Meta glasses wearers hit with paywall to use built-in feature

Meta has introduced a monthly subscription fee for its 'Conversation Focus' feature on Ray-Ban smart glasses. Users are limited to three hours of free usage per month before needing to pay $19.99 for the premium tier.
Why it matters
This move highlights the growing trend of hardware manufacturers shifting toward subscription-based revenue models for AI-powered features.
Image source, Getty Images By Liv McMahon Technology reporter Published 2 July 2026 Owners of Meta's AI glasses have been told they must pay a monthly fee if they want full access to a feature that was previously free.
The article reports on the policy change neutrally, including both the company's rationale and user criticism.
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