Meta Launches $299 Smart Glasses, Trading Ray-Ban Polish for Lower Price

3 articles · Updated · Engadget · Jul 20

$299 Meta Glasses deliver the same core Gen 2 features as Ray-Ban and Oakley models, giving buyers a cheaper entry point with the latest camera, audio and AI tools.
Three frame styles replace designer branding with Meta’s own label, but the review found bulkier builds, heavier 60-gram frames and less comfort than premium Ray-Ban versions.
12-megapixel cameras, a programmable action button and Meta AI powered by Muse Spark keep functionality largely intact, though real-world battery life was closer to 4.5 hours than Meta’s claimed eight-plus.
$20 a month Meta One already gates extended use of Conversation Focus beyond three hours, signaling more glasses features could move behind subscriptions.
Mandatory anti-tampering firmware updates and emerging bans in places like courtrooms show privacy backlash remains a growing risk, made harder to ignore by the more prominent Meta branding.