# Meta Launches Its Own-Brand AI Glasses at $299 – Same Tech, No Ray-Ban Tax > Source: > Published: 2026-06-24 15:00:58+00:00 Strip the Ray-Ban logo off a pair of smart glasses, keep the guts, and drop the price by **$80**. That’s essentially what Meta just did. The [ Meta Adventurer and Meta Fury](https://about.fb.com/news/2026/06/meta-essilorluxottica-partner-launch-meta-glasses/) launched June 23 at **$299** each — roughly the cost of a decent pair of prescription frames — packing what The Verge describes as “effectively the same” internal hardware as the $379 Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2. A third model, the **Meta Starfire** designed with Kylie Jenner, runs $399 for those who want their AI wearable to double as an influencer aesthetic statement. All three ship with **Muse Spark**, which Meta’s Superintelligence Labs calls its first “superintelligence” AI model — a label worth holding at arm’s length until independent testing catches up. Apple’s expected [smart glasses](https://www.gadgetreview.com/apple-cooks-up-custom-silicon-smart-glasses-and-ai-chips-signal-techs-next-evolution)debut looms, and Meta is treating this like a land grab. ## What You’re Actually Getting for $299 *The spec story is strong, with one honest asterisk attached.* - Camera and audio hardware reportedly matches Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 internals, though Meta hasn’t published a full spec sheet confirming resolution — treat this as informed inference, not confirmed fact - Battery life tops **eight hours** standalone, stretching to**40 hours** with the foldable charging case [Muse Spark AI handles](https://www.gadgetreview.com/ai-powered-websites-you-didnt-know-can-supercharge-your-productivity)visual queries, turn-by-turn walking navigation, email dictation, and a “dynamic photo” burst feature that selects your best shot automatically- Three-position adjustable nose pads and flexible wire-reinforced temple tips — a genuine comfort upgrade over Ray-Ban’s one-size-fits-most approach - Prescription support from **−12.00 to +2.25**, with a post-purchase Rx Lens Swap service that won’t void your warranty The deliberate omission is a display. No in-lens screen, no AR overlays — that’s reserved for the $799 [Ray-Ban Meta](https://www.gadgetreview.com/ray-ban-meta-glasses-have-a-serious-creep-problem) Display. Everything on the $299 models flows through audio and your phone. [Alex Himel](https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/06/23/metas-alex-himel-on-new-meta-glasses-wanted-a-more-accessible-price-point.html), Meta’s head of wearables, told Yahoo Finance the company intentionally placed Meta-branded glasses in a lower price tier to reach price-sensitive consumers. Meta built a pricing ladder and wants you on the first rung. ## Does the Price Cut Cost You Anything Important? *The functional trade-offs are minimal — the sacrifices are mostly cosmetic.* The main losses are the Ray-Ban name and its premium materials feel. Battery life actually beats the display-equipped models. The [Kylie Jenner Starfire collab](https://www.meta.com/ai-glasses/meta-glasses/kylie-jenner/?srsltid=AfmBOor3EVZz4qRpciv65zJDmxTLQG2d_F-VhDoAupo1X5YiJE5qNxg_) is pure marketing seasoning — a slim oval frame chasing the same demographic that turned Stanley cups into a personality trait. Timing matters here. Apple’s expected smart-glasses debut looms, and [Meta](https://www.gadgetreview.com/meta-fires-contractors-who-exposed-ray-ban-glasses-privacy-scandal) is treating this like a land grab — the streaming-wars playbook applied to your face. [ EssilorLuxottica](https://www.essilorluxottica.com/en/group/history/) still manufactures these, so distribution runs through Best Buy, LensCrafters, and Sunglass Hut from day one. For anyone who has been AI-glasses-curious but not $379-curious, the $299 entry point makes the experiment feel genuinely low-stakes. Privacy concerns around face-mounted cameras haven’t gone anywhere, though. Apple’s next move will determine whether Meta priced these right — or just [priced them first](https://www.gadgetreview.com/htc-vive-eagle-smart-glasses-challenge-metas-ray-ban-dominance).