Meta unveils $1,299 VR Glasses, camera-less smart glasses at Meta Connect

Meta (META) launched three new pairs of smart glasses during the company’s Meta Connect conference on Wednesday.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stage to show off the trio of devices, which includes the company’s first Meta VR Glasses, the camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses, and the third generation of its Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

The $1,299 Meta VR Glasses are the standout of the trio, offering virtual reality capabilities in a glasses-style design, which makes other VR headsets look ancient by comparison.

On sale in spring 2027, the company says the high-tech eyewear is five times lighter than its Meta Quest 3 headset, and features a 5K display for watching shows and 3D movies, playing games, and working.

Because you’re looking at two screens, there are external cameras so that you can see the world around you while wearing them.

The glass’s computing components, battery, and storage are housed in a separate dedicated puck that tethers to the spectacles, helping to ensure they’re light enough to wear for long periods.

Meta's line of smart glasses. — Meta’s line of smart glasses. (Image: Meta) · Meta

To navigate, you use hand gestures or can speak to the on-board Muse AI agent. And unlike in the Muse app, you’ll see a fully rendered version of your custom Muse avatar.

For film buffs, Meta says the VR Glasses are the first-ever IMAX Enhanced-certified VR device, allowing customers to watch IMAX movies at home.

The company is also partnering with Disney+ (DIS) to give users access to movies like “The Avengers” and “Black Panther.” Meta says it’s working to bring Amazon’s (AMZN) Prime Video, Google’s (GOOG, GOOGL) YouTube, and other streamers to the platform, as well.

In the office, the Meta VR Glasses can display a single large virtual display or several smaller ones, allowing you to switch between apps throughout the day. Flat surfaces turn into virtual keyboards and mice, letting you navigate and type documents without the need for secondary accessories.

For gamers, Microsoft (MSFT) is bringing its Xbox Cloud Gaming service to the glasses, so users can play on the go.

Meta is also introducing what it calls its hologram calling technology. Users take a picture of themselves in the Meta AI app, which then creates a full-body digital version of them that they can use to make video calls with friends and family while wearing the glasses. Apple has a similar feature for its Vision Pro headset.

In addition to the Meta VR Glasses, Meta also unveiled the company’s $349 Ray-Ban Meta Audio smart glasses.

Unlike the standard Ray-Ban Meta glasses, the Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses come sans cameras, making them look far more like a standard pair of Ray-Bans.

The lack of cameras also means the Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses are lighter and can offer up to 12 hours of battery life.

As with the original Ray-Ban Meta glasses, the audio-only versions allow you to listen to music without headphones and chat with Meta’s AI. This time, however, that comes in the form of the Muse AI agent.

Meta's Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3. — Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3. (Image: META) · Meta

Removing the cameras from the glasses also eliminates one of the main criticisms of Meta’s smart glasses — that users can record people without their knowledge.

While Meta has outfitted its Ray-Ban Meta glasses with an LED light that lets people know when the glasses are recording or taking a picture, there have been instances of owners tampering with the indicator.

The backlash has prompted cities, states, and businesses worldwide to restrict the use of camera-equipped smart glasses in certain situations.

Meta isn’t doing away with camera-based glasses, though. The company also debuted its $449 third-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which sport a longer battery life and improved microphones.

The company has also updated its own line of its Meta Glasses, which are separate from the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, starting at $249.

Zuckerberg’s Meta is the global smart glasses leader, accounting for 68.7% of global shipments in Q2 2026, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).

But Meta is about to get some fellow deep-pocketed rivals with Samsung and Google preparing to launch their own glasses later this fall. The smart glasses, with designs from Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, will run on Google’s Android XR, which it developed with Samsung and Qualcomm. Snap (SNAP) is also rolling out its Specs AR glasses, though they’ll cost a $2,195.

Apple is also rumored to be working on its own smart glasses, with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reporting that the company will debut the product in late 2027.