Meta Unveils Affordable Smart Glasses, Ditching Ray-Ban Collaboration

For the last three years, “Meta” and “Ray-Ban” have been the go-to names in the smart glasses arena. That’s changed. Recently, I tried on several pairs of Meta Glasses—no Ray-Bans in sight—across three distinct styles and seven vibrant colors. One of these styles, as I was excitedly informed by various Meta representatives, is a collaboration with socialite and reality TV star Kylie Jenner.

While Meta could have ventured into the smart glasses market independently, partnering with EssilorLuxottica and the Ray-Ban brand was a clever strategy. Previous attempts at smart glasses often resembled something out of a sci-fi movie or were just too awkward to wear. By incorporating Ray-Ban’s iconic designs and cultural significance, Meta’s glasses gained a sense of credibility. The fact that these smart glasses resemble regular eyewear you wouldn’t mind wearing was a smart design choice. However, the biggest challenge they face may be their association with Meta, given the company’s history of privacy issues. Recently, reports have surfaced about Meta developing a facial recognition feature for these glasses.

Some might speculate that dropping the Ray-Ban branding is EssilorLuxottica’s way of distancing itself from Meta, but that’s not entirely the case. If you look closely at the inside of the new Meta Fury, Meta Adventurer, and Meta Glasses by Kylie, you’ll find EssilorLuxottica’s name printed there—though it’s in a tiny font that’s hard to read in low light. EssilorLuxottica played a key role in designing these glasses and in the manufacturing process. According to Meta executives, the primary reason for moving away from the Ray-Ban name is cost. The Meta Glasses start at $299, which is about $80 less than the entry price for the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2.

“We felt it was important to offer a pair of glasses at a more accessible price point, and we were exploring what could work in that range. [EssilorLuxottica] has brands that cater to lower price points, but they aren’t as well-known, so there wasn’t a clear fit,” explains Alex Himel, Meta’s vice president of wearables.

As for style and specifications, the Meta Glasses are quite similar to Ray-Bans. They share internal specs with the recently launched Ray-Ban Meta Optics Styles, boasting slightly improved battery life. The Adventurer models feature thinner rims, while the Fury models are chunkier, resembling the Meta Ray-Ban Display. The Adventurer can be described as square, while the Fury is even squarer. The Kylie glasses have a unique design with a Y2K aesthetic, intended to be worn lower on the nose. On me, they give off a “disinterested Gen Z librarian” vibe. During my hands-on experience, I was told multiple times about a little gem in the upper corner of the left lens, adding a touch of personality. I can imagine that competitors like Google, Samsung, and Gentle Monster might not be thrilled.

As someone who has worn glasses for years, I found the adjustable nose pads and temple tips particularly exciting. The nose pads can be clicked into three different positions, and the temple tips have a wire that allows for bending to achieve a better fit. Like the Display and Optics Styles, the Meta Glasses also feature overextension hinges for added comfort on wider faces. Another advantage is their compatibility with a broad range of prescriptions, from -12 to +2.25 (though you’ll need to visit an optician for prescriptions stronger than -6).

Regardless of your feelings about Meta, these strategic decisions are designed to broaden the glasses’ appeal—assuming people can overlook Meta’s reputation.

While testing the Meta Glasses, I noticed that the camera appears smaller than in previous Ray-Ban models. Himel clarified that this isn’t a new feature; it was introduced back in March with the prescription-optimized Optics Styles. Nevertheless, concerns about the facial recognition feature and instances of harassment using Meta’s glasses are fresh in many minds at this hands-on event.

“We’re aware of the misuse happening today, and there are several ways people are doing it,” Himel acknowledges, noting that as the popularity of their products grows, so does the number of bad actors. “If people are uncomfortable with you wearing the glasses, we believe that’s not only bad for society but also detrimental to our business. Expect to see updates from us soon as we aim to address this directly.”

Himel didn’t reveal specific details about upcoming privacy updates but mentioned that Meta is actively discussing how to tackle privacy issues and set a positive example in the industry. “We want to establish a consistent approach to handling these matters,” he states. For Himel, it would be a poor experience for customers to invest in Meta’s products only to find them banned in public spaces or certain situations, which is becoming a reality. The challenge extends beyond privacy; as Meta embraces AI as a key feature for these glasses, the company must navigate varying regulations across states and countries.

“If there are different rules in different locations, it complicates things for everyone. It’s challenging for us too, as we can’t create a single solution,” Himel explains. “We’re trying to engage in these discussions to guide them toward a place where policies are consistent, allowing people to gain value while feeling secure.”

While these intentions sound promising, Meta needs to act decisively and transparently to demonstrate its commitment to leading the way in establishing sound privacy policies and etiquette in this space. A crucial first step would be to tighten its security and privacy measures. Himel cites the early days of smartphones as a technology that initially raised significant societal concerns but eventually found its footing. While that’s true, there’s a key difference: smartphones had clear “killer” use cases that justified privacy trade-offs. Smart glasses are still working to define theirs.

Speaking of “killer use cases,” Meta is heavily investing in AI. The new Meta Glasses will launch with Muse Spark, the first product from Meta’s Superintelligence Labs. This feature will also be available on older Ray-Ban and Oakley glasses in the US and Canada through a software update, promising more helpful functionality.

During my hands-on session, I learned that Meta AI is designed to be more conversational and responsive. It now supports 14 additional languages, including Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin, Hindi, and Korean. Pedestrian turn-by-turn navigation is also on the way for Meta’s displayless glasses. Later this month, a new “dynamic photo” feature will automatically capture multiple frames and suggest the best one.

I didn’t get to test all these features, but I did experience a few live demos. The live Mandarin translations were quite smooth, though I noticed a slight delay, likely due to the noise in the demo area. Ongoing conversations felt a bit more fluid, although Meta AI still has a tendency to be overly chatty. The AI is expected to improve its recommendations. In a room filled with various trinkets, when I asked for “recommendations,” Meta AI—voiced by Kylie Jenner—requested more context about the colors, vibes, and mood I was aiming for. When I mentioned a “cute purple keychain charm,” Meta-as-Kylie suggested considering grape-shaped charms or a lavender donut, which could easily be found on Etsy or Instagram. While somewhat generic, these responses were an improvement over what I received when I first tested Meta AI for recommendations last year. I also asked Meta AI to estimate the caloric content of a plate of canapés, and it provided a rough estimate of 280 calories, though it admitted uncertainty about one particular prosciutto and fig dish.

In the end, it felt like a slightly enhanced version of what I’ve experienced before. I’ll need to conduct a more thorough test in everyday situations, but I remain skeptical about whether Muse Spark (or any AI model) is intelligent and convenient enough to alleviate public privacy concerns surrounding this technology. Nevertheless, these smart glasses are affordable, well-crafted, and available in a wide variety of colors, styles, prescriptions, and fits. However, as I’ve mentioned before, hardware hasn’t been Meta’s main issue for quite some time.