Confirming previous reports, Meta unveiled its first camera-less AI glasses, the clumsily named Ray-Ban Meta Audio, at its Connect 2026 conference on Wednesday. Designed to counter criticism of more nefarious use cases for the AI glasses, dubbed by some as “pervert glasses,” the new device will be audio-only, offering the ability to listen to music and podcasts, take calls, translate audio, and communicate with Muse, Meta’s AI assistant.
The glasses are designed by EssilorLuxottica, Meta’s AI hardware development partner, and are priced starting at $349.
Meta currently offers AI glasses in a variety of styles, colors and features, but the audio-only glasses could help the brand recover from some of the reputational damage after critics pointed out that people, many of them men, were using the glasses to record videos without the subjects’ consent. Meta tried to alleviate this problem with an update that disables the camera if the LED light that indicates the glasses are recording is tampered with. But the creepy element remained.
This latest device could become even more popular for that reason, while also providing an answer to the likes of Apple’s Siri-powered AirPods.
“Once you get used to high quality sound, you always want it, right?” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in his keynote on Wednesday, adding that after working on the idea, the company realized it could design a whole new category of glasses around audio glasses.
Because there’s no need for a built-in camera, the glasses are thinner than Meta’s other models, weighing just 43 grams. It also features adjustable temple tips, replaceable nose pads, hyperextension hinges, and up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, Meta claims. The included charging case extends battery life to up to 48 hours.
It also comes in a variety of colors and options, for a total of 23 color and lens combinations, and two new styles: the retro-inspired “Clubmaster” Ray-Ban style and the “Burbank,” which is described as a “classic, timeless rectangular shape.” Like other Metaglasses, it can also be ordered with your eyeglass prescription if needed.
The company says the glasses will be available for pre-order on October 13th.
Alongside the glasses, Meta has announced the next generation of AI glasses (glasses with a camera), Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3). In addition to the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer, two new styles are also available: Aviator and Zena. The latter offers a more cat-eye frame shape. These will feature a 12 MP camera with support for 3K Ultra HD video, a 6-mic array, and up to 9 hours of battery life.
The glasses launched by Meta with EssilorLuxottica include an expanded line of styles and colors, as well as a new partnership with singer Lisa, following the brand’s previous partnership with Kylie Jenner. Mehta said the glasses will be rolled out to more countries around the world.
Of course, all of Meta’s AI glasses come with access to Muse, our new personal AI assistant.
The company also teased other upcoming updates, including support for Dolby Atmos capture, the ability to select the best photo from multiple frames, the option to choose landscape or portrait mode, enhanced hearing for people with hearing loss, more detailed responses, different audio modes, customizable controls, and something called “private processing” that Meta claims will prevent the company from seeing your data.
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