Meta launches Ray-Ban Meta Audio at 349 dollars and brings its Muse AI agent to smart glasses

Meta has used its Connect event to announce what it describes as its biggest expansion of artificial intelligence glasses to date, the product of its alliance with EssilorLuxottica. The announcement combines two fronts: on one side, a sweeping expansion of the hardware catalog (new models, colors and prices); on the other, the arrival of Muse, a personal AI agent, on the glasses to handle tasks and goals hands-free. According to the company, by the end of the year there will be more than 100 different glasses combinations available across the Ray-Ban, Oakley and Meta Glasses lines.

The most novel product is Ray-Ban Meta Audio, presented as the brand's first purely audio glasses and the lightest and slimmest in its AI range so far. At just 43 grams, they feature professionally adjustable temple tips, adjustable or interchangeable nose pads and over-extending hinges for greater comfort during extended wear. They let users listen to music and podcasts, make calls with voice capture that Meta says is crisper than that of conventional headphones, and talk to the AI assistant hands-free. Stated battery life is up to 12 hours per charge, extendable by an additional 48 hours thanks to the included charging case. The model comes in 23 color and lens combinations across two styles, Clubmaster (with a retro feel) and Burbank (a classic rectangular shape), both compatible with prescription lenses. They can be pre-ordered now from $349, with shipping expected on October 13.

In parallel, Meta is updating its flagship model with Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3), the third generation of what the company calls the world's best-selling AI glasses. The changes include a slimmer, more comfortable design, a battery that lasts up to 9 hours (one hour more than the previous generation) and a new customizable action button for instant access to Meta AI. The lineup expands to 27 color and lens combinations in three styles: Aviator, Wayfarer and a new cat-eye addition called Zena. Coinciding with the 90th anniversary of the Ray-Ban Aviator, a limited edition with a vintage-inspired colorway is also being launched. On the technical side, Gen 3 incorporates a 6-microphone array capable of eliminating more than 90% of background noise, a 12 MP camera with 3K Ultra HD video recording, a "dynamic photos" feature that lets users pick the best frame, and it keeps the built-in LED indicator that alerts people nearby when recording is under way. Meta also previewed that, later this year, its AI glasses will be the first consumer devices able to capture and play back video in Dolby Atmos with 360-degree spatial sound. Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) is available now, priced from $449.

The Meta Glasses range, launched this year alongside EssilorLuxottica, is also growing with two new styles, Capri and Nova, more customization options and availability in new markets. Two brand collaborations stand out within this line: a new ivory variant ("Ivory") of the Meta Glasses designed with Kylie Jenner, based on her Starfire style, from $399; and a completely new collection created with the artist LISA, with two models — Meta Adventurer LISA Edition ("Moonlit Sky" frame with "Blush" lenses) and Meta Capri LISA Edition ("Eclipse" cat-eye frame with gray lenses) — featuring details such as a custom star on the case and the frames, special-edition case charms inspired by LISA's pets, and exclusive digital photocards unlocked with the glasses. Both models support prescription lenses and start at $399.

At the more affordable end, Meta is introducing the limited Meta Fury model, with a transparent frame and mirrored lenses, available exclusively during Connect and at Meta Labs stores; and a new version of Meta Adventurer, with a black frame and gray lenses and a "plug-in" charging case, from $249, a price that makes it the most accessible option in the catalog to date. This model is already available to pre-order at Meta.com and goes on sale on October 23 in every country where Meta Glasses are sold. Any pair of Meta Glasses can also be customized through the Mix & Match program, both at Meta Lab physical stores and online, choosing frame, lenses and case color separately.

On geographic expansion, Meta announced its glasses are arriving in Singapore, South Korea, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates starting today, with Brazil joining soon. It also previewed that Oakley Meta, Ray-Ban Meta and Ray-Ban Meta Optics will arrive later this year in Turkey, Poland, Portugal, Israel, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The element that gives strategic context to this entire hardware rollout is the integration of Muse, Meta's personal AI agent, into the glasses. According to the press release, Muse will let users get organized, delegate tasks and turn long-term goals into concrete action plans, all without having to touch their phone. The article does not yet detail how Muse works technically or the exact availability timeline across the different models, beyond announcing its arrival as part of this update.

Taken together, the move confirms Meta's bet on turning smart glasses into a mass-market consumer product rather than a niche device: it multiplies price points (from $249 to $449), diversifies styles and fashion collaborations, and adds an increasingly ambitious layer of AI assistance, all backed by its partnership with EssilorLuxottica. The real competitive differentiator, however, will depend on how Muse translates into a genuinely useful day-to-day assistant, something this announcement heralds but does not develop in depth.