Meta has released a version of its Ray-Ban Meta glasses without cameras but it’s not in response to the recent concerns that they may compromise privacy – it’s because audio being the most popular feature of the AI glasses.
Meta also announced a new enhanced hearing feature for its Meta AI glasses for users with mild to moderate heating loss as well as the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 range of AI glasses.
Announced at Meta’s Connect 2026 conference by Mark Zuckerberg at the company’s Menlo Park headquarters, the Ray-Ban Meta Audio AI glasses now offer a purely audio experience.
This in response to Meta’s research that showed audio was the primary use of the product with customers using the speakers built into the arms of the glasses for handsfree and comfortable listening of their content and for making and receiving phone calls.
Recently there has been a concern about how smartglasses like this could pose a threat to privacy and be used by some to secretly film and photograph others without their knowledge.
The hysteria began when Kmart started selling a sub-$100 pair of smartglasses that could film and photograph in much the same way as the more expensive Meta AI glasses.
Meta released its first smart glasses with a camera in 2020 and has released other version over the years including these latest Ray-Ban Meta Audio – the company’s first audio-only glasses.
Weighing just 43g, the new audio glasses are the lightest and slimmest AI glasses Meta has ever produced.
Users can listen to music, podcasts and audiobooks handsfree on the device and can run for up to 12 hours on a single charge.
And with the charging case that takes playback up to 48 hours.
Ray-Ban Meta Audio is available in 23 colour and lens combinations across two styles – Clubmaster and the retro-inspired Burbank.
Ray-Ban Meta Audio goes on sale from October 13 and is priced from $US349.
META AI HEARING ENAHANCEMENT
Meta has also introduced a new enhancement for its Meta AI glasses which can improve hearing for users with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Rather than purchasing an expensive hearing aid, customers can wear the Meta AI glasses which now has a new feature that utilise the onboard microphones to enhance and amplify the sound around you.
In a loud environment like a restaurant, users will be able to hear conversations in their vicinity more clearly.
Tech Guide tried this feature at Meta Connect 26 and was surprised by how much audio could be enhanced.
We tried the demo with ear plugs in to simulate a for of hearing loss and we were still able to hear the person we were talking to quite clearly.
This feature will work on Gen 2 Meta AI glasses and later and the new Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses for a one-off fee.
RAY-BAN META GEN 3
Meta has launched the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 AI glasses which come in three styles.
– Ray-Ban Meta Aviator: A globally recognized and timeless silhouette, now made for the
AI era.
– Ray-Ban Meta Zena: A bold new cat-eye frame that makes a confident statement.
– Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer: A signature style, now available for Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3).
Also available in large.
There are 27 colour and lens combinations across the three styles.
The Gen 3 glasses offer longer battery life up to nine hours and have a new customisable action button for instant access to Meta AI.
It now has a 6-mic array which can cut up to 90 per cent of background noise for clearer calls and voice commands on the move even on windy and crowded streets.
The onboard 12MP camera can capture 3K video in portrait and landscape and produce dynamic images.
And like every generation of the glasses, there is a built-in LED light that is designed to make people around you aware if you’re taking photos or video.
Later this year there will be an update for the Meta AI glasses that will give users the ability to capture videos in Dolby Atmos for true 360-degree spatial sound.
Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) is available now and starts at $449 USD.
* Stephen Fenech travelled to the US as a guest of Meta
