Mark Zuckerberg sets a date for the end of mobile phones: “They will be replaced”
The end of smartphones is inevitable, and they will be replaced by a more discreet and body-friendly object: smart glasses.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is doubling down on a future where smart glasses aren’t just a tech accessory—they’re the next evolution of mobile computing.
In his vision, these sleek wearables will naturally replace smartphones, offering users more freedom and less screen time. Forget constantly clutching your phone or craning your neck to scroll—smart glasses promise a hands-free, heads-up experience that redefines how we interact with technology.
Beyond notifications: a new way to live digitally
Zuckerberg isn’t talking about glasses that merely flash alerts in your field of vision. He’s imagining a full-blown shift in how we experience digital life.
Meta’s Ray-Ban Stories and Ray-Ban Meta glasses already offer features like video recording, live translation, voice commands, and even augmented reality overlays. They make travel smoother, communication more seamless—but they also blur the line between what’s real and what’s digital.
Why now? The smartphone plateau
The strategy is rooted in hard data. Global smartphone sales are slowing, production is tapering off, and entry-level models are struggling to attract buyers. Manufacturers still roll out new devices every year, but the upgrades are increasingly marginal—slightly better cameras, sensors, or battery life.
Consumers aren’t upgrading as often. Instead, they’re looking for durability and long-term value. The era of impulsive phone swaps is fading.
Zuckerberg believes that within the next decade, we won’t need to pull out our phones at all. Messaging, calls, photos, navigation—everything will be handled through smart glasses. The goal is to make them lightweight, fully connected, and powerful enough to render smartphones obsolete. But there’s one major hurdle: the price.
Meta is pouring billions into its Orion AR initiative, aiming to lead the next wave of computing and break free from reliance on Apple and Google. While today’s smart glasses are expensive and limited in capability, Meta sees this as a long-term play. The company hopes to drive down costs and scale adoption within 3 to 5 years.
Privacy and regulation: The road to 2030
Looking ahead to 2030, Meta faces significant challenges around privacy, especially with features like live recording and augmented advertising. Regulatory frameworks will need to evolve, and public trust will be crucial. Meta estimates that up to 25% of users could make the switch to smart glasses—but for now, that’s just a projection.
As the lines between physical and digital continue to blur, one thing’s clear: Zuckerberg isn’t just betting on a product. He’s betting on a paradigm shift. Whether Americans will embrace it or not remains to be seen—but the race to reinvent mobile tech is already underway.
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