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Meta debuts new, cheaper smart glasses under its own brand
Meta on Tuesday launched a new line of smart glasses, called Meta Glasses, starting at $299. Made in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the glasses do not carry Ray-Ban or Oakley branding. They are available in several countries from today in various color and lens combinations. Meta and EssilorLuxottica together hold over 80% of the market share in smart glasses, according to Counterpoint Research. The Meta Glasses have no screen but include a camera and personal speakers. A dedicated button triggers the Meta AI assistant by default, or can be customized. Meta claims over eight hours of battery life, with a charging case providing up to 40 additional hours. Three models are offered: the rectangular "Meta Adventurer" (standard and large sizes), the boxier "Meta Fury," and the slim oval "Meta Glasses by Kylie," designed with model Kylie Jenner. The Meta AI assistant can answer questions about sports, local restaurants, understand what the user sees, and help manage daily life. A "Pedestrian navigation" feature with turn-by-turn directions for walking will be added soon. Meta is also adding 14 new languages for live translation, including Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, and Korean. The launch comes a week after Snap unveiled its Specs smart glasses at $2,195. Meta continues its push into wearables amid growing competition.