Meta’s Connect 2026 Glasses: Prices, Features and South Korea Launch

Meta’s Connect 2026 announcements covered three different uses for glasses: camera-free audio and AI, camera-equipped smart eyewear, and a lightweight VR experience. The new lineup starts at $349, while the separate South Korean rollout brings nine models to local stores and online channels, including two designs made with BLACKPINK’s Lisa. 111218

Meta’s new glasses at a glance

Product	What it offers	Price and timing
Ray-Ban Meta Audio	Camera-free glasses for open-ear audio, calls and hands-free AI; 43 grams	Starts at $349; scheduled to ship October 13, 2026 1134
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3	Camera-equipped frames with a slimmer design and 3K video recording	Starts at $449; reports differ on whether it was available immediately or scheduled to ship October 13 911
Meta VR Glasses	A roughly 100-gram VR device for immersive viewing, work and games	$1,299.99; planned for spring 2027 1133

Ray-Ban Meta Audio: smart glasses without a camera

Ray-Ban Meta Audio is Meta’s first Ray-Ban smart-glasses model without a camera. At 43 grams, it is built around open-ear speakers, microphones and hands-free AI rather than taking photos or recording video. Meta says it supports music, podcasts and calls, with up to 12 hours of use on a charge and up to 48 additional hours from its charging case. 34

The glasses start at $349, with shipping planned for October 13, 2026. The camera-free design gives people an option for audio and AI without image capture—but it does not remove privacy questions about Meta’s camera-equipped glasses. Some venues have restricted smart glasses regardless of whether the wearer is recording. 1146

Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3: a refreshed camera-equipped model

The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 keeps the camera in the frame. Reports describe a slimmer design and 3K video recording, with a starting price of $449. 9

Availability details differ across reports: 9to5Mac said the glasses were available at the announcement, while Hypebeast reported preorders with shipping set for October 13. 911 Buyers should check the current listing for their market rather than assume the two reports describe the same release timing.

Meta VR Glasses: a separate, lighter approach to VR

Meta’s VR glasses are a different kind of device from its everyday smart eyewear. They weigh about 100 grams and are designed for immersive experiences such as films, live sports, work and games. 3336

Meta priced them at $1,299.99 and planned their release for spring 2027. 11 The announced price and later release date put them in a separate category from the Ray-Ban models, which focus on wearable audio, AI and—on Gen 3—camera features.

South Korea rollout: nine models and 21 variants

A few days after Connect, distributor Shinsegae I&C began distributing Meta’s glasses in South Korea. The lineup includes nine models across 21 variants, combining Meta-branded glasses, Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 and the Lisa collaboration. Prices range from ₩480,000 to ₩860,000, depending on the model and lens configuration. 1821

The reported sales channels include Electromart stores, Lotte Hi-Mart, SSG.com, SK Telecom and KT online malls, plus selected dealers. 1843 The rollout gives buyers multiple local retail options rather than relying only on Meta’s own channels.

What’s in the Lisa Edition?

The Lisa Edition consists of two designs based on the Meta Adventurer and Meta Capri frames. In South Korea, the collaboration models were reported at ₩640,000. 1925 They are part of the wider camera-equipped Meta glasses lineup, not the camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio range. 19

What the lineup signals—and what it doesn’t

Taken together, the announcements broaden Meta’s glasses lineup across camera-free audio, camera-equipped AI eyewear and VR. The Korean distribution adds local retail reach and more frame choices, while the Lisa Edition brings a celebrity collaboration into that market. 1821

The camera-free Audio model is a distinct option for people who want glasses-based audio or AI without image capture. It is not a fix for every privacy concern: Gen 3 and other recording-capable models still have cameras, and some venue rules restrict smart glasses even when recording is not taking place. 3446