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Confirming earlier reports<\/a>, Meta announced its first pair of camera-free AI glasses, the clunkily named Ray-Ban Meta Audio, at its Connect 2026 conference on Wednesday. Designed to combat criticism around the more malicious use cases for AI glasses, which saw them nicknamed \u201cpervert glasses\u201d by some, the new devices will be audio-only, offering the ability to listen to music and podcasts, take calls, translate speech, and communicate with Meta\u2019s AI assistant, Muse.<\/p>\n The glasses are designed by Meta\u2019s partner in its AI hardware efforts, EssilorLuxottica, and will start at $349.<\/p>\n While Meta today offers a range of AI glasses in a variety of styles, colors, and capabilities, the audio-only glasses could help the brand recover from some of the reputational damage after critics<\/a> pointed out how people<\/a>, often men<\/a>, were using AI glasses to record videos without subjects\u2019 consent. Meta attempted to mitigate this issue <\/a>with an update that would disable the camera if the LED light that indicated the glasses were recording was ever tampered with. However, the creepiness factor remained.<\/p>\n This latest device could prove to be more popular for that reason, while also providing an answer to something like Apple\u2019s Siri-powered AirPods. <\/p>\n \u201cOnce you get used to high quality audio, it\u2019s just a thing that you want all the time, right?\u201d Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said during a keynote Wednesday, adding that the company after working on the idea realized it could design a whole new category of glasses around audio glasses.<\/p>\n Because they don\u2019t have to house cameras, the glasses are slimmer than Meta\u2019s other models and weigh only 43 grams. They also have adjustable temple tips, swappable nose pads, overextension hinges, and battery life of up to 12 hours on a single charge, Meta claims. With the included charging case, that battery life extends to up to 48 hours. <\/p>\n They\u2019ll also come in a variety of colors and options \u2014 23 color and lens combinations in total \u2014 and in two new styles, a retro-inspired \u201cClubmaster\u201d Ray-Ban style and \u201cBurbank,\u201d described as more of a \u201cclassic, timeless, rectangle shape.\u201d Like other Meta glasses, you can order them with your optical prescription as well, if needed.<\/p>\n The glasses will be available for preorder on October 13, the company noted.<\/p>\n Alongside the glasses, Meta announced its next-generation AI glasses (the ones with cameras), the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3). In addition to the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer, there will also be two new styles, the Aviator and Zena \u2014 the latter offering more of a cat-eye frame shape. These will have a 12 MP camera that supports 3K Ultra HD video, a six-mic array, and up to nine hours of battery life.<\/p>\n The glasses Meta launched with EssilorLuxottica will also see an expanded lineup of styles and colors as well as a new partnership with singer Lisa, which follows the company\u2019s earlier brand partnership with Kylie Jenner. The glasses will also be roll out to more countries globally, Meta said.<\/p>\n All of Meta\u2019s AI glasses will, of course, feature access to its newer personal AI assistant, Muse. <\/p>\n The company also teased other coming updates, including support for Dolby Atmos Capture, a feature that picks the best photo from multiple frames, an option to choose landscape or portrait modes, hearing enhancements for those with hearing loss, more detailed responses, different audio modes, customizable controls, and something called \u201cprivate processing\u201d that Meta claims will prevent the company from seeing your data. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission<\/a>. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n