Meta announced a new line of AI-powered VR glasses and expanded its smart glasses portfolio during its Connect 2026 event.
Meta is pivoting toward a more accessible VR form factor. The new VR glasses weigh 100 grams—over 400 grams lighter than previous Quest models—and resemble retro sunglasses. Unlike standalone headsets, these glasses tether to a pocket-sized puck containing a Snapdragon Reality Elite processor, 12GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.
VR Glasses Hardware and the $1,299 Price Point
The upcoming VR glasses feature an Infinite Display capable of three hours of media playback. To maintain situational awareness, the device uses two cameras for color passthrough, allowing users to continue viewing the world around them. Control is handled via eye-tracking cameras and the user’s hand gestures. The device also includes the Muse AI-agent, which allows users to command the product with their voice.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg debuted the product as a lighter and less expensive alternative to wearables such as Snap’s recently launched Specs and Apple’s Vision Pro. While Apple’s Vision Pro costs $3,699, Meta’s VR glasses will cost $1,299.
Ray-Ban Meta Audio and Gen 3 AI Expansion
Parallel to the VR push, Meta is diversifying its AI glasses through a partnership with EssilorLuxottica. The company introduced Ray-Ban Meta Audio, its first dedicated audio glasses, which weigh 43 grams and offer up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, with up to an additional 48 hours provided by the included charging case. These start at $349 USD and are available for pre-order, shipping October 13.
The Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses are designed for maximum comfort with overextension hinges, adjustable or swappable nose pads, and professional-adjustable temple tips. They are available in 23 color and lens combinations across two styles: Burbank, a classic timeless rectangle style, and Clubmaster, a retro-inspired silhouette. Both styles are compatible with a wide range of optical prescriptions. These glasses connect to a personal AI agent from Muse to help users manage a busy calendar or build healthy habits without reaching for a phone.
The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) also debuted as the next generation of the world’s best-selling AI glasses. These frames feature a slimmer, more comfortable design, longer battery life, and a new customizable action button for instant access to Meta AI. They are available in 27 color and lens combinations across three styles: Wayfarer, Aviator—with a release marking the 90th anniversary of the Ray-Ban Aviator—and Zena, a bold new cat-eye frame.
Meta stated that by the end of the year, they will offer more than 100 different glasses options across Meta Glasses, Oakley, and Ray-Ban, including new styles with slimmer designs and lightweight frames made for all-day wear.
Privacy Lawsuits and the “Private Processing” Response
This product blitz arrives as Meta faces significant legal pressure over its wearable cameras. Over 70 people who used Meta’s smart glasses have sued the company in a federal court in Northern California. The lawsuit accuses Meta of fraud, false advertising, and violating consumer protection laws, alleging the glasses deceptively captured footage of family members and users undressing, going to the bathroom, having sex and entering passwords.
This backlash has led some consumers to refer to the devices as pervert glasses
and “creep glasses.” Meta is integrating the Muse AI-agent into more consumer-facing products, including the Muse Charm—the company’s first personal AI agent device—and camera-less smart glasses, as it continues to develop AR glasses similar to Snap’s Specs model.
The $1 Million “Hands-First” Developer Competition
To ensure the VR glasses have a viable ecosystem at launch, Meta is funding the Meta VR Start Developer Competition 2026. Previously known as Meta Horizon Start and originally Oculus Start, the program provides developers with community mentorship, software credits, advanced technical education, go-to-market guidance, a community Discord, and direct access to Meta developer relations staff.
The competition, announced during the Meta Connect 2026 Developer State of the Union, is offering a total of $1 million across 20 prizes of up to $100,000. The focus is specifically on hands-first apps that make interaction more natural and gameplay more intuitive than ever before
across productivity, gaming, and entertainment.
Developers can submit brand new projects or adapted/significantly updated
apps. Qualifying updates include:
- Implementing hand interactions as a new feature.
- Adding multiplayer support.
- Introducing a mixed reality (MR) interaction mode as a new feature.
- Releasing a new user generated content creation tool.
Prizes include $100,000 for the winners of Best New Gaming Experience, Best New Entertainment Experience, and Best Adapted/Significantly Updated versions of those categories. The Best New Productivity Experience and Best Adapted Productivity Experience winners will receive awards. Other awards of $20,000 each are available for the Judge’s Choice, Boldest Original Concept, Best First Five Minutes, Best Agentic Interaction, Best Accessibility Forward Experience, Best Reason to Come Back, and Best Social & Multiplayer Experience.
The deadline for developers to submit their projects via Devpost is November 18, 2026. Those who are not already Meta VR Start members must apply first to enter.