Smart glasses in French-speaking Switzerland: where does the trend stand in 2026?

They look like ordinary sunglasses, but they shoot video, take photos, play music and answer your questions. Smart glasses are no longer a Silicon Valley gadget: in 2026 you can find them at opticians across French-speaking Switzerland and, since October, at a Swiss telecom operator. So where does the trend really stand in Romandy? Here is an overview, with figures and sources.

A global market taking off, a cautious Switzerland

Worldwide, growth is clear: according to Swiss broadcaster RTS, the manufacturer sold seven million pairs in 2025, three times more than over the previous two years. In Switzerland, however, the market remains small. Speaking to RTS, Ilias Berdoz, sales director of the Romandy chain Berdoz Vision & Audition, describes buyers as mostly tech enthusiasts curious to see what these glasses bring to everyday life.

In other words, smart glasses are still a matter for early adopters in Romandy, but the offer is growing fast, which points to wider adoption in the coming months.

Where to buy them in French-speaking Switzerland

At opticians. This is the traditional channel. From the official Swiss launch in early October 2025, first-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses were available from CHF 419 at Visilab and Fielmann, with the second generation costing about CHF 100 more (source: École de la pomme). The Acuitis chain, which has 12 stores in Switzerland, offers personal fittings and says every combination of sun and prescription lenses is available in store.

At a telecom operator. New this autumn: since early October 2026, Sunrise presents itself as the first Swiss operator to sell Meta's AI glasses. According to ICT Journal, the range starts at CHF 269 (Meta Adventurer, Meta Fury) and goes up to CHF 559 for the Oakley Meta Vanguard, with the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (Gen 2) from CHF 429 and the Oakley Meta HSTN at CHF 509. Payment can be spread over 24 months, notes journalist Xavier Studer.

Good to know: still according to Xavier Studer, Sunrise does not let you order these frames with prescription lenses. If you wear glasses, you will need an optician to fit them.

Which models are trending?

• Everyday classics: the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 (Wayfarer, Skyler, Headliner…) remains the entry point, with a better camera and longer battery life than the first generation.
• Sport models: the Oakley Meta HSTN and Oakley Meta Vanguard target cyclists, runners and outdoor lovers, a large audience between lakes and mountains.
• New affordable models: the Meta Adventurer / Fury range brings the entry price below CHF 300.
• Display glasses: the Meta Ray-Ban Display, with a small screen built into the lens, is reaching Europe. Announced on 23 September 2026 for the UK, Canada, France, Germany and Italy (available on 13 October in the last three, from €899 in France), it is not yet on the list of launch countries: Switzerland will have to wait.

The sensitive issue: privacy

While the trend is growing, it also fuels lively debate in French-speaking Switzerland. In March 2026, RTS pointed out that videos of people filmed without their knowledge, often women, circulate online, and that the small recording light can be covered. Jean-Henry Morin, a professor at the University of Geneva, warned of a real invasion of privacy and called on politicians to address the issue. Sunrise itself acknowledges that the recording LED can be bypassed.

In May 2026, the consumer programme À Bon Entendeur covered revelations by the Swedish press: employees of a subcontractor in Kenya reportedly viewed images captured by these glasses, sometimes very intimate ones, to train Meta's artificial intelligence. Meta says faces are automatically blurred; according to the workers interviewed, they remained recognisable. A class action has been filed in California.

Our tips for using them in Switzerland

• Warn people before filming: in Switzerland, image rights protect everyone; filming or publishing a recognisable person without consent may infringe their personality rights.
• Take them off or switch them off in sensitive places: changing rooms, medical practices, schools, confidential meetings.
• Check your privacy settings in the Meta AI app (media backup, voice data sharing).
• Try before you buy: comfort and fit matter as much as the technology, especially for frames worn all day.
• Prescription lenses: go through an optician who can fit lenses to your eyesight.

In short

In French-speaking Switzerland, smart glasses are gradually leaving their niche: more stores, lower entry prices and models designed for sport as well as everyday use. Their success will also depend on trust: transparency about data and respectful use around others remain essential.

Want to discover them? Browse our selection of Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta smart glasses.

Sources

• RTS, «Les nouvelles lunettes connectées capables de tout filmer inquiètent face au risque d’atteinte à la vie privée», 11 March 2026 – rts.ch
• RTS, À Bon Entendeur, 12 May 2026 – rts.ch
• ICT Journal, «Sunrise se lance dans les lunettes connectées», 5 October 2026 – ictjournal.ch
• Xavier Studer, «Lunettes Meta chez Sunrise : gare aux limites pour votre vue», 2 October 2026 – xavierstuder.com
• École de la pomme, «Les lunettes intelligentes de Meta sont maintenant disponibles en Suisse», 16 October 2025 – ecoledelapomme.ch
• Acuitis Suisse, trying Meta AI glasses in store – ch.acuitis.com
• Road to VR, international launch of Meta Ray-Ban Display, 23 September 2026 – roadtovr.com
• Selectra, price of Meta Ray-Ban Display in France – selectra.info