Meta launches $1,299 VR glasses and camera-free Ray-Bans

Meta has unveiled the $1,299 Meta VR Glasses, which weigh only 100 grams, as well as its first camera-free Ray-Bans. The two products address some of the most significant barriers to putting computers on people’s faces: weight, battery life, and unauthorised recording.

The VR Glasses, which will be available in spring 2027 for $1,299.99, are five times lighter than the Quest 3. They can be used for VR games, 3D films, and virtual computer displays, with eye tracking, hand gestures, and voice control replacing traditional controllers.

Meta said it achieved the 100-gram weight by combining the battery, computing hardware, and storage into a separate puck attached to the glasses. The headset still has external cameras for viewing the real world while wearing it.

Read further: Meta launches Ray-Ban display smart glasses with wristband controller

$349 Ray-Bans remove the camera altogether

The $349 glasses lack a camera and cannot take photos or record videos. Instead, they prioritise open-ear music, calls, translation, and Meta’s Muse AI assistant. They weigh 43 grams and offer up to 12 hours of battery life, with an additional 48 hours available from the charging case. Pre-orders are open, and shipping begins on October 13th.

Removing the camera also addresses one of the most common criticisms of Meta’s existing glasses: people can film others without their knowledge. Meta’s camera-equipped models use an LED to signal recording and disable the camera if the indicator is tampered with, but the devices have still received privacy concerns.

The new Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 starts at $449 and features the same 12MP camera with 3K video, while also increasing battery life to nine hours and adding better microphones.

The end result is a much clearer decision: audio and AI on camera-less glasses, traditional smart glasses for photos and video, or a much more expensive pair that tries to replace the traditional VR headset.

Read more: Instagram bans harassment and prank videos filmed on Meta glasses

That difference may become even more important as Apple, Google and Samsung get their wearables ready.