Meta's newest Ray-Ban collaboration strips out the camera entirely, and according to Engadget's review, that trade-off pays off. The Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses, priced at $349, are noticeably slimmer and lighter than the company's camera-enabled models, and they feel closer to ordinary eyewear. The review notes that the lack of a front-facing camera and LED also removes the most visible sign that the glasses are "smart," which could help ease privacy concerns that have dogged Meta's earlier wearables.
The audio quality remains solid, with six microphones and open-ear speakers that performed well in calls and music playback. But the biggest improvement is battery life: Meta claims up to 12 hours of mixed use and six hours of continuous audio, and the reviewer found the glasses still had nearly 50 percent battery after five hours of streaming plus a one-hour call. That makes the glasses a realistic all-day accessory, unlike previous models.
The review's main criticism is the action button, which can only be set to trigger music playlists or activate Meta AI. On other Meta glasses, the same button can mute calls or launch specific prompts, so the limitation feels arbitrary. The reviewer notes this could be fixed in a future software update, but for now it's a missed opportunity on an otherwise well-executed product.
From a business perspective, the audio-only glasses represent a strategic shift: rather than pushing cameras, Meta is leaning into comfort, battery life, and discretion. If the review is any indication, that approach could broaden the appeal of smart glasses beyond early adopters, especially among users who want AI assistance without the "creep glasses" stigma.