The subtext of Meta Connect 2026 was in some ways more interesting than the text: how much access are consumers, willing and unwilling, going to give Meta to their private lives—and at what price? Meta Connect 2026 launched an expected camera-free glasses product as well as a handheld device for accessing Muse which seemed to acknowledge that not all users are ready for their core technology, and also shared some new launches in the VR space that seem designed to tempt the world to get much more comfortable with wearables. We polled 552 people in Forrester’s ConsumerVoices Market Research Online Community (MROC) to get a read on where Meta’s products stand with the general public.

Camera-Free Glasses Launch Free Of Context

Five years after launching their Glasses product, the public backlash has intensified, as viral videos demonstrated users tampering with the filming indicator light and the first waves of user content showed the glasses were being used for public harassment and nonconsensual filming. As expected, Meta introduced Audio Glasses, sans camera and meant to allow users to access the convenience of the wearable for audio and AI access, and noted that Meta Glasses are now an FDA-cleared hearing enhancement device, accessible via a $149 activation fee at purchase.  The slimmed-down Gen 3 models of their camera-enabled Ray-Ban glasses (including two new styles) plus new collaborations with Kylie Jenner and BLACKPINK’s Lisa also debuted. With 51 style combinations for Meta’s own glasses, including an entry-level Adventurer model starting at $249, it’s clear that Meta’s overall product vision likely remains the same. Meta seems to be counting on letting a feature-rich product environment and user-friendly experience simply overwhelm privacy concerns, noting no new features designed to protect the public.

Year over year, our data isn’t showing huge movement on glasses overall: in 2025, 79% of our poll respondents don’t currently own AI glasses and aren’t interested in owning or buying any AI glasses; in 2026, of the 93% of our respondents who do not own smart glasses, 76% said they do not intend to buy a pair. But Meta is clearly the category leader: Of those who do own smart glasses, the vast majority (73%) did buy Meta glasses—and they’ve also captured the majority of the interest from shoppers: 70% said they’re interested in Meta’s glasses, more than a 20% lead over the next brand. Only 21.2% of respondents said they would be more likely to purchase camera-free glasses.

Muse Is Meta’s Promise For The Future

Safety did feature into the big introduction of Muse, personified by Jolly, who you can expect to see a lot of in the months to come. Meta’s Muse agent (despite a rough patch this week when it lost the ability to shop on Amazon) promises a truly personal agentic experience, working for you even after you’ve closed the app to place purchases, make suggestions, and remembering the full scope of your interactions, and with that level of access comes significant privacy concerns. Meta emphasized that Muse works within Muse Secure VM and will soon work within Muse Confidential VM for certain tasks, utilizing technology borrowed from WhatsApp to shield your interactions even from Meta. Now with its incorporation into Meta’s glasses product, they’ve removed even the friction of typing in your requests. Subscription tiers start at $20/month. Just 8% of respondents we surveyed said they’d tried Muse already, but Meta is betting big that that number will rise.

AR/VR Advances Offer Other Use Cases For Wearable Experiences

Meta Connect began as Meta’s VR product showcase in the metaverse era, and 2026 revealed the first big advance in a long time. Meta’s new lightweight VR glasses, rumored for years under the codename Project Phoenix were officially announced, as well as a Charm bracelet/handheld device for accessing Muse without glasses that also seems to be camera enabled, and will be available by Christmas.

Overall, Meta’s ecosystem approach reflected our respondents’ own discovery process. With just a few weeks on the market, it’s not necessarily a draw in and of itself—31.7% of respondents said they’d gotten interested in Muse after researching smart glasses, while 18.9% said they’d gotten interested in smart glasses while learning about Muse. 49% said the Muse integration had no effect on how they feel about smart glasses—but Meta is betting that will change with time and exposure.

 

 

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