Meta's new Ray-Ban glasses put privacy first by ditching cameras

You won't find a camera anywhere on Meta's newest glasses, and that's the whole point. At Meta Connect, the company officially launched "Ray-Ban Meta Audio", an audio-only pair aimed squarely at people uneasy about wearable cameras, alongside fresh camera-equipped models and a new AI accessory called Muse Charm.

Without a camera and its supporting hardware, the Ray-Ban Meta Audio weighs just 43 grams, compared to 51.5 to 53.8 grams for Meta's camera-equipped glasses.

The lighter frame does come with a catch: adjustable temple tips are included, but they aren't user-adjustable; you'll need a professional fitting to get them dialled in.

Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses specs

The audio-only glasses come in 23 different colour and lens combinations, in two styles, Clubmaster and Burbank, and are compatible with prescription lenses. 

The battery lasts for 12 hours when charged, with an additional 48 hours thanks to the charging case, with the numbers being comparable to Meta's current range of smart glasses.

Ray-Ban Meta Audio is now available to order for $349 and will be released starting October 13. 

It costs less than other Ray-Ban smart glasses with a camera, which are produced by Meta, although the company has recently unveiled new Meta Adventurer glasses available for $249, giving customers more options to consider.

Besides the audio glasses, Meta has presented Muse Charm, a portable charm with the purpose of interacting in real time with Meta's Muse AI through voice. Information about the product is quite scarce; however, one can tell that it features a built-in camera, allowing the device to respond to questions based on the picture, not only through voice. 

Pricing information was not provided by Meta; however, delivery will start in December.