After Best Buy launched Meta boutiques across the country so folks can try out the latest AI glasses for themselves, Meta is about now ready to take the stage for its biggest event of the year. While Zucks will probably takes us into the metaverse and deliver some updates on the company’s AI initiatives at some point during tonight’s Meta Connect 2026 keynote, it is the hardware with next-generation AI glasses and the “Phoenix” mixed reality experience we have our eye on.
Meta Connect 2026
Zuckerberg will be taking the stage late afternoon/this evening at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET.
We presume there will be a heavy-dose of AI glasses news and updates. Whether it be the brand’s rumored camera-free glasses with a more streamlined, fashion-forward appeal and microphones for access to Meta’s AI tech, or more from its partner frame brands, chances are the latest face computers will be front and center.
Ray-Ban debuted its lates Gen 2 glasses at last year’s event, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to catch a glimpse of the next-gen model, those rumored AI glasses with inset display in the lenses, or even its own anti-creep models without any cameras at all.
Go hands-on with the latest Meta, Ray-Ban, and Oakley AI glasses at Best Buy, now live in 50 locations
Introducing Meta Lab @ Best Buy: Get some hands-on time with latest AI glasses tech
Phoenix could also be on the slate. Meta is rumored to have new mixed-reality hardware in the works codenamed Phoenix and, after images “leaked” showing off what appears to be the new goggle-like device, it seems tonight’s Meta Connect showcase could host a proper reveal.
Phoenix is said to combine a more streamlined wearable (as opposed to a chunky headset) connected to a control puck of some kind with both hand and eye tracking tech as well.
From there, we suspect a ton of updates on Meta’s metaverse and avatar initiatives, as well as Muse – the company’s artificial intelligence agent.
In the mean time, you can go give all of the latest slate of AI goggles and glasses a go for yourself as part of the ongoing Meta Lab @ Best Buy program. There are 50 locations across the country showing off the latest from models – Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta Vanguard, Oakley Meta HSTN, Meta Ray-Ban Display – and you can get a complete rundown of what to expect right here.
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