Meta’s smart glasses at Connect 2026: What’s new and when you can buy it

Meta Connect 2026 brought both new glasses and a second chance at an international launch for Meta Ray-Ban Display. The existing display-equipped model is expanding beyond the US, while Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 refreshes the camera glasses and Ray-Ban Meta Audio offers a camera-free alternative. Announced software features should not be mistaken for features already available on every pair. 51025

Ray-Ban Display: countries, dates and prices

Online ordering opened on September 23 in the US, UK and Canada. Starting prices are $799, £749 and CA$1,149, respectively. Online pre-orders also opened in France, Italy and Germany at €899, with sales scheduled for October 13. The expansion follows an international rollout that Meta paused earlier in 2026 because of demand and limited supply in the US. 71011

Prescription lenses have different purchase routes. The reported online option through meta.com covers the US and Canada; select retailers in the UK, France and Italy support prescription add-ons. Meta says Display supports prescriptions within a specified range, so buyers should check both their prescription and the ordering options in their market rather than assume every configuration is available online. 106

How Hologram calls and navigation are meant to work

For Display video calls, Meta announced a personalized Hologram. A report describing the feature says the wearer first makes a short self-capture in the Meta AI app; during a WhatsApp call, the other person would then see a photorealistic representation of the wearer’s face, with expressions inferred from their voice. This is distinct from the full-body holographic calling Meta described for its separate VR glasses. The evidence provided does not establish a dependable launch date for Display Hologram in each country. 521

Expanded heads-up navigation will let wearers ask for cycling or public-transit directions by voice and see turn-by-turn cycling guidance or real-time transit departures on the display. Meta said availability would begin later in September in the US; the available source excerpt does not establish a complete country-by-country schedule. Meta also announced an Explore app for experiences built for Display. 5

The new Ray-Ban models

Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 is the camera-equipped refresh, starting at $449 and announced as available on September 23. Reported specifications include a 12-megapixel camera, video at up to 3K, six microphones, up to nine hours of battery life and a customizable Meta AI action button. 325

Ray-Ban Meta Audio removes the camera in favor of open-ear listening, calls and hands-free AI. Starting at $349, it opened for pre-order on September 23, with shipping scheduled for October 13. Meta says it weighs as little as 43 grams, offers up to 12 hours of use plus up to 48 hours from its case, and comes in Clubmaster and Burbank styles. It supports a range of prescriptions and has adjustable temple tips, nose pads and hinges to help with fit. 201825

What else is on Meta’s glasses roadmap?

Meta outlined Dolby Atmos Capture for videos with spatial sound, Dynamic Photo for taking multiple frames and using AI to suggest one, and Landscape Crop Mode and Private Processing. It also said its Muse personal AI agent is coming to AI glasses to help with tasks and longer-term plans. These are announcements about the broader software direction, not confirmation that every capability is live on every model. 192329

The lineup extends beyond Ray-Bans: reports from Connect list lower-priced Adventurer glasses and separate VR glasses planned for spring 2027. Those VR glasses—and their holographic calling—are different products from Ray-Ban Display. 71