K.
- Next step: Re-evaluate international timeline after U.S. backlog clears
New Tricks Still Coming
At CES Las Vegas this week, Meta showed forthcoming upgrades that U.S. users can expect:
- Teleprompter mode: discreet on-lens cueing for speeches
- Any-surface scribbles: finger-writing on a table, captured by the Neural Band and converted to text messages
- Expanded pedestrian navigation: Denver, Las Vegas, Portland, Salt Lake City join the map
| Feature | Current | Rolling Out |
|---|---|---|
| Countries sold | 1 | TBD |
| Waitlist horizon | 2026 | n/a |
| Neural Band gestures | basic | handwriting |
Key Takeaways
- Meta is prioritizing U.S. fulfillment over global growth
- International buyers face an indefinite hold with no new target date
- Fresh software features will land first for the limited audience that can buy the glasses
Until production catches up, Meta’s flashy smart glasses remain an American-only phenomenon.
