At Meta Connect on September 23, 2026, Meta and EssilorLuxottica introduced Ray-Ban Meta Audio — the FIRST Ray-Ban Meta line built WITHOUT a camera. The frames START at $349 in the United States, open for PREORDER now, and SHIP on October 13. Meta pitches them as open-ear AUDIO plus hands-free AI in its LIGHTEST Ray-Ban Meta yet: about 43 GRAMS, up to 12 HOURS on a charge, and up to 48 HOURS more from the included case. The ANGLE is clear: keep the listening and assistant habits that already DOMINATE Meta’s glasses, DROP the capture hardware that keeps drawing privacy FIRE
What Meta Actually Shipped Into Preorder
Per Meta’s September 23 newsroom post and the matching Meta blog write-up, Ray-Ban Meta Audio is framed as the company’s FIRST audio glasses. Features Meta lists: music and podcasts, CALLS that it says capture voice more CLEARLY than earbuds, and hands-free talk with Meta’s AI assistant. Fit hardware includes professional-adjustable temple tips, adjustable or swappable nose pads, and overextension hinges. Styles are LIMITED to two new Ray-Ban shapes — Clubmaster and Burbank — across 23 color and lens combinations, both described as compatible with a WIDE range of optical prescriptions.
Mixed-News’ September 24 report stresses the HARD split from the camera line announced the SAME day: Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) keeps the 12 MP camera and 3K Ultra HD video at a $449 starting price and up to NINE hours of battery. Meta’s product copy answers the camera question DIRECTLY — Audio is “built without a camera.” Battery and call-clarity claims remain Meta’s “up to” wording, not independent LAB RESULTS. UK pricing opens around £319; German listings start near €349, according to that report.
Privacy Context Without the Spin
Engadget’s Connect coverage places Audio against the “pervert glasses” backlash that has stuck to camera-enabled wearables. Meta does NOT brand Audio as a REGULATORY fix; it says AUDIO has been the most popular feature since day one. Removing the camera and recording LED also makes the frames look CLOSER to ordinary Ray-Bans — Engadget notes the slightly larger temples and speaker cut-outs as the remaining TELLS. Mixed-News adds that dropping the lens does NOT automatically escape every CATEGORY restriction; Western Australia’s smart-glasses school ban from October 12 names no brand and covers the CATEGORY, camera or not.
Where Audio Sits in Meta’s Wider Glasses Stack
Connect also pushed Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) on SALE at $449, expanded Meta Glasses styles, and teased Muse reaching AI glasses “in the coming months.” Audio is the camera-free SKU in that STACK — cheaper than Gen 3, heavier on BATTERY claims, and deliberately QUIETER on CAPTURE Meta says it will offer more than 100 AI glasses options across Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Meta Glasses by YEAR END For buyers who want open-ear sound and an assistant WITHOUT a lens on their face, October 13 is the FIRST firm ship date Meta has attached to that specific PRODUCT
Sources: Meta Newsroom, Meta Blog, Mixed-News, Engadget.