Meta has introduced an array of pioneering wearables at its annual Meta Connect event held on Wednesday, including its new lightweight Meta VR Glasses and a novel line of camera-free Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
Revolutionary Lightweight Meta VR Glasses
Breaking new ground in virtual reality technology, the Meta VR Glasses deliver a complete virtual reality experience in a frame akin to smart glasses. They are notably five times lighter than the Meta Quest 3, weighing in at just 100 grams and omit any straps. The glasses connect to a small puck, which contains all the necessary computing power, a Qualcomm Snapdragon Reality Elite, 128GB of storage, and 12GB of RAM. Users will find the 5K micro OLED display offers a sharp resolution of 2412 x 2288 per eye with up to a 120Hz refresh rate.
Set to retail at $1,299 and launch in spring 2027, the price positions it between the Meta Ray-Ban Display and Apple’s Vision Pro. The glasses double as a virtual external display for laptops and feature support for the entire Meta Quest library, alongside Xbox Cloud Gaming. They are noteworthy as the first IMAX Enhanced-certified VR device and offer viewing experiences with live sports and 3D films. A standout feature is the capability to create a photorealistic digital facial representation for calls, reminiscent of Apple’s Vision Pro personas.
Launch of Camera-Free Smart Glasses
Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta Audio smart glasses introduce an audio-focused experience by excluding integrated cameras. Apart from facilitating music playback, calls, and AI assistant interactions, these glasses weigh just 43 grams and offer a 12-hour battery life, expandable to 48 hours with the charging case. The price starts at $349, and they will be available from October 13th in 23 distinct colour and lens combinations.
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3: Enhanced Design and Functionality
Enhanced versions of the existing Ray-Ban Meta glasses, also introduced, provide a battery life of up to nine hours—an improvement from previous models. Starting at $449, this iteration includes a configurable action button for instant Meta AI access and a six-microphone array that effectively reduces ambient noise. The design is sleeker, with 27 combinations of frame colours and lenses, and privacy indicators remain to alert users of recording functions.
Affordable Options and New Customisation Features
Meta also revealed the lower-priced version of the Meta Adventurer frames, starting at $249. Launching on October 23rd, these come with basic black frames and grey lenses. Additionally, a new customisation service allows users to mix and match frames, lenses, and colours. The EssilorLuxottica line expands with Capri and Nova styles, while there’s a fresh ivory option for the popular Kylie Jenner Starfire frames. A partnership with Lisa from Blackpink also provides exciting new designs this season. Geographical availability is widening, including new expansions to Singapore, South Korea, Mexico, and the UAE, with Brazil soon to be included.
Enhanced Features for Meta Ray-Ban Display
The Meta Ray-Ban Display is reaching more global markets, with sales beginning in the UK and Canada today. France, Italy, and Germany will follow on October 13th. Meta introduces a new Explore app tailored for these glasses, offering curated experiences along with features like photo editing, enhanced calendars, and mirrored phone notifications. The hologram feature will also be accessible this autumn in the US through WhatsApp for Display users.
Muse AI Assistant on Smart Glasses
The presence of Muse AI, Meta’s virtual assistant, is confirmed as an upcoming feature for its smart glasses. Once available, this assistant will guide exercise routines, track meals, schedule appointments, and facilitate shopping. Additionally, Muse will accommodate video calls with live avatar customisation and agents will possess individual email addresses for task management and communication.
Tease of the New AI Device ‘Muse Charm’
In an interesting teaser from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the ‘Muse Charm’ was hinted at as a futuristic AI device scheduled for release before the holiday season. Resembling a supersized Tamagotchi, it promises to house Muse AI’s capabilities. More details are expected soon.
Reporting based on coverage first published by theverge.com.