Meta Launches Cheaper AI Smart Glasses Starting at $299

Meta in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica has unveiled a new line of more affordable AI smart glasses starting at just $299. Breaking away from its popular Ray-Ban and Oakley co-branding this new "Meta Glasses" lineup aims to make wearable artificial intelligence accessible to a broader audience.

These new devices are significantly cheaper than last year’s $800 Ray-Ban Display models. The collection features various shapes and colors with a classic rectangular frame and an exclusive slim oval design created in partnership with celebrity Kylie Jenner.

A major highlight of the Meta Glasses is the introduction of Meta AI powered by "Muse Spark." Developed by Meta's Superintelligence Lab Muse Spark is a new highly efficient AI model built specifically to process real-world interactions quickly. Unlike traditional smart glasses for this AI integration allows users to seamlessly handle daily tasks, translations and visual queries through text and voice interactions.

Meta’s aggressive pricing and AI push come as the wearable tech market heats up. Last year, global smart glass shipments hit 9.6 million units with Meta dominating 76.1% of the market share. Competitors are also making moves; just last week the Snap introduced its augmented-reality glasses though with a hefty $2,195 price tag and a focus on overlaying digital content rather than AI assistance.

With this $299 entry point Meta is betting big that everyday consumers are ready to embrace "personal intelligence" on the go.