Meta Platforms Inc (META.US) is broadening its smart glasses portfolio with a camera-free model, compatibility with the hot new Muse assistant, and a hearing aid mode. During Wednesday's Connect conference, the social media giant unveiled Ray-Ban Meta Audio, its first pair of glasses without a built-in camera. The company also introduced a third-generation Ray-Ban model featuring a camera alongside a more affordable iteration of its own-brand eyewear.

The new audio-focused glasses give Meta a chance to revisit a product category that previously drew significant backlash over privacy concerns. Both Meta and the broader smart glasses industry have grappled with fears that device cameras could capture footage without people's knowledge or consent. Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth noted in an interview that the audio-only glasses were added to the company's product roadmap about two years ago, as audio remains the most widely used feature on smart glasses. Removing the camera, he added, also allowed Meta to reduce pricing and weight while stretching battery life.

Bosworth acknowledged that Meta was "a little lucky" to have an audio-only product already in development, given the intensifying global privacy narrative surrounding glasses. However, he countered that the public debate contrasts sharply with what the company sees in terms of customer usage, adoption, sales, and engagement, all of which are on a "very, very positive trajectory." He recounted, "My personal experience walking around with them is that people are quite enthusiastic about the product. Then there's an extremely online concern. I'm not saying it's not a real concern. We have to take it seriously, and we do." Bosworth added that Meta has incorporated privacy as a central pillar of its glasses messaging from the very beginning. For example, a light illuminates when the glasses capture a photo or record video, alerting those around the wearer. "We've been anticipating this for a long time," he said. "It's not like we just started taking it seriously."

Pricing and availability for the camera-free glasses start at $349, with shipments planned for October 3rd. They will be offered in Ray-Ban's rectangular Burbank frame and the classic Clubmaster style. In hands-on demonstrations, they did not feel thicker or heavier than traditional Ray-Ban eyewear. Battery life on the camera-free model extends to 12 hours per charge, a notable jump compared to the third-generation Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, which currently last 9 hours, up from 8 hours in the previous version. While the new model's frame is slimmer than its predecessor, it remains slightly bulkier than the audio-only alternative.

The third-generation model also introduces a new "action button" that can be programmed for specific tasks, such as launching the Muse voice assistant. Camera-equipped versions will come in three designs: the classic Aviator, the long-time bestseller Wayfarer, and a new cat-eye frame called Zena. These models feature an upgraded microphone system engineered to cut background noise during calls, along with adjustable temple tips for enhanced comfort. The third-generation Ray-Ban glasses start at $449, compared to the $379 entry price of the second-generation models.

Bosworth largely attributed the price increase to inflation and component shortages, though the industry-wide memory chip constraints had a lesser impact. Still, he noted that Meta must account for the potential of rising memory costs when pricing new products. "You have to plan for that volatility," Bosworth said, adding that such disruptions could persist "two, three, even four years." As part of the adjustment, Meta plans to bring its display-equipped glasses to international markets and sell them online for the first time.

The company is also rolling out new styles and colors for its low-priced house-brand glasses launched in June, along with a new $249 edition, down from the previous $299 price point. Meta intends to expand this product line to additional markets, including Singapore and South Korea, and will launch a $399 special version in collaboration with Lisa, the rapper from K-pop group Blackpink.

Beyond the new hardware, Meta announced a swath of software upgrades. A feature called Dynamic Photos captures multiple images at once, letting users select different frames through the companion smartphone app. Users can also set the glasses to shoot photos and videos in landscape orientation. In late 2026, Meta Glasses will support Dolby Atmos 360-degree spatial audio recording, promising a more immersive sound upon playback. On the privacy front, the company is working to process more data on the glasses themselves rather than pushing it to the cloud.

Meta also unveiled an FDA-approved hearing aid feature, similar to what Apple offers on its AirPods Pro. The company will charge $150 to activate this function, or it will be bundled as part of the Meta One subscription when that launches later this year. Several other features were rolled out for the display-equipped glasses model, which debuted in the U.S. at $799 last year, though no hardware update accompanies these changes. A new on-glasses Explore app helps users locate third-party, web-powered glasses software. The device can now display turn-by-turn navigation for cycling and public transit routes on its screen, alongside more human-like voice options. Additional enhancements include in-glasses photo editing, expanded phone notification support, and calendar event management.

The display-equipped glasses are positioned as a stepping stone toward a full augmented reality (AR) device that can overlay digital information, images, and video onto the real world across both lenses. Meta previously targeted next year for launching such a device, a goal set when it introduced the Orion AR glasses prototype. However, Bosworth declined to commit to that timeline. He said his team, Reality Labs, has what he calls a "vehicle" that could debut next year, but he will not decide on a release until the device reaches what he terms a "maturity point." He noted, "There is absolutely a team here that says yes to an AR glasses launch in 2027," but he would not commit. "We have to make a lot of tradeoffs," Bosworth said. Regardless, the company is "still working on full AR," he added, and that goal will eventually be realized.