Meta launches its own $299 smart glasses ahead of Apple’s debut

At a glance:

• Meta unveils Adventurer and Fury smart glasses at $299, undercutting its Ray‑Ban Meta Wayfarer line
• New Starfire model, co‑designed with Kylie Jenner, sells for $399 and adds a gemstone accent and AI‑generated voice option
• Muse Spark AI model expands live‑translation to 20 languages and introduces Dynamic Photo and upcoming navigation features

What happened

Meta announced today that it is releasing three new smart‑glass models under the Meta brand for the first time, moving away from the Ray‑Ban and Oakley badge partnerships that have defined its wearable lineup so far. The Adventurer and Fury are priced at $299 each, $80 cheaper than the second‑generation Ray‑Ban Meta Wayfarer launched last year. A third, higher‑priced model called the Starfire—designed in collaboration with Kylie Jenner—costs $399 and adds premium touches such as a small gemstone on the right lens and a metal nose pad that resists makeup residue.

The glasses are being manufactured by EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of Ray‑Ban and Oakley, even though Meta designed the hardware in‑house. EssilorLuxottica’s logo appears on the temple arms and packaging alongside Meta’s branding, signalling a continued partnership on production while Meta takes full naming rights.

Specs and design details

All three styles share a rectangular Wayfarer‑like silhouette for the Adventurer and Fury, with the Fury featuring a thicker frame. The Starfire adopts a slimmer oval shape. Meta added a three‑way adjustable nose pad, adjustable temple tips, and over‑extension hinges that flare out slightly to accommodate wider head shapes. Between the Adventurer and Fury alone, buyers can choose from 26 colour and lens combinations, including tortoise, black, and green finishes, as well as transition, polarized, and clear lens options. Prescription lenses are supported across a power range of –12 diopters to +2.25 diopters.

Internally, the new glasses retain the same 12‑megapixel camera, 3K video capture, five‑microphone array, and eight‑hour battery life found in the Ray‑Ban Meta Gen 2 line. The included charging case adds roughly 40 hours of extra charge, and Meta also sells a separate Meta Glasses Charging Stand compatible with the new models, the Ray‑Ban Meta, and Oakley Meta HSTN lines.

AI and software upgrades

Every device ships with Meta’s Muse Spark AI model, which the company says improves response quality and adds 14 new languages to its live‑translation suite, bringing the total supported languages to 20 (including Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, and Hindi). A new “Dynamic Photo” feature captures a burst of images and automatically selects the best shot, while pedestrian turn‑by‑turn navigation is slated to arrive after debuting on Meta’s display‑glass platform.

Meta also hinted at a camera‑free version of the glasses that would focus on audio‑only interactions for phone calls, media playback, and AI tool usage. Removing the camera could lower the price further and enable additional frame styles, according to Bloomberg.

Market positioning and competition

Meta’s executive Alex Himel directly addressed Apple, calling the iPhone maker “formidable” in the smart‑glasses space and acknowledging Apple’s strength in hardware and design. Apple is expected to launch its first in‑house smart glasses in 2027, likely featuring a camera, microphones, and Siri‑based AI but no integrated display, positioning them against Meta’s camera‑equipped lineup rather than Meta’s higher‑end display glasses.

By pricing the Adventurer and Fury at $299, Meta aims to solidify its lead before Apple’s entry, while the Starfire’s premium price and celebrity collaboration target fashion‑forward early adopters. The company also clarified that it explored facial‑recognition tools for identifying known individuals but paused development due to privacy and societal concerns.

Availability and next steps

The Adventurer, Fury, and Starfire glasses are available starting today through Meta’s own storefront and through EssilorLuxottica retail partners, including LensCrafters. Meta’s roadmap includes the upcoming navigation feature, potential camera‑free variants, and continued expansion of Muse Spark’s language capabilities. Observers will watch how Apple’s 2027 launch and any subsequent pricing adjustments shape the competitive landscape for consumer‑grade AR wearables.