Meta Unveils 100g VR Glasses, Camera-Free Ray-Ban Meta Audio at Meta Connect

The new VR Glasses are Meta's lightest pair so far, according to Android Authority. They weigh just 100 grams, which Meta says is five times lighter than the Quest 3 headset. They use pancake lenses and micro-OLED displays with 5K resolution per eye, and are certified for Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced. Meta says the glasses can project a keyboard-trackpad combo on a desk so users can work anywhere. Unlike previous Quest headsets, which Meta has sold for almost a decade and which have been bulky and unwieldy, the new VR Glasses adopt a sunglass-like shape, somewhat reminiscent of the Oakley Meta Vanguard sports glasses. Meta claims they are its 'most advanced' glasses, offering visual quality and cinema-watching capabilities without weighing down the head or cutting the wearer off from the outside world. To reduce weight on the head, the glasses connect by an optical cable to a tethered puck that handles processing, storage, and battery. The puck also has a capacitive surface that works as a trackpad for navigating the interface.

At the same event, Meta officially launched the Ray-Ban Meta Audio, a camera-free pair of smart glasses. Android Authority reported that the model omits cameras to avoid the privacy backlash often aimed at camera-equipped glasses. The Ray-Ban Meta Audio weighs 43 grams, considerably lighter than Meta's camera-equipped smart glasses, which weigh between 51.5 and 53.8 grams. It has adjustable temple tips for added comfort, but they are not user-adjustable, so wearers must take the glasses to a professional to have them tweaked. The audio-only glasses come in 23 color and lens combinations across two styles, Clubmaster and Burbank. They support prescription lenses, offer 12 hours of listening on a charge, and provide an additional 48 hours with the charging case.

Meta also announced the Muse Charm, a tiny device designed for on-the-go access to Meta's Muse AI. The company did not share many details, but said the device will let users talk with Muse AI and will fit on a keychain. According to Meta, the Muse Charm will bring the power of Muse AI with a real-time voice model. It also appears to have a built-in camera, making it possible that the device will be able to answer queries based on its surroundings. Meta did not give pricing details for the Muse Charm, but the device is expected to start shipping in December. Meta also launched new Ray-Ban Meta glasses and new Meta Adventurer glasses starting at $249.