Meta Launches Ray-Ban Meta Audio and Gen 3 AI Glasses

MW Contributor · 2026-09-24T21:44:58+08:00

Meta has launched the Ray-Ban Meta Audio, its first camera-free AI glasses, alongside the new Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 as it significantly expands its smart glasses business with EssilorLuxottica. Unveiled at Meta Connect 2026, Ray-Ban Meta Audio removes the camera found on the company's existing Ray-Ban Meta glasses and focuses instead on open-ear audio, calls and hands-free access to Meta AI. The glasses start at US$349 and are scheduled to ship from 13 October. The absence of a camera is the biggest difference between Ray-Ban Meta Audio and the company's other AI glasses. Users can listen to music and podcasts, make calls and speak to Meta's AI assistant, but cannot use the glasses to capture photos or video. Ray-Ban Meta Audio weighs 43 grams, making it Meta's lightest and slimmest AI glasses to date. The glasses provide up to 12 hours of use on a single charge, while the included charging case provides up to another 48 hours. Meta is offering the glasses in Clubmaster and Burbank designs with 23 colour and lens combinations. Both styles support a range of prescription lenses. The frames also feature adjustable temple tips, adjustable or replaceable nose pads and overextension hinges designed to improve fit. The camera-free approach gives Meta a product aimed primarily at people who want wearable audio and AI functions rather than hands-free photography. It also differentiates the model from Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3, which retains a camera and is positioned as the company's more capable general-purpose AI glasses. Ray-Ban's current product range now separates its AI glasses into distinct categories. Ray-Ban Meta Audio is listed as an audio-only model, while Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 combines camera and audio functions. The existing Gen 2 and prescription-focused Gen 2 Optics models also remain part of the line-up. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 starts at US$449 and introduces several hardware changes over the previous generation. Battery life has increased to up to nine hours, one hour longer than Gen 2. Meta has also added a customisable action button that can provide quicker access to Meta AI and other functions. The new model has a six-microphone array, with Meta claiming it can cut more than 90% of background noise during calls and voice interactions. Professional-adjustable temple tips have also been added to improve fit. Unlike Ray-Ban Meta Audio, Gen 3 includes a 12-megapixel camera and can record video at up to 3K Ultra HD resolution. A built-in LED remains part of the design to indicate when the camera is being used for photos or video. Meta is introducing Gen 3 in Wayfarer, Aviator and Zena styles, with 27 colour and lens combinations. The Aviator version arrives as Ray-Ban marks the 90th anniversary of the Aviator design. The company also plans to introduce video recording with Dolby Atmos and 360-degree spatial sound later in 2026. Meta says recorded videos will be able to reproduce spatial audio during playback, although the feature was not available at launch. Both new products will also form part of Meta's broader push to make its AI services available through glasses rather than relying entirely on smartphones. Meta said its Muse personal AI agent is coming to its AI glasses. The company is positioning Muse as an agent capable of helping users manage tasks and longer-term activities through hands-free interactions. The expansion comes as Meta and EssilorLuxottica increase the number of designs available across Ray-Ban, Oakley and Meta-branded glasses. The companies expect to have more than 100 AI glasses options available by the end of 2026. Meta is also widening the geographical availability of its smart glasses, including a planned expansion into Malaysia. The company has confirmed that Oakley Meta, Ray-Ban Meta and Ray-Ban Meta Optics will become available in Malaysia later in 2026. Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the Philippines are among the other Asia-Pacific markets included in the same expansion. However, Meta has not specifically confirmed that the newly announced Ray-Ban Meta Audio or Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 will be among the models sold in Malaysia. Malaysian pricing and an exact local launch date have also not been announced. The distinction is important because Meta's international expansion covers several different product families rather than guaranteeing that every model announced at Connect will be released in every market. Meta has already begun expanding Meta Glasses into Singapore and South Korea, alongside Mexico and the United Arab Emirates, while Brazil is due to follow. The latest launches give Meta a wider range of AI eyewear at different price points and with different hardware capabilities. Ray-Ban Meta Audio targets users who want audio and hands-free AI without a camera, while Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 continues the camera-equipped format with longer battery life, improved microphones and new frame choices.

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September 24, 2026 at 9:44 pm
MW Contributor
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Meta has launched the Ray-Ban Meta Audio, its first camera-free AI glasses, alongside the new Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 as it significantly expands its smart glasses business with EssilorLuxottica.
Unveiled at Meta Connect 2026, Ray-Ban Meta Audio removes the camera found on the company’s existing Ray-Ban Meta glasses and focuses instead on open-ear audio, calls and hands-free access to Meta AI. The glasses start at US$349 and are scheduled to ship from 13 October.
The absence of a camera is the biggest difference between Ray-Ban Meta Audio and the company’s other AI glasses. Users can listen to music and podcasts, make calls and speak to Meta’s AI assistant, but cannot use the glasses to capture photos or video.
Ray-Ban Meta Audio weighs 43 grams, making it Meta’s lightest and slimmest AI glasses to date. The glasses provide up to 12 hours of use on a single charge, while the included charging case provides up to another 48 hours.
Meta is offering the glasses in Clubmaster and Burbank designs with 23 colour and lens combinations. Both styles support a range of prescription lenses. The frames also feature adjustable temple tips, adjustable or replaceable nose pads and overextension hinges designed to improve fit.
The camera-free approach gives Meta a product aimed primarily at people who want wearable audio and AI functions rather than hands-free photography. It also differentiates the model from Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3, which retains a camera and is positioned as the company’s more capable general-purpose AI glasses.
Ray-Ban’s current product range now separates its AI glasses into distinct categories. Ray-Ban Meta Audio is listed as an audio-only model, while Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 combines camera and audio functions. The existing Gen 2 and prescription-focused Gen 2 Optics models also remain part of the line-up.
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 starts at US$449 and introduces several hardware changes over the previous generation.
Battery life has increased to up to nine hours, one hour longer than Gen 2. Meta has also added a customisable action button that can provide quicker access to Meta AI and other functions.
The new model has a six-microphone array, with Meta claiming it can cut more than 90% of background noise during calls and voice interactions. Professional-adjustable temple tips have also been added to improve fit.
Unlike Ray-Ban Meta Audio, Gen 3 includes a 12-megapixel camera and can record video at up to 3K Ultra HD resolution. A built-in LED remains part of the design to indicate when the camera is being used for photos or video.
Meta is introducing Gen 3 in Wayfarer, Aviator and Zena styles, with 27 colour and lens combinations. The Aviator version arrives as Ray-Ban marks the 90th anniversary of the Aviator design.
The company also plans to introduce video recording with Dolby Atmos and 360-degree spatial sound later in 2026. Meta says recorded videos will be able to reproduce spatial audio during playback, although the feature was not available at launch.
Both new products will also form part of Meta’s broader push to make its AI services available through glasses rather than relying entirely on smartphones.
Meta said its Muse personal AI agent is coming to its AI glasses. The company is positioning Muse as an agent capable of helping users manage tasks and longer-term activities through hands-free interactions.
The expansion comes as Meta and EssilorLuxottica increase the number of designs available across Ray-Ban, Oakley and Meta-branded glasses. The companies expect to have more than 100 AI glasses options available by the end of 2026.
Meta is also widening the geographical availability of its smart glasses, including a planned expansion into Malaysia.
The company has confirmed that Oakley Meta, Ray-Ban Meta and Ray-Ban Meta Optics will become available in Malaysia later in 2026. Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the Philippines are among the other Asia-Pacific markets included in the same expansion.
However, Meta has not specifically confirmed that the newly announced Ray-Ban Meta Audio or Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 will be among the models sold in Malaysia. Malaysian pricing and an exact local launch date have also not been announced.
The distinction is important because Meta’s international expansion covers several different product families rather than guaranteeing that every model announced at Connect will be released in every market.
Meta has already begun expanding Meta Glasses into Singapore and South Korea, alongside Mexico and the United Arab Emirates, while Brazil is due to follow.
The latest launches give Meta a wider range of AI eyewear at different price points and with different hardware capabilities. Ray-Ban Meta Audio targets users who want audio and hands-free AI without a camera, while Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 continues the camera-equipped format with longer battery life, improved microphones and new frame choices.
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