Meta has released a camera-free version of its Ray-Ban smart glasses, called Ray-Ban Meta Audio, with orders starting at $349, according to Mashable. The frames are the company's first audio-only model, Meta confirmed in its own announcement.
The new glasses drop the camera found on earlier Ray-Ban Meta designs and focus on sound instead. Mashable reports the $349 starting price, which places the audio model below the camera-equipped versions.
Meta's announcement describes the product as its first audio glasses, marking a new category for the company's eyewear line. The frames still carry Meta AI features, based on the company's description.
Early coverage has focused on whether removing the camera makes the glasses more appealing. PCMag UK's review argues smart glasses work better without cameras, while CNET writes that Meta's audio-only glasses are well made but do not resolve deeper issues with the product category. Gizmodo reviewed the third-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses separately, calling them a technical upgrade.
The launch comes as smart glasses remain a small but competitive market, with privacy concerns often raised about camera-equipped frames. An audio-only option could address some of those concerns, though reviewers suggest it does not settle every question about the format.
Buyers can order the Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses now, per Mashable. What to watch next: fuller reviews and real-world testing of the audio quality and Meta AI performance on the camera-free model.
