Meta is unveiling low-cost artificial intelligence (AI) smart glasses under its own label.
Meta on the 23rd (local time) released the smart glasses "Meta Adventurer" and "Meta Fury," developed in collaboration with eyewear company EssilorLuxottica.
The two products have a design similar to the Ray-Ban "Wayfarer" that Meta introduced in 2023. The price is $299 (about 450,000 won), the same as when the first-generation Wayfarer launched. Compared with the $799 (about 1.2 million won) price of the "Ray-Ban Display," which went on sale last year, it is less than half.
Meta also introduced the oval model "Starfire," made in collaboration with prominent broadcaster Kylie Jenner, for $399 (about 600,000 won). However, these products do not use EssilorLuxottica brands such as Ray-Ban or Oakley and instead prominently carry Meta's own label.
The new models are equipped with Meta's recently introduced in-house AI model "Muse Spark." Although they have no display, they include speakers, a camera, and microphones so users can converse with the AI by voice or listen to music, and they can also take photos and videos.
Bloomberg reported that Meta hinted at the possibility of additionally introducing low-cost glasses without a camera.
According to market research firm Omdia, Meta's share of the global AI smart glasses market reached 85.2% last year. Even so, Meta's move to expand its low-priced lineup is seen as a step taken with future competition against Google, Samsung Electronics, and Apple in mind.
At last month's I/O developer conference, Google released AI glasses made in collaboration with Samsung Electronics, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster. Apple is also widely expected to unveil AI glasses next year.
Alex Himel, Meta's vice president (VP) in charge of wearable devices, singled out Apple as a strong competitor in the smart glasses market, saying, "Whatever they do must be taken seriously," and "Apple is skilled in hardware and design." However, he added that because Apple operates the iPhone operating system iOS in a closed manner, Meta's smart glasses cannot interact perfectly with the iPhone.