Meta unveils new smart glasses and AI devices at Connect 2026
Meta used Connect 2026 to introduce new smart glasses, Meta VR Glasses, Muse Charm and expanded AI features, while South Africa was named among 12 markets set to receive some glasses later this year.
Meta unveiled a new range of smart glasses, virtual-reality hardware and artificial intelligence features during Meta Connect 2026, held on September 23 and 24 at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California.
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Mark Zuckerberg presented Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3, Meta’s latest camera-equipped glasses, alongside Ray-Ban Meta Audio, the company’s first glasses without a camera. Meta also introduced Meta VR Glasses and Muse Charm, a pocket-sized device designed to work with its Muse AI agent.
New Ray-Ban models
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 replaces the Gen 2 model launched in 2025. Meta said the new glasses start at $449 and are available immediately in markets where the company sells its glasses.
The glasses retain a 12-megapixel camera and support video recording at up to 3K resolution. Meta is offering 27 frame-and-lens combinations. A limited-edition Aviator Connect model starts at $579, according to Gear Live as cited in coverage of the announcement.
Meta also announced special Adventurer LISA Edition and Capri LISA Edition frames associated with LISA of BLACKPINK. Those models start at $399.
Ray-Ban Meta Audio is designed for people who want the audio and voice features of smart glasses without a camera. The glasses retain microphones and can connect to Meta’s AI services, but Meta has not announced every market in which they will be sold.
Meta VR Glasses and Muse Charm
Meta VR Glasses are built around a separate processor and battery puck. The glasses contain the displays and sensors, while the puck stores applications and provides computing power and battery capacity.
Meta said the glasses weigh about 100 grams, describing them as five times lighter than Quest 3. The product is priced at $1,299.99 and is expected to arrive in spring 2027. Some specifications circulating online have not been confirmed by Meta.
Muse Charm is a small device intended for voice interaction with Muse. Meta said it uses Muse’s live voice model and is designed to be spoken to in a way similar to a phone call. The company has not announced a price, release date or launch market, and said it would provide more details later this year.
Meta launched Muse on September 8, two weeks before Connect. The company said Muse will gain access to Mac applications with user permission, support on compatible AI glasses, customizable voices, a live avatar and an email address.
According to Meta, Muse can open websites, complete forms, plan trips and shop for users. It is expected to request approval before sensitive actions, such as sending an email or making a payment. Meta said the service operates within a protected virtual computer called Muse Secure VM.
Availability in African markets
South Africa is among 12 new markets that Meta says will receive Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta glasses later in 2026. However, the company has not announced a local price or release date for the products there.
Meta has not promised South Africa access to Ray-Ban Meta Audio or Meta VR Glasses. It has also not announced launches for any of the devices discussed at Connect in Nigeria or Kenya. Availability, pricing and support for Muse-related services may vary by country.
Other software announcements
Meta announced software for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. The FDA-cleared feature is planned for supported glasses in the United States later this year and carries an add-on price of $149.99. Meta has not said whether that fee is annual.
For Meta Ray-Ban Display, the company announced cycling and public-transit directions, early access to hologram calls and expanded sales in additional countries outside the United States. Cycling and transit directions are due later this month in the United States and Canada, while hologram-call access is expected in the United States in the coming months.
Meta also said Private Processing is coming to its AI glasses and announced dynamic photos and Dolby Atmos video capture as forthcoming camera features. The company’s event recap did not include a new Quest headset.
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