Meta’s Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses will get an official launch in South Africa, TechCentral reported. The glasses are made by Meta together with eyewear group EssilorLuxottica.
In a joint announcement on 24 September, EssilorLuxottica said it would expand retail into 10 new markets “in the coming months”. South Africa is on that list, along with Israel, Poland and New Zealand.
A footnote in Meta’s own announcement a day earlier said Oakley Meta, Ray-Ban Meta and Ray-Ban Meta Optics “will be available in these new markets later this year”. That footnote lists 11 markets, adding Turkey.
The footnote does not include Meta’s cheaper Meta Glasses range. That range is launching first in Singapore, South Korea, Mexico and the UAE, with Brazil to follow. It includes the new Meta Adventurer at US$249, which Meta calls its “most accessible price yet”.
South Africans can already buy the glasses through some shops. Retailer Evetech lists the standard Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer from about R10 745. Evetech said neither brand has an official retail presence locally, so warranty support runs through the retailer and not Meta.
TechCentral said it asked Meta for launch dates, local prices, retail partners and which products are coming. It also asked whether all features will work in South Africa. The publication said it was waiting for Meta to respond.
One feature local buyers should not expect soon is Muse, Meta’s new personal AI agent. Meta said Muse is available in the US and Canada. The joint announcement said that on the AI glasses, it will be “available in US only”.
The same limit applies to a new hearing enhancement feature. That feature has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Muse launched on 8 September. It can send emails, book travel, fill out forms and make purchases. It checks with users before taking sensitive actions.
Reuters reported that Meta released Muse despite internal concerns about how it handles sensitive personal data. Meta has said it delayed the release in April to make it more secure.
The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 is on sale now from $449. Meta said it is slimmer and lasts up to nine hours on a charge. That is one hour more than the Gen 2 model.
A small LED light still warns people nearby when the wearer is taking photos or video. A camera-free line called Ray-Ban Meta Audio ships from $349 on 13 October.
Neither the Audio line nor the new Meta VR Glasses, due in 2027, is named in the South African expansion.
TechCentral said the official launch is likely to raise privacy questions. South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act treats biometric data as special personal information. It largely exempts “purely personal or household” activity, the publication said.
Meta’s July software update turns off the camera if the LED light is covered or damaged. Meta also plans to bring “private processing” to its AI glasses later this year.
TechCentral said it has asked the Information Regulator, which enforces the act, for comment on Meta’s launch plans.
Source: this article is based on reporting by TechCentral. Image: TechCentral. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Technology desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Werner Jacobs covers technology for Tzaneen Voice. Werner reports on mobile networks, data prices, internet access, smartphones, apps, AI, cybersecurity and South African tech companies. Each story explains what a new product, price change or policy means for ordinary users in South Africa.