Meta announced its first camera-free AI glasses, the Ray-Ban Meta Audio, at Connect 2026. The audio-only device is designed to address criticism that earlier AI glasses enabled covert recording, earning them the nickname "pervert glasses." The new glasses let users listen to music, take calls, translate speech, and interact with Meta's Muse assistant, without the privacy concerns of a built-in camera.
The glasses are a collaboration with EssilorLuxottica and start at $349. They are slimmer than Meta's camera models, weigh just 43 grams, and offer up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, extending to 48 hours with the included case. Buyers can choose from 23 color and lens combinations across two new styles: the retro "Clubmaster" and the rectangular "Burbank." Preorders begin October 13.
Meta also unveiled the next-generation Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) camera glasses, adding Aviator and Zena styles with a 12 MP camera and 3K video support. The company is expanding its partnership with singer Lisa and rolling out the glasses to more countries. All models will feature the Muse assistant, with upcoming updates including Dolby Atmos Capture, hearing enhancements, and "private processing" that Meta says will keep user data from the company.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg framed the audio-only design as a new category, saying that once people get used to high-quality audio, they want it all the time. The move positions Meta to compete with Apple's Siri-powered AirPods while attempting to repair its reputation in the wearables market.