The wider story was hardware: lighter VR, camera-free smart glasses and new reasons to wear them throughout the day. Meta’s event recap
Meta puts VR on a serious diet
Meta VR Glasses weigh around 100 grams, with the battery and computing hardware moved into a separate, tethered puck. Due in spring 2027 for $1,299.99, they combine a 5K display with virtual workspaces and controls that turn a flat surface into a keyboard and touchpad. The ambition is clear: make VR comfortable enough for a film or a working session. Meta’s announcement
Camera-free Ray-Bans make a play for everyday wear
The new Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses keep the music, calls and AI assistance while dropping the camera. Weighing 43 grams, they offer a claimed 12-hour battery life in Clubmaster and Burbank frames. Starting at $349 and shipping on 13 October, they give Meta a simpler proposition for people who want useful glasses without wearing a recording device. Product details
Ray-Ban Gen 3 arrives as Meta widens its eyewear ambitions
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 launched from $449 with slimmer frames, up to nine hours of battery life and a customisable action button. Aviator and Zena designs join the range, while a $249 Meta Adventurer arrives on 23 October. With more than 100 eyewear options promised by year-end, Meta is increasingly competing on style, fit and price alongside technology. Meta’s eyewear announcement
Hologram calls promise a more personal connection
Meta unveiled photorealistic digital representations that reproduce a caller’s expressions in real time. Hologram calling will accompany the VR Glasses launch, with early access coming to WhatsApp on Ray-Ban Display in the US beforehand. Meanwhile, Display glasses are expanding into the UK and Canada, with France, Germany and Italy following on 13 October. Meta’s event recap
Smart glasses move into hearing assistance
Meta announced Hearing Enhancement, an FDA-authorised software feature for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss on supported glasses. It is due in the US later this year for $149.99, or through a Meta One subscription. It gives the glasses a potentially compelling everyday role beyond entertainment and AI queries. Meta’s announcement
Hollywood and live sport bolster Meta’s VR pitch
Meta is putting entertainment at the heart of its new VR offering, with IMAX Enhanced certification, expanded 3D film libraries and partnerships spanning Disney, James Cameron’s Lightstorm Vision and major sports broadcasters. It promises more than 100 immersive live US sports events annually once VR Glasses launch. The pitch is a private cinema and a courtside seat in one device. Entertainment plans
Beat Saber prepares to put down the controllers
Beat Saber’s biggest update arrives in spring 2027 on Quest and Meta VR Glasses. Its new Flux mode uses hand tracking to let players slice and punch through notes, alongside a refreshed campaign, revamped visuals and a rewards system. Controller support remains, but the update gives Meta’s move towards hands-only VR a recognisable flagship game. Beat Saber announcement
