Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses attempt to curb the controversy by removing the cameras, and while they’re still an excellent product, the price makes them harder to recommend.

This has been a bit of a rollercoaster year for Meta wearables. Meta’s VR division shrank considerably earlier this year, then later announced a massively redesigned follow-up that’ll launch next year. And while Meta has debuted dozens of new smart glasses styles throughout the year that have sold quite well, the company can’t seem to get away from controversy. That’s where Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses come in.

Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses do exactly what they sound like. It’s a pair of smart glasses powered by Meta AI and only includes the audio part of the Ray-Ban Meta experience. There are exactly zero cameras on these glasses, and the hope (obviously) is that they’ll provide a smart experience without the potential privacy problems. The problem, for me at least, is that they’re simply too expensive despite lacking standout features.

Now, that doesn’t mean Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses aren’t worthwhile. They feature a much wider prescription range (-12 to +6) than the majority of Meta smart glasses models, which often cap out at -6 to +6. The battery life is also significantly better thanks to the lack of a camera and other improvements in the hardware. And, of course, if you want a pair of AI glasses but don’t want the camera, these are the only options from Meta.

If I were to choose between the two available models, I’d pick the Clubmaster style every time.

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