EssilorLuxottica and Meta Push Camera-Free Smart Glasses Into Europe as Portfolio Tops 100 Models
Published on 09/24/2026 at 17:12 | Editorial boerse-global.de
EssilorLuxottica and Meta used the Meta Connect developer conference to unveil a broadened lineup of connected eyewear, headlined by a camera-free model designed to sidestep the privacy objections that have complicated life for camera-equipped frames in public spaces.
The centerpiece is the Ray-Ban Meta Audio, which drops image sensors entirely in favor of an open-ear audio system and voice-assistant functions. Weighing from 43 grams, it promises up to 12 hours of battery life per charge, extendable to 48 hours with the charging case. It arrives first in the classic Clubmaster and Burbank frame designs across 23 color and lens combinations, with prescription lenses supported. European shelves get it in mid-October at an entry price of EUR 349.
Alongside it, the partners rolled out the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3. That generation keeps the 12-megapixel camera for video capture, adds an array of six microphones and is rated for up to nine hours of runtime. Frame options include the Wayfarer, Aviator and Zena lines. The model carries a 12-megapixel camera capable of 3K video and is priced at USD 449, a premium over its predecessor that Meta technology chief Andrew Bosworth attributed to inflation and component shortages. He cautioned that supply constraints on memory modules could persist for another two to four years.
Display Model Reaches New Markets
The Ray-Ban Meta Display made its debut in the UK and Canada on Thursday, while customers in Germany, France and Italy can begin pre-orders at prices starting from EUR 899. Distribution is slated to widen to ten additional markets, among them Poland, Portugal and several Asian countries.
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A hearing-support feature cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration for mild to moderate impairment will follow within the current year, initially in the US market.
Distribution Push and Sales Base
The hardware refresh comes with a substantial geographic expansion. Connected eyewear will reach retail in Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Israel and Southeast Asian markets including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. By year-end, the partners intend to grow the portfolio past 100 distinct design and lens combinations.
That push rests on a solid sales base. EssilorLuxottica reported seven million units of connected eyewear sold last year, and the company aims to reach a wider audience with the new models and added use cases — including consumers who had held back over built-in cameras or were waiting for display-equipped frames.
The segment is gaining weight for the French-Italian group. Group revenue in the second quarter of 2026 came in at EUR 7,692 million, a rise of 7.2%, with sales in the AI-powered glasses business nearly doubling over the same period.
Shares Diverge on the Day
Investor reaction to the presentation was measured. The stock traded at EUR 148.05 on Thursday, a daily decline of 1.1%, though a separate reading put the shares at EUR 152.35, up 1.7% on the day. Since the start of the year, the equity has lost 45%, having come under heavy valuation pressure in recent months amid sector-wide debate and questions over leadership. A separate tally put the year-to-date decline at 44%.
The deepened technology partnership underscores the group's strategic intent to complement its traditional eyewear business with digital platform functions over the long term.
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