Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) is going all-in on augmented and virtual reality, planning to invest $20 billion this year into its Reality Labs unitthe team behind its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Despite some skepticism over its massive spending, the company is betting big on AR-powered wearables as a key part of its future.

Big Money, Big Bets

• Meta has already poured $80 billion into AR/VR since 2014, and this latest investment will push that total past $100 billion.
• Reality Labs generated $2.1 billion in sales in 2024, but the unit posted a record $17.7 billion in operating losses.
• The company sold 1 million pairs of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in 2024, according to The Financial Times.

Why Meta Is Still All In

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Sign with META.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called 2025 a defining year for smart glasses, emphasizing their potential alongside Meta's Quest VR headsets. The company is also launching a new version of its Ray-Ban smart glasses this year, featuring a built-in display for the first time.

Even with some analysts questioning its high spending, Meta isn't backing down. With AR glasses becoming more advanced and AI integrations improving, the company believes this is just the beginning. Investors seem to agreeMeta stock is up 54% over the past year.