Mark Zuckerberg unveils the device he says will replace smartphones
Published on December 13, 2025 at 6:30 amReading time: About 3 minutes • Written by Brian Foster
Wearable computing is edging into the mainstream, from camera-equipped glasses to spatial computers, and credible forecasts suggest adoption is set to accelerate. If the smartphone’s reign is waning, the next interface may sit on your face—not in your hand.
In a recent interview, the Meta founder predicted that wearable devices – not phones – will soon become our main gateway to the digital world. “People want computing to feel more natural and social,” he explained. “You should be able to stay connected without being buried in a screen.” According to Meta’s public presentations, that ambition underpins its push into AI-enabled eyewear.
It’s a bold claim, but it’s not entirely far-fetched. I realised how glued we are to our devices during a family walk last Christmas. My partner had just unwrapped a shiny new smartphone. It took all of fifteen minutes before it disappeared into her coat pocket – replaced by conversation and the crunch of gravel underfoot. Maybe Zuckerberg has a point: perhaps we’ve had enough of scrolling through life.
The Rise of Smart Glasses
If you’d told someone twenty years ago that we’d soon wear our computers, they might have imagined a scene out of Blade Runner. Yet the age of smart glasses is quietly arriving, and it’s moving faster than most of us think.
Meta, in partnership with Ray-Ban, has already launched sleek connected eyewear that can capture photos, stream video, and access Meta AI by voice.¹ Apple’s Vision Pro, meanwhile, marked a high-end debut for “spatial computing” when it became available in the U.S. on February 2, 2024.² These devices promise to blend augmented or mixed reality with everyday life—projecting notifications, messages, and navigation into your field of view. No need to pull a phone from your pocket; your world itself becomes the interface.
It sounds futuristic, but early adopters are already using prototypes and first-gen products. In cafés across San Francisco, professionals dictate messages through voice commands while keeping their hands free for their flat whites. Travellers navigate crowded airports using subtle cues instead of staring down at screens. It’s tech that doesn’t shout for attention – it just quietly helps.
Did you know?Ray-Ban | Meta smart glasses launched with a $299 base price and hands-free Meta AI access, while Apple’s Vision Pro introduced eye- and hand-tracked spatial apps—two very different paths toward post-phone computing.
A New Digital Revolution on the Horizon
Zuckerberg’s vision stretches beyond convenience. He believes the smartphone will fade out entirely by the 2030s, replaced by lighter, smarter wearables. The idea isn’t just to replace a gadget, but to make technology feel invisible – part of your daily rhythm rather than a distraction from it.
Industry signals point in the same direction. IDC reports that shipments of AR/VR headsets combined with display-less smart glasses are expected to jump about 39% in 2025 to roughly 14.3 million units, with smart glasses driving much of that growth.³ The shift is already underway: companies are piloting tools for virtual meetings, immersive instruction, and real-time translation.
And it’s not just businesses experimenting. Fashion houses are reportedly exploring collaborations with tech firms to turn AR eyewear into stylish accessories. If technology truly becomes wearable, the line between gadget and garment could blur beyond recognition.
Letting the World Become Your Screen
Of course, this brave new world won’t arrive overnight. Battery life, comfort, and privacy all need serious fine-tuning before we see mass adoption. But the direction of travel is clear – technology is moving off our hands and onto our bodies.
As Zuckerberg put it, “The real magic happens when technology fades into the background – when the world itself becomes your screen.”⁴
It’s a thought that’s both thrilling and a little unsettling. But if it means spending less time hunched over our phones and more time looking up at what’s around us, perhaps this next digital revolution is one worth watching – quite literally – through a new lens.
Footnotes
Meta Newsroom — “Introducing the New Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses” — URL: https://about.fb.com/news/2023/09/new-ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses/
Apple Newsroom — “Apple Vision Pro available in the U.S. on February 2” — URL: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/01/apple-vision-pro-available-in-the-us-on-february-2/
IDC — “AR & VR Headsets Market Insights” — URL: https://www.idc.com/promo/arvr/
Marquette University — “Meta Connect 2024 Keynote — Mark Zuckerberg (transcript)” — URL: https://epublications.marquette.edu/zuckerberg_files_transcripts/2060/
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Brian is a journalist who focuses on breaking news and major developments, delivering timely and accurate reports with in-depth analysis.[email protected]
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