Meta unveils new camera-free smart glasses and lightweight VR spectacles

Meta has announced a significant expansion of its wearable lineup at the Meta Connect conference. The company introduced new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, including an audio-only model designed to address privacy concerns by omitting cameras. These lighter, thinner glasses feature integrated microphones and speakers for AI interaction and media playback. Additionally, Meta unveiled advanced VR glasses that shift computing power to a tethered pocketable device, significantly reducing weight to 100g. These spectacles utilize high-resolution microOLED screens and support productivity-focused features like virtual multi-window displays and eye-tracking. While the audio-only glasses are available now for £319, the new VR spectacles are slated for a spring 2027 release at $1,299.99. The move signals Meta's strategy to balance consumer demand for privacy with its push into augmented and virtual reality hardware, positioning the new devices as direct competitors to premium offerings like Apple's Vision Pro.