Meta unveils third generation of Ray-Ban smart glasses with AI assistant and hearing-aid mode

Meta just dropped its third-generation Ray-Ban smart glasses at the Connect conference on September 23, and the lineup comes with a twist: a camera-free audio variant and a built-in hearing-aid mode.

The new models integrate Meta’s Muse AI assistant, the same system that powers the company’s own-branded glasses released earlier this year. The camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio line starts at $349.

From Stories to strategy

Meta’s smart glasses journey started in 2021 with the original Ray-Ban Stories. The second generation arrived in late 2023 with a 12-megapixel camera and a $299 price tag.

Meta’s broadening wearables playbook

In June 2026, Meta launched its own-branded smart glasses under the Adventurer and Fury labels, starting at $299 with a 12 MP camera and Muse capabilities baked in. Those models represented Meta’s first attempt at selling smart glasses without the Ray-Ban brand halo.

Meta’s partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the French-Italian conglomerate that owns Ray-Ban, has been running since the original Ray-Ban Stories launch in 2021. EssilorLuxottica brings manufacturing expertise, global retail distribution, and fashion credibility. Meta brings the AI stack, the software platform, and the Muse assistant.

The competitive landscape is getting crowded

By expanding from a single product line to at least four distinct models across two brands, Meta is trying to own as much shelf space as possible. The camera-free audio variant addresses the privacy concerns that have dogged smart glasses since Google Glass first made people uncomfortable in coffee shops back in 2013.

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