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Meta Connect 2026 introduced Meta VR Glasses, a 100-gram VR headset launching in spring 2027 for $1,299.99, alongside Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3), the camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio and a European launch for Meta Ray-Ban Display from €899. Meta did not announce a Quest 4. For businesses, that means the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S remain Meta’s current headsets to deploy, while the new glasses show where Meta’s roadmap is heading. [1, 2]
Below is every announcement from the 23 to 24 September event, with prices, release dates and what it means for European buyers.
Meta announced one new VR device, two new pairs of AI glasses, a wider rollout for its display glasses and a pocket AI device. The table summarises prices and availability. [1, 2, 3, 5]
| Product | What it is | Starting price | Availability | Europe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meta VR Glasses | Glasses-style VR headset with a separate compute puck | $1,299.99 | Spring 2027 | Not yet confirmed |
| Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) | Third-generation camera AI glasses | $449 | On sale from 23-09-2026 | Not yet confirmed |
| Ray-Ban Meta Audio | Meta’s first audio glasses, no camera or display | $349 | Pre-order now, ships 13-10-2026 | Not yet confirmed |
| Meta Ray-Ban Display | Existing display glasses with Neural Band; new features and markets | $799 (US), £749 (UK) | US, UK and Canada now | Germany, France, Italy: from €899, available 13-10-2026 |
| Muse Charm | Pocket device for Meta’s Muse AI agent | Not announced | Details later in 2026 | Not announced |
US prices are Meta’s announced starting prices. Local pricing and availability can differ.
Meta VR Glasses are a lightweight VR and mixed reality headset that splits into two parts: glasses of about 100 grams on your face, and a puck holding the processor, battery and storage. The puck connects via an optical tether and clips to a pocket or bag. Meta says this makes the glasses five times lighter than Meta Quest 3, with the 100-gram figure excluding the puck. [1]
Meta positions the device as a personal cinema, workspace and games console in one. Confirmed specifications and features: [1, 6]
Meta has not yet published storage capacity or the weight of the puck.
Meta VR Glasses trade field of view for comfort and sharpness. They are much lighter on the face and have a sharper micro-OLED display, but show a noticeably narrower view than Quest 3 and cost considerably more. [1, 6, 7]
| Meta VR Glasses | Meta Quest 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight on the face | About 100 g (puck carried separately) | 515 g (all-in-one) |
| Display | Micro-OLED, 2,412 x 2,288 per eye, up to 120 Hz | LCD, 2,064 x 2,208 per eye |
| Horizontal field of view | 70° | 110° |
| Processor | Snapdragon Reality Elite, in the puck | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, in the headset |
| Controllers | Optional; Touch Plus supported | Touch Plus included |
| Price and availability | $1,299.99, spring 2027 | Available now |
For long media sessions, travel and screen-based productivity, the lighter glasses design is the bigger step forward. For training and simulation, where a wide field of view and included controllers matter, Quest 3 remains the more practical choice today. Our Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 3S comparison covers which current model fits which use.
No. Meta VR Glasses is a new product line, not the Quest 4, and Meta did not announce a Quest 4 at Connect 2026. Meta’s own summary of the event does not mention one, and Meta continues to announce new games for both VR Glasses and Quest. [2]
VR Glasses does run the full Quest catalogue, so apps built for Quest carry over. The device also closely matches the ultra-light, puck-based headset previously reported under the codename Phoenix, which we covered in our Phoenix / Puffin report. For the latest on the next mainstream Quest, see our Quest 4 release outlook. [1]
Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) is a comfort, audio and battery upgrade rather than a camera upgrade. It starts at $449 and went on sale on 23-09-2026. [3]
Gen 2 launched at $379, so Gen 3 carries a $70 higher starting price in the US. [3, 8]
Ray-Ban Meta Audio are Meta’s first audio glasses: open-ear speakers, microphones and Meta AI, with no camera and no display. At 43 grams they are Meta’s lightest and slimmest AI glasses so far. [3]
Meta quotes up to 12 hours of battery life, with up to 48 more hours from the included charging case. The frames have professional-adjustable temple tips, adjustable or swappable nose pads and overextension hinges. They come in two styles, Clubmaster and Burbank, across 23 colour and lens combinations, and support a wide range of optical prescriptions. Pre-orders opened on 23-09-2026 at $349, with shipping from 13-10-2026. [3]
A camera-free model is relevant for workplaces where recording devices are restricted, although Meta has not positioned it as a business product.
Yes, in Germany, France and Italy from 13-10-2026, starting at €899. Pre-orders are rolling out now, with online ordering and retail sales in Paris, Milan, Rome, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich from 13-10-2026. The glasses also went on sale in the UK from £749 and in Canada, and can now be ordered online in the US from $799. The Netherlands and other EU markets are not part of this rollout. [5]
Prescription versions are available from 13-10-2026 through EssilorLuxottica optical stores in France and Italy, and later this year in Germany. [5]
Meta Ray-Ban Display is the existing model, not a new generation. The software updates announced at Connect include: [4, 5]
For hands-on impressions, battery life and business potential, read our Meta Ray-Ban Display review.
Connect 2026 was a consumer event: none of the new devices come with an enterprise edition or a first-party fleet management plan. That fits the direction Meta set earlier this year, when it stopped selling Horizon managed services and commercial Quest SKUs on 20-02-2026 to focus on consumer hardware and software. Horizon managed services licences became free from that date and remain supported for Quest 3 and 3S until 04-01-2030. [9]
What this means in practice:
Choosing between Quest models today? Our knowledge base lists the differences between Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S, and our team can advise on VR headsets for business, including volume pricing and device management.
Meta VR Glasses go on sale in spring 2027. Meta has not given an exact date or confirmed European availability yet. [1]
The announced US price is $1,299.99. European pricing has not been announced. [1]
No. They are controlled with eyes, hand gestures and voice, but Touch Plus controllers are supported and sold separately. Bluetooth gamepads also work. [1, 6]
Yes. Meta says VR Glasses have full access to the Meta Quest catalogue, and more than 75 games at launch can be played with hand tracking alone. [1]
Gen 3 adds a slimmer design, a customisable action button, a six-microphone array and one extra hour of battery life (nine hours versus eight). Video stays at 3K. The US starting price rises from $379 to $449. [3, 8]
No. They are audio-only AI glasses with open-ear speakers and microphones, weighing 43 grams, from $349. [3]
From €899 in Germany, France and Italy, with availability from 13-10-2026. It starts at £749 in the UK. [5]
Not yet. The Connect 2026 expansion covers the UK, Canada, France, Italy and Germany only. [5]
João Noronha is an XR and Immersive Content Specialist at VR Expert, with a strong interest in emerging technologies and their real-world applications. He focuses on turning complex developments in VR, AR, AI glasses, and immersive technology into clear, practical content for businesses and professionals exploring the XR industry.
