Tech’s Next Big Experiment?
If you’ve been around the tech or crypto space long enough, you’ll notice a pattern. Big companies love to experiment. Some of those experiments explode into full-blown revolutions (remember when the iPhone turned phones into computers in our pockets?). Others fade into niche curiosities (looking at you, Google Glass).
Right now, Meta—the parent company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—is betting that smart glasses could be part of our future. Not necessarily the blockbuster kind of product that changes everything on day one, but the kind of project that plants seeds for the next decade.
Still, Wall Street analysts aren’t rushing to crown this the next iPhone. In fact, one respected analyst, Anshel Sag of Moor Insights & Strategy, went on CNBC and described Meta’s glasses as more of a “low volume, thought-provoking product” rather than a massive money maker.
That’s the tension here: can Meta’s smart glasses shape the industry without delivering immediate profits? Let’s break this down.
Why Meta Wants You to Wear Glasses Instead of Staring at Your Phone
Meta has a simple pitch: what if you could check your notifications, capture photos, or access information without constantly pulling your phone out of your pocket?
The idea sounds futuristic but also strangely practical. Glasses could serve as a more natural interface—overlaying data directly into your vision, letting you live your life while still staying connected. Think of it as augmented reality without the heavy headset.
It’s not hard to imagine use cases:
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Travelers reading signs instantly translated in their line of sight.
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Crypto traders getting live market updates without opening an app.
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Everyday people snapping photos or streaming without fumbling for their phones.
The pitch isn’t the problem. The execution is.
Analyst View: Great Idea, But Don’t Expect Profits Yet
Anshel Sag’s comments cut right to the heart of the matter. Yes, these glasses could improve lives. Yes, they could encourage us to “look at our phones less.” But they aren’t about making big money—at least not now.
According to Sag, this is less of a “product for the masses” and more of a test drive for the industry. Much like Meta’s VR headsets, the glasses help push boundaries but won’t carry the company’s revenue charts into the stratosphere.
He put it bluntly: “This is a fairly low volume product and is very much a thought-processing and thought-provoking product more than it will be something that will generate significant revenues or profits.”
In other words, this is a long game.
The Bigger Business Picture: Meta Isn’t Just About Glasses
Let’s not forget—Meta isn’t a hardware company first. It’s an ad empire. With more than 3.4 billion daily active users across its family of apps (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger), Meta sits on a digital goldmine of attention.
The company’s AI-powered ad delivery tools are already improving pricing and performance. Add to that new revenue streams like ads in WhatsApp, and it’s easy to see why Meta’s financial engine keeps humming.
During its second quarter of 2025, the company reported strong revenue growth, expanding operating margins, and even raised its dividend—a move that signaled confidence to investors. Shares climbed on the news.
So why pour billions into glasses that may not sell? Simple: Meta knows it can fund moonshot projects because its core business is so cash-rich.
Meta’s Reality Labs: A Costly Sandbox
All of Meta’s futuristic experiments—VR headsets, AR platforms, smart glasses—sit under Reality Labs. And let’s be real, this division has been a money pit so far. Billions in losses, quarter after quarter.
But here’s the twist: those losses are intentional. This is Meta’s sandbox for the future. Zuckerberg has said before that he doesn’t mind bleeding money here if it helps Meta avoid missing the next computing platform. Remember how companies like Nokia and BlackBerry missed the smartphone wave? Meta doesn’t want to repeat that mistake with AR/VR.
The smart glasses are simply another piece of that puzzle.
Adoption Problem: Will People Actually Wear Them?
Here’s where it gets tricky. You can design the coolest glasses in the world, but will people wear them?
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Google Glass (2013): Rejected as creepy and awkward.
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Snapchat Spectacles: A fun gimmick, but never a mainstream hit.
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Apple Vision Pro (2024): Stunning tech, but $3,500 isn’t exactly mass-market.
Meta’s challenge is both technical and cultural. Technically, they need lightweight, stylish glasses that can pack useful features without overheating or dying after 30 minutes. Culturally, they need to overcome the privacy paranoia of “is this person recording me right now?”
It’s not impossible—but it’s not easy either.
Comparison: How “Low Volume” Products Shape Industries
Sometimes, a “low volume” experiment is exactly what sets up the future. Let’s compare.
| Product | Initial Impact | Long-Term Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Google Glass (2013) | Mocked, niche | Inspired AR enterprise tools, normalized wearables |
| Oculus Rift (2016) | Gamer niche | Sparked VR momentum, leading to Quest success |
| Apple Watch (2015) | “Just a gimmick” | Now dominates wearables and health-tracking |
| Meta Smart Glasses (2025) | Expected “low volume” | Could pave way for mass AR adoption |
See the pattern? Being early often looks like being wrong—until one day, it doesn’t.
Investor Take: Why Wall Street Is Split
On one hand, investors love Meta’s core business. Ads on 3.4 billion daily users? That’s hard to beat. On the other hand, Reality Labs keeps burning cash, and “low volume” products rarely excite the market in the short term.
Funds like Alger Spectra are optimistic, pointing to Meta’s strong balance sheet, AI-driven ads, and new monetization opportunities. But many analysts prefer to place their bets on more direct AI plays—companies with clearer paths to revenue.
That’s why Meta’s stock has been both praised for vision and criticized for distraction.
Why This Matters for the Crypto & Tech World
Now, you might be wondering: what does this have to do with crypto? More than you think.
The push toward wearables and AR is about interfaces. In crypto, one of the biggest barriers to adoption is usability. Wallets, private keys, dApps—these are still intimidating for new users. Imagine a future where AR glasses integrate directly with blockchain wallets, allowing you to approve transactions, check balances, or scan NFT art seamlessly.
Meta may not be building for crypto specifically, but their experiments with glasses could indirectly influence how digital assets are accessed and displayed in the future.
Here’s What This Really Means
When you step back, Meta’s smart glasses aren’t about profits in 2025. They’re about behavioral shifts in 2030. If millions of people get used to wearing tech on their faces—even in small ways—it prepares the world for a new computing platform.
Meta knows this, and it’s willing to play the long game, even if Wall Street groans in the short term.
Final Thoughts: My Takeaways
So, what’s the bottom line?
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For consumers: Meta’s glasses might look cool, but don’t expect them to replace your phone yet. They’re experimental, more about planting ideas than delivering must-have utility.
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For investors: The smart glasses are unlikely to drive revenue soon. Meta’s ad business remains the real moneymaker, while Reality Labs is a long-term bet.
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For crypto enthusiasts: Watch closely. If AR glasses become normal, it could open doors for new kinds of blockchain interaction. NFTs in your vision. Wallet balances without apps. Real-world crypto use cases that don’t feel clunky.
Here’s the real trick: sometimes, innovation doesn’t show up in the profit margins first. It shows up in how we start imagining the future differently. And Meta’s glasses, “low volume” or not, might just be the spark that pushes AR—and maybe even crypto adoption—into its next chapter.
