Meta has introduced a subscription requirement for expanded access to advanced features on its smart glasses, marking the latest step in a broader industry push toward recurring revenue from hardware devices.
The company now notes in its help pages that users will need the Meta One Premium Plan to unlock “expanded access” to some features on the smart glasses. The basic functionality remains available without a subscription, but advanced AI-powered capabilities — such as continuous access to the most sophisticated on-device features — require the monthly plan.
The move means customers who paid several hundred dollars for the hardware now face an ongoing fee to use the full range of its capabilities. Wired characterized the shift as emblematic of a new era in consumer electronics, where buying the device is only the first payment.
Meta has not disclosed the exact subscription pricing or which specific features are gated behind the paywall, but the company confirmed in a support article (first reported by The Verge) that the Meta One Premium Plan is now a requirement for full feature access.
The subscription model represents a significant strategic shift for a product category that Meta has positioned as a key bet in its augmented reality ambitions. The company has invested billions of dollars in Reality Labs, the division responsible for the smart glasses, which has yet to turn a profit.
The approach mirrors moves by other hardware makers. As AI processing moves onto devices, manufacturers are exploring subscription tiers to monetize ongoing software and AI model updates, rather than relying solely on one-time hardware margins.
Sources: Meta Is Charging a Subscription for Smart Glasses Features (Wired, July 2, 2026); Meta smart glasses now require a subscription (Mashable, July 2, 2026)