Ray‑Ban Meta Audio glasses launch without camera, praised for audio and battery life
Tech reviews note that the new Ray‑Ban Meta Audio glasses omit a camera, focusing on open‑ear audio, up to 12 hours of battery, and integrated Meta AI features. Reviewers describe the design as normal‑looking and consider the lack of a camera a positive privacy choice.
First reported 20 hours ago · latest update 1 hour ago
Meta has two different frame styles for its $349 audio-only glasses: Burbank, which looks a bit like a thinner Wayfarer, and Clubmaster, an immediately recognizable Ray-Ban design. I opted for the latter because it comes in a wider variety of colors and I prefer thinner frames in general.
From the front, I'm not sure anyone would recognize the glasses as having any tech abilities. My frames did have the transparent arms Meta often uses to display the inner circuitry of the glasses, but it's still relatively subtle.
There isn't a camera or front-facing LED, but the setup is overall similar to Meta's other glasses. The right arm still has a touchpad for controlling volume, answering calls and other functions, and there's a small inward-facing LED for notifications. There's also a tiny action button, which you can use as a dedicated shortcut for certain features.
It might seem like Meta simply stripped down its existing glasses designs, but the company's VP of Wearables, Ming Hua, told me that the company actually had to rebuild the speaker and microphone setup to work on a smaller frame.
That work definitely paid off. The audio-only glasses are noticeably slimmer than other models. They also fit better and are far more comfortable because less of the weight sits toward the front of the frames. At 47 grams, the Clubmaster glasses are only 2 grams lighter than the Ray-Ban Meta Optics frames, but they feel significantly lighter because they put less pressure around my nose.
If you've read my past reviews of other Meta-branded glasses, you know I often struggle with getting a good fit. Most of the frame styles feel like they are meant for faces just a bit wider than my own, and the weight tends to cause them to slip around my face.
But the Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses have traditional notepads that actually stay in place. You can also get the tips adjusted by an optician (Meta also provides this service at its retail stores and pop-ups as well), but these actually fit me well out of the box without any tweaks. I wore them for several long stretches and actually forgot I was wearing smart glasses because they felt so much like my typical shades.
Citations · 3 reports from 3 outlets
Tap a citation to read it above, right here on T.A.M.
Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses review: No camera, no problem
Normal-looking glasses with solid audio and way better battery life is a win for everyone.
20 hours ago · staff@engadget.com (Karissa Bell)I don’t miss the camera on the Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses
The other day I whizzed past several people while running in the park, my playlist blasting at full volume. The next morning, I smiled at a barista while ordering a caramel apple-flavored matcha latte. Afterward, I sat on a park bench reading a book, called up a pal to chat about her recent trip to […]
20 hours ago · Victoria SongMeta’s camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses are finally available to buy — buy now from $349
The camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses are now available starting at $349. Get up to 12 hours of battery life, open-ear audio, and Meta AI in Clubmaster and Burbank styles.
1 hour ago