Meta Ditches The Camera: $349 Ray-Ban Audio Glasses Debut As Mark Zuckerberg Pitches AI For 'Creation And Invention, Not Automation'

On Wednesday, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) unveiled a $1,299 VR device, camera-free Ray-Ban smart glasses and new AI agent capabilities at Meta Connect 2026. Meta Unveils $1,299 VR Glasses The glasses weigh about 100 grams and connect to a pocket-sized puck housing the processor, battery and storage. They feature a 5K micro-OLED "Infinite Display" with up to a 120Hz refresh rate. It will support the full Meta Quest catalog, Xbox Cloud Gaming, 3D movies and immersive live sports. Users can also connect the glasses to Mac and Windows computers and use them as virtual external displays. Meta plans to launch the VR glasses in spring 2027 for $1,299. Meta VR Glasses — private cinema, a workstation with multiple monitors, and a game console in a pair of high-res glasses. Our first time delivering VR in glasses rather than a full headset — really a glimpse of the future. pic.twitter.com/WFisOAgpcJ— Mark Zuckerberg (@finkd) September 24, 2026 Read Also: Mark Zuckerberg Buying PayPal Could Save Meta '5-10 Years' in Super-App Race Against Elon Musk, Says Hedge Fund Manager Camera-Free Ray-Ban Meta Audio Arrives Meta also introduced the Ray-Ban Meta Audio, its lightest and slimmest AI glasses yet, at 43 grams. Unlike Meta’s existing smart glasses, the new model has no cameras. The glasses offer up to 12 hours of battery life and will start at $349 when they launch Oct. 13. Meta also unveiled the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3, starting at $449, with up to nine hours of battery life, a customizable AI button and improved microphones. The tech giant also unveiled a $399 Kylie Jenner colorway and a $399 LISA collection, while the new Meta Adventurer starts at $249, making it the company’s most affordable pair yet. Meta Pushes AI Agents Into Glasses Meta is also bringing its Muse AI assistant to smart glasses. A new Muse Charm will also provide another way to access the AI without pulling out a phone. The keychain-sized device has a display for showing a user’s Muse avatar and is expected to ship around the holidays, although Meta has not disclosed pricing. During his keynote, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company believes "the highest purpose of superintelligence is creation and invention, not automation." Meta Adds FDA-Cleared Hearing Aid Feature On X, Zuckerberg also highlighted that Meta is expanding into health care with an FDA-cleared Hearing Enhancement feature for select glasses. "I’m pretty proud of this one — they’re medical grade, help with mild to moderate hearing loss, and a fraction of the cost of a normal hearing aid," he wrote. The software will launch in the U.S. later this year for $149.99 or be included with a Meta One subscription. Meta Glasses can now serve as FDA-cleared hearing aids. I'm pretty proud of this one — they're medical grade, help with mild to moderate hearing loss, and a fraction of the cost of a normal hearing aid.— Mark Zuckerberg (@finkd) September 24, 2026 Price Action: Meta closed at $744.10 on Wednesday, up 1.02%. The shares fell 1.36% to $734 in after-hours trading, according to Benzinga Pro. According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Meta ranks in the 79th percentile for Growth, while its stock maintains positive short-, medium- and long-term price trends. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Read Also: Mark Zuckerberg Says 'More Partnerships' Coming as Meta Teams With Shopify to Power AI Purchases: 'Shoppers Find More, Shops Sell More' Photo Courtesy: Thrive Studios ID on Shutterstock.com