Meta introduced the Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses at its Connect event on September 23, marking its first eyewear model without a camera or display. Priced at $349, the audio-only glasses feature six microphones and support voice interaction through Meta's Muse AI agent. Pre-orders opened immediately, with shipments scheduled to begin on October 13, according to medianama.com.
The glasses come in Clubmaster and Burbank styles, offering 23 color and lens combinations. Weighing 43 grams, they provide 12 hours of battery life, extendable by 48 hours using the charging case. The device listens for a wake word to activate Muse, which handles all functions via voice commands. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged that the glasses capture ambient sounds, including conversations with others, although privacy protections like live translations processing locally are planned but not yet available.
Meta’s move to remove the camera addresses privacy concerns that its earlier camera-equipped glasses faced, including legal challenges in India seeking damages for unauthorized recording. The audio-only design shifts interaction entirely to voice, requiring continuous audio monitoring for activation phrases. This reflects broader challenges in voice AI, where ambient sound capture raises privacy questions. The glasses join a growing market of wearable AI devices focusing on hands-free, voice-driven experiences.
Alongside the Ray-Ban Audio glasses, Meta announced other hardware at Connect 2026, including the $1,300 Meta VR Glasses set for spring 2027 release. The company also plans to integrate Muse AI into multiple wearables, expanding voice AI capabilities. The Ray-Ban Audio glasses will ship starting October 13, with pre-orders currently open, as detailed by medianama.com.