Meta ditches cameras for audio

Meta announced the Ray-Ban Meta Audio at its Connect twenty twenty-six conference on Wednesday. The camera-free glasses offer music, podcasts, calls, translation, and access to Meta's Muse AI assistant.

Designed to escape privacy backlash

Critics called Meta's camera-equipped glasses pervert glasses after reports of men recording women without consent. Meta's earlier LED tamper-detection fix did not stop the reputational damage.

Slim design, long battery life

Without cameras, the glasses weigh only forty-three grams and run for up to twelve hours per charge, or forty-eight hours with the case. They have adjustable temples and swappable nose pads.

Twenty-three styles and colors

The Ray-Ban Meta Audio comes in two new styles: a retro Clubmaster and a classic rectangle Burbank. Customers can order twenty-three color and lens combinations, including prescription lenses.

Zuckerberg on audio quality

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said during the keynote: Once you get used to high-quality audio, it's just a thing that you want all the time, right?

“Once you get used to high-quality audio, it's just a thing that you want all the time, right?”

New camera glasses also announced

Meta unveiled the Ray-Ban Meta Gen three with cameras, featuring a twelve megapixel sensor, three K Ultra HD video, six microphones, and nine hours of battery life. New styles include Aviator and Zena frames.

Preorders start October thirteen

The Ray-Ban Meta Audio starts at three hundred forty-nine dollars and opens for preorder on October thirteen. Meta also announced partnerships with singer Lisa and expanded global rollout.

Coming features include private processing

Meta teased Dolby Atmos Capture, photo selection, landscape and portrait modes, hearing enhancements, and private processing that Meta claims prevents the company from seeing your data.