ZDNET Highlights
- The latest smart glasses are available in a variety of styles and lens options for $379.
- These feature 3K video recording and long battery life.
- It has a similar design to the first generation with the same arsenal of meta AI tools.
More Buying Choices
October/2025
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Lately, I’ve been documenting more of my life with meta ray-ban Than my phone. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m not pointing the camera in front of friends and family, or maybe they’re not catching the pulsating white indicator whenever I press the record button on the glasses, but the footage I get is more real, natural, and a true representation of those precious moments in time.
While there has been a lot of progress with smart glasses in 2025, many of which make the Meta Ray-Bans less capable, I’d still put my money on the latest model to sell the most during the holiday season.
Also: Missed the Meta Ray-Ban display? Verizon is now selling smart glasses, but act fast
At a starting price of $379, they’re $80 more expensive than their predecessor, but still competitive compared to the $799 Meta Ray-Ban Display. After testing the second generation of glasses over the past month, I’ve settled on two takeaways, which are both good news for Meta and consumers like you.
1. The upgrade is worth it for these users
There isn’t much that separates the first and second generation Meta Ray-Bans, but some differences do matter, especially if you’re a content creator.
Firstly, an upgraded 12MP camera sensor can now capture in 3K (3024 x 4032) resolution at 30fps or in 1080p at up to 60fps. With faster video recording, I found footage to be less noisy and colors to be more accurate, which solved two of the problems I had with the original Meta Ray-Bans.
Meta says the new glasses have improved image stabilization, and I believe it. Comparing the footage to the previous model, there is a noticeable lack of vibration when I’m walking and shaking my head. For content creators who want high-quality POV shots without losing the convenience of the smart glasses form factor, the new Ray-Ban gets the job done.
Also: Alibaba’s new smart glasses Meta take on Ray-Ban – here’s what they offer
3K video recording comes at the cost of file size and battery life. I recently wore the glasses on an upstate hiking trip and found that I put them back in the charging case every two to three hours. This is slightly better than the previous model’s mileage, but still not enough to last a whole day.
I should mention that it was also warm and sunny — as I noticed the gray transition lenses slowly but surely turning on whenever I got out of the car — and I was recording minute-long videos, a capability I was introduced to shortly after reviewing the original Meta Ray-Bans.
But if you’re only taking photos and videos at short intervals, you shouldn’t have any issues with stamina. Meta says the new Ray-Bans can last up to six hours with continuous audio playback, which is a nice jump from its predecessor’s four-hour rating.
Considering the improved battery life, is it fair to wish that Meta gave the carrying case the same foldable design treatment that it gave to the Ray-Ban Display? The current design easily fills any shoulder bag, purse or fanny pack. I digress.
2. Wise choice for most people
While the new Meta Ray-Bans offer meaningful improvements, the basic experience is nearly identical to the older model, which Meta and other retailers are still selling for $299.
Also: Which Meta Ray-Ban model should you buy? I tested both pairs, and here’s how to decide
Considering that the company is incorporating most of the latest Meta AI features into the first-generation glasses, including live translation, multimodal interrogation, and celebrity-emulated voices, there are just as many reasons to pick up the older pair as the new ones.
Aside from the color and transition lens options, they’re also similar in appearance and weight whether you choose the Wayfarer, Headliner, or Skylar design. There were moments during my testing when I accidentally picked up and wore a first-generation Ray-Ban because the charging cases are identical.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
This means that the second generation meta ray-ban These aren’t as big of a leap forward as the originals were compared to the meta Ray-Ban Stories. And that’s okay, because they’re still the most practical smart glasses on the market, with features that meet the demands of modern times and improve in all the important places – whether you’re a tech professional or an average consumer.
If you’re shopping on a budget, I highly recommend purchasing used Meta Ray-Bans, especially if you can find a pair at a discount. Tip: Cheap, upgrade option There is one thing.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t reiterate that the glasses are grounded by meta services, including some questionable AI and data policies that you may not be comfortable agreeing to. If things like targeted ads and chat history sharing give you pause, I would consider other wearable options.
