Meta Launches Cheaper Smart Glasses — No Ray-Ban Required

Meta is pushing into more affordable smart glasses territory with a new pair that drops the Ray-Ban branding entirely. The Verge got hands-on time with the hardware, which Meta is positioning as a lower-cost entry point into its wearable AI lineup. The glasses retain the core AI assistant features from the Ray-Ban Meta line but ditch the fashion-house co-sign — and the price tag that comes with it. Meta hasn't released full specs or a firm retail price yet, but the hands-on confirms the product is real and apparently close to launch. Kylie Jenner is already involved in marketing, which tells you something about who Meta is targeting. Battery life and privacy controls are both called out in The Verge's preview as areas worth watching. It's a smart move if Meta wants AI glasses to stop being a niche flex purchase and actually reach normal consumers — though whether cheaper hardware changes adoption rates remains to be seen.