From The Verge · Stevie Bonifield · · 2m
Meta Connect 2026: The 7 biggest announcements
Meta unveiled lightweight VR glasses, camera-free smart glasses, and new AI features at its annual showcase.
In brief
Meta unveiled lightweight VR glasses, camera-free smart glasses, and new AI features at its annual showcase. Meta is pushing wearables into lighter, more practical forms while addressing privacy concerns with camera-free options. Originally reported by The Verge.
Meta VR Glasses arrive spring 2027
Meta's new VR Glasses weigh just 100g and tether to a pocket-sized puck, offering full virtual reality in a lightweight smart glasses form. They feature a 5K micro OLED display and launch at $1,299.
Five times lighter than Quest 3
At 100g, the Meta VR Glasses are five times lighter than the Meta Quest 3 headset. They pack a Snapdragon Reality Elite processor, 128GB storage, and 12GB RAM into the tethered puck design.
5K display with 120Hz refresh
The VR Glasses feature a 5K micro OLED Infinite Display with 2412 x 2288 pixels per eye and up to 120Hz refresh rate. They're the first IMAX Enhanced certified VR device and support Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio
Meta's new Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses have no cameras, addressing privacy concerns. They weigh 43g, offer 12 hours of battery life, and launch October 13th at $349.
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 with upgrades
The updated Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 starts at $449 with nine hours of battery life, one hour more than Gen 2. New features include a customizable action button and a six-mic array that cuts 90% of background noise.
Budget Meta Adventurer launches
Meta is releasing a lower-cost version of the Meta Adventurer starting at $249 with black frames and gray lenses, launching October 23rd. A new Mix & Match customization program lets users swap frames, lenses, and cases.
Ray-Ban Display expands globally
The Meta Ray-Ban Display is now available in the UK and Canada, with France, Italy, and Germany launching October 13th. New features include photo editing, improved calendar, and the hologram feature rolling out in early access.
Muse AI comes to glasses
Meta is bringing its Muse AI assistant to smart glasses, where it can guide workouts, log meals, book appointments, and help with purchases. Muse also gets video calls with customizable live avatars and email addresses for task completion.
Muse Charm AI gadget teased
Mark Zuckerberg teased Muse Charm, a small AI device resembling a supersized Tamagotchi that houses the Muse agent. More details will be shared soon, with the product shipping in time for the holiday season.
The takeaway
Meta is pushing wearables into lighter, more practical forms while addressing privacy concerns with camera-free options.
