Meta unveils audio-only Ray-Ban Meta Audio and next-gen Ray-Ban Meta at Connect 2026
Meta unveiled its first camera-free AI glasses, the Ray-Ban Meta Audio, at its Connect 2026 conference on Wednesday, starting at $349 with preorders opening October 13, 2026. Designed with EssilorLuxottica, the audio-only glasses weigh 43 grams and deliver up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, extending to 48 hours with the charging case. They support music and podcast playback, calls, speech translation, and interaction with Meta's AI assistant, Muse.
The camera-free design is intended to address privacy concerns around AI glasses. The lineup includes 23 color and lens combinations, plus two new frame styles: a retro-inspired Clubmaster and a classic rectangular "Burbank" style, with prescription lens options. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said during the keynote that once users get used to high-quality audio, they want it all the time, which led the company to create this new category of audio glasses.
Meta also introduced the third-generation camera-equipped Ray-Ban Meta glasses at $449, featuring a 12MP camera capable of 3K Ultra HD video, a six-microphone array, and up to nine hours of battery life. New Aviator and Zena cat-eye styles join the lineup. All of the latest Meta AI glasses include access to the company's newer personal AI assistant, Muse.
