Meta Platforms is expanding its Ray-Ban smart glasses lineup with two new models designed specifically for prescription lens wearers, according to a Bloomberg report published March 27, 2026. The models were expected to debut the week of March 31. Author details for the Bloomberg report were not available at time of publication.
- Meta plans to release two new Ray-Ban smart glasses variants aimed at prescription wearers.
- The move extends Meta’s existing AI eyewear line, which already integrates cameras, speakers, and on-device AI into standard frames.
- No official pricing or detailed specifications had been released by Meta as of April 2, 2026.
- The expansion targets a large demographic previously underserved by smart glasses products.
What Happened
Meta Platforms confirmed plans to introduce two new Ray-Ban smart glasses models tailored for prescription wearers, Bloomberg reported on March 27, 2026. The products were set to launch the following week. The announcement extends Meta’s existing collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of Ray-Ban, which has been the manufacturing and distribution partner for Meta’s smart eyewear since the first generation launched in 2021.
As of April 2, 2026 — the date of this publication — Meta had not released official specifications, confirmed pricing, or detailed availability information for the new prescription-compatible models.
Why It Matters
Prescription glasses wearers represent a substantial share of the global eyewear market. Prior generations of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses were designed around non-prescription frames, effectively excluding users who require corrective lenses from adopting the platform without additional workarounds such as contact lenses.
The existing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses — released in updated form in late 2023 — include integrated cameras, open-ear speakers, a microphone array, and access to Meta AI, the company’s large language model assistant. Expanding that feature set to prescription frames addresses a structural barrier to adoption that competitors in the wearables space have similarly struggled to solve.
Technical Details
Meta’s current Ray-Ban smart glasses embed a 12-megapixel camera in the bridge of the frame, open-ear speakers along the temples, and a five-microphone array for voice interaction. The glasses connect to a companion smartphone app and support Meta AI for real-time queries, image recognition, and audio playback.
The Bloomberg report did not disclose the specific optical or hardware configurations of the two new prescription models — for instance, whether they will support single-vision lenses only or also progressive and bifocal prescriptions, which carry distinct manufacturing constraints. It also did not specify whether the AI hardware components will be identical to the existing non-prescription lineup or revised.
Two distinct models are planned, suggesting Meta may be differentiating by frame style, prescription type, or feature tier — though the basis for the two-model split was not detailed in the source reporting available at time of publication.
Who’s Affected
The primary beneficiaries are existing Meta AI users and potential adopters who wear corrective lenses and have been unable or unwilling to use the non-prescription Ray-Ban smart glasses. Globally, an estimated 2.2 billion people have some form of vision impairment or refractive error requiring correction, according to the World Health Organization — representing a large addressable market for prescription-compatible wearables.
EssilorLuxottica, which controls a significant share of the global optical retail and lens manufacturing market through brands including LensCrafters and Pearle Vision in addition to Ray-Ban, stands to benefit from distribution of the new models through its existing optical retail network. That infrastructure could give Meta a meaningful advantage over competitors in reaching prescription wearers through channels where lens fitting and customization already occur.
What’s Next
Meta had not issued an official press release or product page for the new models as of April 2, 2026, and the Bloomberg report did not cite a confirmed retail price. Whether the prescription versions will carry a premium over the standard Ray-Ban Meta glasses — which retail at approximately $299 — was not specified in available reporting.
Key outstanding details include supported prescription ranges, compatibility with anti-reflective and photochromic coatings, turnaround time for custom lens orders, and whether the products will be available globally at launch or initially in select markets. Meta has not publicly addressed any of these points.
