Meta ditches the camera on its newest smart glasses

At Meta Connect 2026, the company unveiled its new Meta VR Glasses, a headset that promises to revolutionize virtual reality. These glasses are a unique blend of virtual reality and augmented reality, similar in concept to devices like the Viture Beast and Xreal Aura. They can also be viewed as a more affordable alternative to Apple's Vision Pro headset.

The standout feature of these glasses is their innovative design. Instead of a bulky headset, they are essentially the lenses and displays of a VR headset integrated into a pair of fighter pilot goggles. These lenses are Micro OLED 5K ultra compact pancake screens, certified for Dolby Vision and Dolby Color. They are capable of displaying 3D content and can run at IMAX certification, making them a first in headset technology.

The VR Glasses are designed to be lightweight, weighing only 100 grams or 3.57 ounces, significantly lighter than the Meta Quest headset, which weighs 1.1 pounds or 500 grams. This lightness contributes to their comfort, with users finding them comfortable to wear and not overheating, thanks to a separate battery puck.

Interestingly, the VR Glasses do away with traditional controllers. Instead, they rely on eye and gesture controls for most interactions, providing a more intuitive and seamless user experience. The glasses also support Bluetooth controllers for compatibility with other Meta devices.

As for content, the glasses offer a diverse range of 3D movies, shows, and applications. This includes Dolby-certified 3D content and IMAX certification, which could potentially set a new standard in virtual reality. The glasses come with a starting price of $1,299, a premium price tag compared to other VR headsets, but still significantly cheaper than the Apple Vision Pro.