Meta has named and priced its first camera-free Ray-Ban smart glasses. Ray-Ban Meta Audio starts at $349 in the US, is available to preorder, and ships October 13. It comes in Clubmaster and Burbank frames, with 23 color and lens combinations across the two styles.
Meta lists up to 12 hours of use on a charge and another 48 hours from the case. The lightest Clubmaster size weighs 43 grams; UploadVR reports the Burbank at 47 grams. Both styles support prescription lenses. Adjustable nose pads, temple tips, and hinges are meant to help with fit.
What the camera removal changes
The glasses retain open-ear audio, calls, and spoken Meta AI requests. They cannot take a photo, record video, or show an assistant what the wearer is looking at. People who use existing Ray-Ban Meta glasses for visual translation, identifying an object, or capturing a hands-free clip will need a camera model. People who mainly use calls, music, and voice requests may prefer the lighter frame and longer advertised battery life.
The missing camera also means there is no recording light on the frame. UploadVR says Meta had developed the Audio line for years and told it that public backlash against camera glasses did not drive the design. That company account is separate from the practical fact that Audio cannot record bystanders through a camera.
