Meta launches camera-free Ray-Ban Audio glasses at $349, pre-orders open
Meta opened pre-orders for its Ray-Ban Audio glasses, a $349 device shipping October 13 that handles music, calls and its Muse AI assistant without any cameras, offering up to 12 hours of battery life. The company also unveiled a slimmer VR headset at Connect 2026 and continues selling its camera-equipped Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 glasses, starting at $449 with a 12MP camera and six-microphone array.
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Dropping cameras could be Meta's way of addressing privacy criticism that has followed camera-equipped smart glasses, including New York's recent courtroom ban and reported delays to Apple's own glasses project. By selling both camera and camera-free versions, Meta appears to be hedging between wearable AI convenience and public unease about covert recording, though it's unclear if audio-only design will actually satisfy critics.
- Ray-Ban Audio glasses cost $349, ship October 13, and include no cameras.
- Muse AI assistant activates only via voice command or button press, addressing surveillance concerns.
- Meta still sells camera-equipped Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 glasses at $449 alongside a new compact VR headset.
Ray-Ban Meta Audio Smart Glasses — These are the exact glasses discussed in the article, offering hands-free music, calls, and AI assistant access without the camera-related privacy concerns of earlier smart glasses models. With up to 12 hours of battery life and a design that mimics classic Ray-Ban style, they're a compelling entry point into wearable AI tech.
See Ray-Ban Meta Audio Smart Glasses on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techspot.com — Daniel Sims, 2026-09-24
Published there as: “Meta's new smart glasses skip the cameras, and the privacy backlash that came with them”
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