Meta Launches New Smart Glasses at Lower Price Point, Drops Ray-Ban Branding
The $299 starting price is lower than the $379 for Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 models and the $499 for Ray-Ban Scriber and Blazer Optics models.
Meta has announced a new line of smart glasses called Meta Glasses, available in three frame styles. Manufactured in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the glasses do not carry Ray-Ban or Oakley branding. Prices start at $299, with one collaborative model priced at $399.
Product Launch and Availability
Meta announced the new glasses at an event in New York on Monday. The glasses are produced by EssilorLuxottica and sold through existing retail channels.
According to a journalist, the lower price point was cited as a reason for dropping the Ray-Ban name. EssilorLuxottica remains involved in design and manufacturing, with its name stamped inside the frames. The glasses are available in several countries in various color and lens combinations.
Frame Styles and Design
The Meta Glasses line includes three frame styles:
- Meta Adventurer: Rectangular frame available in standard and large sizes.
- Meta Fury: Boxier frame with a bolder design.
- Starfire Kylie Edition: Slim oval frame designed in collaboration with Kylie Jenner, priced at $399.
The Kylie Jenner collaboration features horizontal oval lenses with a gem embedded in one lens, a mirrored charging case with a vanity mirror, and a note from Jenner.
All models include adjustable nose pads (three positions), flexible arms with customizable temple ends, and overextension hinges to accommodate wider faces. Moldable temple tips are available at Meta stores or opticians for precise adjustment. Prescription support ranges from -12 to +2.25; stronger prescriptions require an optician.
Technical Specifications
The glasses have no display but include a camera and personal speakers. Internal specifications are comparable to previous Ray-Ban Meta models, with slightly improved battery life.
Battery life is rated at "more than 8 hours" for some models, with an additional 40 hours from the charging case.
A dedicated button triggers the Meta AI assistant by default and can be customized for other features. The glasses include an LED light that indicates recording.
AI and Software Features
The new glasses launch with Muse Spark, Meta's AI model. Features include:
- Support for 14 additional languages for live translation, including Japanese, Chinese Mandarin, Hindi, and Korean
- Pedestrian navigation with turn-by-turn directions
- A dynamic photo feature that recommends the best frame
- AI capabilities to assist users in understanding their surroundings and managing daily tasks
Existing Ray-Ban and Oakley models will receive the Muse Spark AI model via a software update. Live translation demonstrations showed smooth performance with some latency.
Meta's CTO Andrew Bosworth acknowledged that Meta's AI services currently lack integration with phone apps, and indicated that more "agentic" AI plans may be announced at Meta's Connect conference in September.
Market Context
According to IDC, smart glass shipments surged 167% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025, with Meta holding 69.2% market share. According to Counterpoint Research, Meta and EssilorLuxottica hold over 80% market share in the smart glasses space.
IDC research manager Jitesh Ubrani noted that competitors are becoming more formidable.
The average selling price is expected to drop from $376 in 2026 to $229 by 2030, according to IDC. Competitors Google and Samsung are collaborating on a similar product, and OpenAI is developing a hardware product. Meta's launch occurs one week after Snap released its Specs smart glasses at $2,195.
Privacy and Facial Recognition
Meta is developing a facial recognition feature for its smart glasses, as reported by The New York Times and Wired. Meta's vice president of wearables, Alex Himel, acknowledged misuse of the products and stated that privacy updates are coming soon but did not disclose specifics.
Privacy concerns have been raised about smart glasses; women have reported being secretly recorded by men using such devices. All Meta glasses have an LED light indicating recording.
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth stated the company aims to improve the indicator for bystander awareness. The Starfire Kylie Edition glasses do not include facial recognition. Regarding privacy concerns about camera-equipped glasses recording without consent, Bosworth stated that no design or privacy changes are forthcoming.
Future Plans
Meta's head of wearables, Alex Himel, stated that spring and summer are a peak season for glasses sales, justifying the announcement timing. Bosworth confirmed interest in a camera-free audio-only pair at a lower price.
Himel said Meta aims for camera quality comparable to current smartphone standards.
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth said the new price point helps reach more consumers. He also noted the design team is exploring devices for people who do not wear glasses. The new models arrive ahead of expected smart glass launches from Google, Samsung, and Apple.