For the past three years, the names Meta and Ray-Ban have been nearly inseparable in the smart glasses market. That changes today. Meta has launched a new line of smart glasses that drop the Ray-Ban branding entirely, opting instead for the simple name “Meta Glasses.” The new glasses start at $299—a full $80 cheaper than the starting price of the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2—and are available in three distinct styles: the Meta Fury, Meta Adventurer, and Meta Glasses by Kylie, a collaboration with socialite and reality TV star Kylie Jenner.
The decision to remove the Ray-Ban name is a significant strategic shift. When Meta first entered the smart glasses space, it partnered with EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of Ray-Ban, to leverage the brand’s iconic silhouettes and cultural cachet. That partnership helped Meta’s glasses avoid the dorky, sci-fi look that plagued earlier smart glasses. But now, Meta is ready to strike out on its own. According to Alex Himel, Meta’s vice president of wearables, the primary reason for dropping Ray-Ban is price. “We just feel like we need to have a pair of glasses at a lower price point, and we were trying to figure out what could work there. [EssilorLuxottica] do have glasses at brands that are at lower price points, but they’re not really that well known, so there wasn’t an obvious fit there,” Himel said.
Despite the brand change, the new Meta Glasses are still manufactured with the help of EssilorLuxottica. A small imprint on the inside temple of each frame bears the company’s name. The glasses also share the same internal specs as the recently released Ray-Ban Meta Optics Styles, with slightly longer battery life. The core technology—a 12MP camera, open-ear speakers, a three-microphone array, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform—remains unchanged.
Three Styles for Different Tastes
The new lineup offers three distinct frame designs. The Fury is a thick, square frame reminiscent of the Ray-Ban Meta Display, with a chunky, bold look. The Adventurer is slightly slimmer, with thinner rims, and comes in standard and large sizes. The third style, the Meta Glasses by Kylie, is the most unique, featuring a Y2K-inspired design meant to be worn low on the nose. A small gem on the upper corner of the left lens adds a sparkle of personality. At a hands-on event, several Meta representatives emphasized that the Kylie glasses are intended to make a fashion statement.
All three styles are available in seven colors, ranging from classic black and tortoiseshell to more vibrant options. Adjustable nose pads—a first for Meta’s smart glasses—allow users to click the pads into three different positions for a better fit. The temple tips contain a wire that can be bent for a custom fit, and the glasses feature overextension hinges for wider faces. Prescription lenses are supported from -12 to +2.25, though stronger prescriptions require a visit to an optician.
Privacy Concerns and Promised Improvements
While the hardware improvements are welcome, the biggest challenge facing Meta Glasses is privacy. Recent reports from major news outlets have highlighted that Meta is actively developing a facial recognition feature for its smart glasses. Additionally, incidents of “glassholes” using the glasses to harass women have raised public alarm. At the hands-on event, Himel addressed these concerns directly. “We know that there’s tampering today, and there are a handful of ways that people are doing it,” he said, noting that Meta has seen an increasing number of bad actors misusing its products as they become more popular. “If people aren’t comfortable with you wearing the glasses, not only do we personally think that’s bad, but we wouldn’t have a business anymore. You should see some updates from us really soon, where we’re looking to address it directly.”
Himel did not elaborate on the specific privacy updates but stressed that Meta is aggressively discussing internally how to approach the privacy problem and set an example for the industry. He expressed a desire for uniform policies across states and countries to avoid a patchwork of bans and restrictions. “If there are different rules in different states or places you go, that just becomes hard for people. It’s hard for us too, because then we can’t build one thing,” he said.
The privacy issue is not just about facial recognition. With Meta pushing AI as a killer use case for glasses, the company must navigate varying regulations on AI across different jurisdictions. Himel acknowledged this challenge but remained optimistic that consistent policies can be achieved through dialogue.
AI Integration and New Features
Meta is doubling down on artificial intelligence to make the glasses more useful. The new Meta Glasses will launch with Muse Spark, the first model from Meta’s Superintelligence Labs. This AI will also arrive on older Ray-Ban and Oakley glasses via a software update in the US and Canada. According to Meta, the AI is now less stiff, allowing for more natural conversations. It supports 14 additional languages, including Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin, Hindi, and Korean.
New features include pedestrian turn-by-turn navigation for displayless glasses, a “dynamic photo” feature that automatically captures multiple frames and recommends the best one, and improved recommendation capabilities. During a live demo, Meta AI—speaking in Kylie Jenner’s voice—responded to a request for a cute purple keychain charm by suggesting charms shaped like grapes or a lavender donut, and advising the user to check Etsy or Instagram. The AI also estimated the caloric content of a plate of canapés at 280 calories, though it admitted uncertainty about a prosciutto and fig concoction.
Live Mandarin translations were demonstrated with smooth results, though some latency was noted due to cross-talk in the demo space. The AI’s conversational abilities are an improvement over previous versions, but whether they are compelling enough to overcome privacy concerns remains to be seen.
Meta’s bet on AI is clear. The company believes that a truly intelligent assistant will be the “killer use case” that smart glasses have been searching for. However, early adopters will need to weigh the convenience of AI against the risks of wearing a device that is constantly listening and recording.
The Meta Glasses are available for preorder starting today. The Fury and Adventurer models retail for $299, while the Kylie Jenner collaboration comes in at $349. Shipping begins in late July. With a wider range of styles, lower price, and promised privacy updates, Meta hopes to attract a broader audience—but it must first earn back the trust that its privacy scandals have eroded.
Source: The Verge News