Meta launches cheaper smart glasses under its own brand
▼ Summary
– Meta is launching a new line of smart glasses, starting at $299, made with EssilorLuxottica but without Ray-Ban or Oakley branding.
– The glasses lack a screen but include a camera, personal speakers, and a customizable button that defaults to the Meta AI assistant.
– Battery life is over eight hours, with the charging case providing up to 40 additional hours of usage.
– The range includes three frame styles: “Meta Adventurer,” “Meta Fury,” and “Meta Glasses by Kylie” designed with Kylie Jenner.
– The Meta AI assistant will soon support pedestrian navigation and add 14 new languages for live translation.
Meta has officially introduced a new line of wearable tech under its own name, launching the Meta Glasses with a starting price of just $299. Developed in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, these glasses break from tradition by dropping the familiar Ray-Ban or Oakley branding found on previous models.
Available immediately in several countries, the Meta Glasses come in a wide array of color and lens combinations. This release marks another major step in Meta’s aggressive push into the wearable technology market, where competition is rapidly intensifying. According to Counterpoint Research, Meta and EssilorLuxottica together command an estimated 80% market share in the smart eyewear space.
These new glasses are designed without a screen, but they pack a camera and personal speakers. A dedicated button on the frame defaults to activating the Meta AI assistant, though users can customize it to launch a specific app or feature instead.
Battery life is a key selling point. Meta claims the glasses can run for more than eight hours on a single charge, and the included charging case extends total usage by up to 40 additional hours.
The lineup includes three distinct frame styles. The “Meta Adventurer” is a rectangular design available in standard and large sizes. The “Meta Fury” frame is boxier, echoing popular men’s eyewear trends. The most eye-catching option is the “Meta Glasses by Kylie,” a slim oval frame co-designed with model Kylie Jenner.
Meta says the built-in AI assistant can answer questions about sports scores, recommend local restaurants, recognize objects in your field of view, and help manage daily tasks. The company also confirmed that a pedestrian navigation feature will soon roll out, offering turn-by-turn walking directions. Additionally, live translation will support 14 new languages, including Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, and Korean.
The launch of Meta’s affordable smart glasses comes just one week after Snap unveiled its own consumer-focused smart glasses, Snap Specs, at a much steeper $2,195 price point.
(Source: TechCrunch)
