EssilorLuxottica and Meta Broaden Smart-Glasses Lineup as FDA Clears Hearing Feature
Published on 09/24/2026 at 17:41 | Editorial boerse-global.de
EssilorLuxottica used Meta's Connect developer conference on Thursday to unveil an expanded smart-glasses range alongside its technology partner, adding new frame styles, a camera-free model and a hearing-assistance feature that has secured clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration.
The Franco-Italian eyewear group and Meta said the portfolio of connected glasses will grow to more than 100 models by the end of the year, building on seven million units sold last year. The push is aimed at buyers who have so far held back from camera-equipped frames or who have been waiting for display technology.
Camera-free frames and a third-generation flagship
Central to the expansion is the Ray-Ban Meta Audio, which drops cameras entirely and tips the scales at 43 grams. It arrives in the classic Clubmaster and Burbank shapes, carries a starting price of USD 349 and offers up to 12 hours of battery life per charge.
Alongside it, the partners presented the third-generation Ray-Ban Meta, a flagship model with a 12-megapixel camera capable of 3K video, priced at USD 449. Meta's chief technology officer, Andrew Bosworth, attributed the higher price versus the previous generation to inflation and component shortages. He cautioned that supply constraints on memory modules could persist for another two to four years.
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The lineup also widens on the design front, with two new frame styles, Capri and Nova, plus two models created with the artist LISA.
Hearing feature and display rollout
Software is doing much of the work. For the US market, the pair introduced Muse, a personal AI assistant designed to handle tasks hands-free through the glasses. A hearing-support function, cleared by the FDA, targets adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss and is set to be activated before the end of the year, either through a one-off payment or as part of a subscription.
Distribution is moving in parallel. The Ray-Ban Meta Display goes on sale today in the UK and Canada, while customers in Germany, France and Italy can begin pre-ordering at prices from EUR 899. Beyond that, the companies plan to bring the smart-glasses range to ten additional markets in the coming months, including Poland, Portugal, Israel and South Africa, as well as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Clinical data and a cautious analyst view
Separately, EssilorLuxottica on Tuesday reported interim results from a randomized clinical trial in China. The six-month assessment of Essilor Stellest 2.0 lenses against the progression of myopia in children showed significant treatment effects.
Market reaction to the product news was muted. A Citigroup analyst described the presentations as largely expected, according to media reports, and the brokerage stayed cautious on growth in the second half of 2026, pointing to demanding prior-year comparatives. Even so, the US bank kept its "Buy" rating on the stock.
The shares have been under pressure for months, with the stock down 46% since the start of the year.
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