Meta reportedly plans smart glasses without a camera

Meta is preparing smart glasses without a camera, The Information reports, citing people familiar with the plans. The model, internally called Luna, could arrive this fall as an alternative to the company’s camera-equipped glasses.

Luna reportedly has six microphones for speaking with Meta AI, speakers that direct sound toward the wearer’s ears and a button for quickly activating the assistant. Its arms are slimmer than those of Meta’s current glasses. Two frame styles, Clubmaster and Burbank, are planned. The glasses could be unveiled at Meta Connect on September 23–24, with shipments targeted for October.

The camera-free design comes amid criticism of existing smart glasses, which some online critics have dubbed “pervert glasses” after videos of people being filmed without their consent spread on social media. Some owners have also covered or tampered with the light meant to indicate when the camera is recording. Meta has disabled cameras on affected glasses, though the company estimates that fewer than 0.1% of pairs sold have been tampered with.

Without a camera, Luna would avoid the possibility of filming people through the glasses, but it would also lose first-person photos, video and AI features that depend on seeing what the wearer sees. Meta hopes this option will appeal to people who want smart glasses without a built-in camera.