Brief
Meta launches Ray‑Ban and Oakley smart glasses in South Africa
Meta’s Ray‑Ban and Oakley glasses will be sold in South Africa later this year, but the Muse AI assistant will not be available locally at launch.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Meta announced that its Ray‑Ban and Oakley smart glasses will be officially launched in South Africa, following a joint statement by EssilorLuxottica on 24 September that listed the country among ten new markets.
What happened
The announcement said the glasses will reach South African retailers later in 2026, alongside launches in Israel, Poland, New Zealand and Turkey. The same footnote confirmed that Oakley Meta, Ray‑Ban Meta and Ray‑Ban Meta Optics will be available, but did not mention the lower‑priced Meta Glasses line, which is slated for Singapore, South Korea, Mexico, the UAE and Brazil.
What the reports add
TechCentral notes that retailer Evetech already lists the Ray‑Ban Meta Wayfarer at roughly R10 745, though it lacks an official retail footprint and warranty support is handled by the retailer. The outlet also points out that Meta’s Muse AI agent, launched on 8 September in the US and Canada, will be “available in US only” for the new glasses, meaning South African buyers should not expect the feature at launch. The same restriction applies to Meta’s FDA‑cleared hearing‑enhancement feature.
What was said
Meta’s announcement described the new US$249 “Meta Adventurer” as its most accessible price yet. TechCentral reported that Reuters said Meta shipped Muse despite internal concerns about data handling, and that Meta delayed the Muse release in April to address those concerns.
How it came about
Meta’s broader smart‑glasses rollout was first detailed in a September 24 Felo News piece on the Ray‑Ban Gen 3 launch, which highlighted the addition of Muse AI and privacy safeguards. The South African entry follows that global expansion strategy.
Key facts
- Meta’s Ray‑Ban and Oakley smart glasses will be launched in South Africa later in 2026. (techcentral.co.za)
- Retailer Evetech lists the Ray‑Ban Meta Wayfarer for about R10 745. (techcentral.co.za)
- Meta’s Muse AI assistant will not be available in South Africa at launch. (techcentral.co.za)
Sources
- [1] techcentral.co.za — originally reported as “Meta's smart glasses are officially coming to South Africa”
