Meta Connect 2026 is set to take place on September 23 and 24, with new smart glasses, mixed reality hardware and AI improvements expected to take centre stage. Meta could also reveal updates to its Ray Ban and Oakley eyewear, expand the availability of its display glasses and address growing concerns about privacy.
The event arrives at an important time for Meta’s wearable ambitions. Smart glasses are becoming a bigger part of the company’s hardware strategy, but their growing popularity has also brought questions about discreet recording and the privacy of people around the wearer.
There are also concerns about rising component costs, particularly memory, which could affect the prices of upcoming devices.
Here are seven things to watch for at Meta Connect 2026, based on current reports and rumours.
Camera free smart glasses could offer a different approach to AI
One of the more intriguing possibilities is a new pair of camera free smart glasses, reportedly being developed under the codename Luna.
Unlike existing Ray Ban Meta glasses, which use built in cameras to capture photos and videos, these glasses could focus on voice based interactions with Meta AI.
That could give users a way to access an AI assistant without wearing a device capable of recording people around them. It would also offer Meta a different approach to smart eyewear at a time when privacy concerns are becoming harder to ignore.
The trade off is that removing the camera would limit some of the features that make current AI glasses useful. Without visual input, the assistant would not be able to analyse what the wearer is looking at or respond to questions about objects in their surroundings.
Meta has not confirmed that Luna will appear at the event, so its features and launch plans remain uncertain.
Project Phoenix could offer an early look at Meta’s next headset
Meta could also provide a first official look at Project Phoenix, a mixed reality headset that has been linked to a possible 2027 release.
Leaked images reportedly show a slim design that looks closer to a pair of glasses than a traditional VR headset. That could make it a notable departure from the bulkier form factor associated with devices such as the Meta Quest 3S.
However, the reported design includes a cable, raising the possibility that some of the hardware, such as the battery or processor, could sit outside the headset.
Moving those components elsewhere could help reduce the weight of the device itself, although it may introduce other practical considerations for users.
For now, the available information is limited. Meta Connect could provide more clarity on the headset’s design, capabilities and intended audience, but an actual product launch is not expected this year.
New Oakley and Ray Ban glasses could bring hardware upgrades
Smart glasses are likely to remain a major part of Meta’s presentation, with potential updates to both its Oakley and Ray Ban ranges.
A second generation of Oakley Meta glasses is one possibility. The current line takes a sportier approach to smart eyewear, with designs intended for activities such as running and outdoor use.
A successor could build on that direction with improvements to battery life, durability and everyday usability. However, specific hardware changes have not been confirmed.
There is also speculation about the Ray Ban Meta Gen 3. Rumours point towards improved battery performance, smarter AI features and better audio, although it remains unclear whether the next generation is ready to be announced.
With the second generation already bringing changes to the Ray Ban range, Meta could use Connect to explain how it plans to develop its eyewear lineup further.
Meta Ray Ban Display glasses could expand beyond the US
Another potential announcement concerns the international availability of Meta Ray Ban Display glasses.
These smart glasses include an integrated display, adding a visual layer to the experience offered by Meta’s camera and audio focused eyewear.
The product has so far been limited to the US, with a broader rollout reportedly delayed because of exceptionally strong demand and limited inventory.
Meta Connect could provide an opportunity to announce new markets or explain when customers elsewhere can expect access.
Price will also be an important consideration. The glasses retail for $800 in the US, placing them well above many conventional smart glasses.
An international launch would therefore raise questions about regional pricing, availability and whether Meta can meet demand in additional markets.
Higher prices could affect the next generation of smart glasses
New hardware could bring higher prices, particularly if the cost of components continues to rise.
Memory supply and pricing pressures could affect the economics of developing and manufacturing consumer electronics. Smart glasses are not immune, especially as manufacturers add more sophisticated processing and AI capabilities.
Meta has already increased the price of its Ray Ban glasses with the second generation, making another increase a possibility for future models.
That does not mean a price rise is guaranteed. Meta has yet to announce pricing for any potential new devices at Connect.
Still, customers considering an upgrade will be watching closely to see whether improved features come with a higher starting price.
Meta Muse could receive new AI features and wider availability
Meta Muse, the company’s AI agent, is another area to watch.
The service is designed to handle tasks such as sending emails, filling out forms and shopping, moving beyond the usual question and answer format of an AI chatbot.
Although it launched recently, Meta could use Connect to outline further improvements, introduce a new model or demonstrate additional capabilities.
International availability is another possibility. If Meta plans to bring Muse to more countries, the event could provide an opportunity to explain its expansion plans.
There are still questions about how the service handles personal information and how much control users have over actions performed on their behalf. Any announcement about new capabilities could therefore be accompanied by further discussion of privacy and user permissions.
Privacy updates could become a major part of the presentation
Privacy is likely to remain an important subject as Meta expands its smart glasses business.
One of the biggest concerns surrounding camera equipped eyewear is the possibility of recording people without their knowledge. The small form factor makes the issue particularly relevant in public places and social settings.
Meta has already introduced a software change intended to prevent recording when someone covers the capture LED after recording has started.
The company could announce additional measures at Connect, potentially building on its efforts to make recording indicators more reliable.
Meta’s vice president of wearables, Alex Himel, has indicated that further updates are planned to help ensure the capture LED reliably alerts bystanders when photos or videos are being recorded.
The details of any new safeguards remain unknown. However, privacy features could become just as important as camera quality, battery life and AI performance when Meta presents its next generation of wearable technology.
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