After backlash, Meta pauses plan to ‘rate limit’ its smart glasses

Meta has paused plans to put Conversation Focus, a smart glasses feature that helps users hear nearby speech more clearly, behind a $20 monthly subscription. The company says the feature will remain free for early testers through its Early Access Program, though premium features are still expected to become subscription-based over time.

The reversal shows how sensitive users are to subscriptions for features that feel like core functionality, especially accessibility-related tools. Meta still appears committed to recurring revenue from wearables, suggesting future smart glasses may increasingly split capabilities into free and paid tiers.