Meta Debuts New Ray-Ban AI Glasses With Canadian Pricing

Meta unveiled its biggest expansion of AI glasses yet at its Connect keynote yesterday evening, introducing its first audio-only model alongside a new generation of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

The company debuted Ray-Ban Meta Audio, its first-ever audio glasses, and Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3), the latest version of what Meta calls the world’s best-selling AI glasses. Meta detailed the announcements in its newsroom, with Muse, the company’s personal AI agent, also coming to the glasses experience.

Ray-Ban Meta Audio puts earbuds and AI features into what Meta describes as its lightest and slimmest AI glasses yet. They weigh 43 grams and offer up to 12 hours of hands-free use on a charge, with another 48 hours available through the included charging case.

Wearers can listen to music and podcasts, take calls and speak with their AI assistant hands-free. Meta says its microphone system can capture the wearer’s voice more clearly than earbuds during calls.

The Audio lineup comes in 23 colour and lens combinations across two styles: the retro-inspired Clubmaster and rectangular Burbank. Both support a wide range of optical prescriptions.

Pre-orders opened yesterday evening starting at $349 USD, with shipments beginning October 13. In Canada, Ray-Ban lists the Clubmaster at $429 CAD with estimated delivery on October 22, while the Burbank is priced at $519 CAD.

Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3), meanwhile, gets a slimmer and more comfortable design, longer battery life and a customizable action button that can instantly launch Meta AI.

There are 27 colour and lens combinations across three styles: Aviator, Wayfarer and the new cat-eye Zena. Meta is also releasing a limited-edition Aviator in a vintage-inspired colourway to mark the 90th anniversary of the Ray-Ban Aviator.

Battery life increases to as much as nine hours, up one hour from last year’s Gen 2. Professionally adjustable temple tips are designed to improve fit, while a new six-microphone array cuts more than 90 percent of background noise for clearer calls and voice commands.

The 12-megapixel camera can record 3K Ultra HD video hands-free, while a new dynamic photos feature automatically selects the best frame. As with earlier generations, a built-in LED indicates when the glasses are capturing photos or video.

Gen 3 is available now starting at $449 USD. On Ray-Ban’s Canadian website, the Aviator and Zena are priced at $649 CAD, while the Wayfarer costs $599 CAD. Estimated delivery is October 5.

Meta is also bringing more advanced video capabilities to its glasses later this year. The company says its AI glasses will become the first consumer devices able to capture and play back video in Dolby Atmos with 360-degree spatial sound, with the recording process handled automatically.

By the end of the year, Meta plans to offer more than 100 glasses options across Ray-Ban, Oakley and Meta Glasses.

The broader Meta Glasses collection is expanding too, with new Capri and Nova styles, a Kylie Jenner Ivory colourway and a LISA-designed collection, each starting at $399 USD.

At the lower end, the new Meta Adventurer starts at $249 USD. It’s available for pre-order now and goes on sale October 23. Meta is also expanding its glasses into additional countries, starting with Singapore, South Korea, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.

The launch shows Meta widening its AI glasses lineup across more designs and price points while tying the products more closely to Muse. The AI assistant recently topped Canada’s App Store charts and will increasingly handle everyday tasks through Meta’s glasses without requiring users to pull out their phones.

Meta’s glasses expansion follows last year’s unveiling of display-equipped Ray-Ban glasses. The company is also experimenting with dedicated AI hardware through its palm-sized Muse Charm.

With models now ranging from the $249 USD Adventurer to the $449 USD Gen 3, Meta is making a broader push to move AI glasses beyond early adopters and into a more mainstream consumer category.