Meta introduced its first camera-free AI glasses, Ray-Ban Meta Audio, at the Connect 2026 conference on September 23, 2026. Designed by EssilorLuxottica, the device will have a starting price of $349. The glasses, which do not include a camera, will offer features such as listening to music and podcasts, making phone calls, translating conversations and communicating with Meta’s Muse AI assistant. Pre-orders will begin on October 13.
The product was developed following criticism of Meta’s camera-equipped glasses over users recording videos of people around them without their consent. Weighing 43 grams, the glasses are thinner than other Meta models because they do not include a camera. The features announced by the company are as follows:
- Up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge
- Up to 48 hours of use with the charging case
- Adjustable temple tips, replaceable nose pads and hinges that prevent excessive opening
- 23 color and lens combinations
- Two new styles: “Clubmaster” and “Burbank”
- The option to order with an optical prescription if needed
Meta also announced its next-generation camera-equipped Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) glasses. The Aviator and Zena styles will be added to the Wayfarer model. These glasses will feature a 12 MP camera, 3K Ultra HD video support, a six-microphone array and up to nine hours of battery life. Meta said the products will be made available in more countries and that it had entered into a new brand partnership with Lisa.
The company announced that Muse will be available on all its AI glasses. Upcoming updates include Dolby Atmos Capture, the ability to select the best photo from multiple frames, horizontal or vertical shooting, improvements for people with hearing loss, more detailed responses, different voice modes, customizable controls and a “private processing” feature that Meta says will prevent it from seeing the data.
Why it matters
Ray-Ban Meta Audio stands out as an attempt by Meta to move its smart glasses away from criticism over capturing images of people nearby without their consent. Focusing on audio and AI interaction instead of a camera highlights the distinction in use and privacy between this product and camera-equipped models; however, offering Muse access on all AI glasses does not completely eliminate questions about data and interaction management. A slimmer frame, the option for an optical prescription and different design combinations make the product a device that could be considered not only by technology enthusiasts but also by people who wear glasses. Meta’s private processing feature, which it says it will offer in the future, remains one of the issues on which users are awaiting answers regarding how data will be processed.
Background
Meta is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 34 articles mentioning the name in the past 90 days; the latest is dated October 3, 2026.