Meta has launched a new series of fashion-forward artificial intelligence-powered glasses, which it’s calling Meta Glasses. The release comes shortly after Snap’s announcement of its upcoming AR Specs release.
Meta’s latest AI glasses are intended to be a less expensive and more broadly appealing product, designed for a wider range of consumers, with the new models starting at $299. For context, Meta’s Gen 2 Ray Ban glasses begin at around $379.
As explained by Meta: “Glasses are the most exciting hardware category of the AI era — the ideal device to experience an all-day AI assistant that understands the world from your perspective. That’s why today, in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, we’re introducing Meta Glasses.”
Meta’s hope is that these new models will help the company usher in a new era of AI utility, bringing its assistive tools to more users, in more day-to-day situations.
Meta’s new AI glasses come in three styles, all based on classic sunglasses:
- Meta Adventurer — A rectangular shape, which Meta said is “a timeless, versatile look.” This model is available in two sizes.
- Meta Fury — A more stylized frame variation.
- Meta Glasses by Kylie — Meta has partnered with media personality Kylie Jenner to create an oval frame style.
The glasses come in a range of color and lens combinations, with 26 styles available at launch.
The main function of the device is always-on access to Meta AI, which can be activated by tapping a button on the side of the glasses frame.
“Meta Glasses are our first AI glasses to launch with Meta AI powered by Muse Spark from day one,” Meta said, adding that this tech is now also available on its Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta glasses in the U.S. and Canada. “With this version of Meta AI, your AI glasses will deliver smarter answers on everything from sports scores to local restaurant picks, better understand what you’re seeing, and help manage your daily life effortlessly — whether you’re building healthy habits, managing your calendar, or navigating a busy schedule hands-free.”
Wearers will also be able to capture images and video through the device. The glasses also include open ear speakers and an advanced multi-microphone setup for wind noise reduction.
The glasses can operate for more than 8 hours per charge, with an additional 40 hours of additional battery life available via a charging case.
These latest models are the next step in Meta’s push to make its smart glasses a key factor in digital interaction. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously said that he expects glasses to eventually supersede phones as the primary connective device.
And with Meta investing hundreds of billions of dollars into AI development, the company really needs to demonstrate the practical value of its tools, and convince people of its broader vision, that AI will improve their lives.
Because right now, AI is facing a significant backlash. Regular people are questioning whether the technology actually provides practical value for them, as opposed to being an expensive, high-concept development that will only benefit the wealthy.
Indeed, for most people, the latest wave of AI tools haven’t made their lives better or easier. Yet, they have led to job cuts and have impacted the career security of millions of people.
Meta’s own AI development team has recognized this. In a recent interview with The Core Memory podcast, Meta’s AI Superintelligence Chief Alexandr Wang said that while many people have found AI tools to be somewhat helpful, overall user experiences “are not overwhelmingly better” as a result of AI implementation.
In order to address this, Meta needs to build more practically valuable AI tools as a means to win over more users. Maybe the company could demonstrate the tech’s true utility through always-on AI glasses.
Definitely, AI glasses are selling. Meta sold 7 million pairs of its AI glasses in 2025, up from a combined two million pairs sold in previous years.
Maybe, then, there is practical value in the device Meta is hoping that these new models will boost that appeal to even more potential users.
