Since they hit the market again in October 2023, Meta’s Ray-Ban smartglasses have confirmed to be a success, with some two million items bought since, to not point out featured appearances in every single place from the Oscars and Paris Style Week to the Met Gala.
I’ve most likely loved utilizing my first-gen Meta Ray-Ban smartglasses greater than every other wearable I’ve examined in current reminiscence. Partly due to how unobtrusive its technological underpinnings are, paired with the ever-present and immediate entry to a digital camera, audio playback, and an AI assistant for answering queries, they provide a powerfully handy and helpful person expertise that I’ve turned to much more steadily than I ever thought I’d.
That’s why, when Meta invited me to get an early have a look at the brand new units of smartglasses debuting at Meta Join 2025, I jumped on the alternative.
Meta has taken the learnings and upgrades its current Oakley glasses and built-in them into the much more diverse and versatile body choices of Ray-Ban’s portfolio
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
Together with the extra bombastic new Meta Oakley Vanguard shades, and the bleeding-edge Meta Ray-Ban Show, the corporate additionally introduced its Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) smartglasses, and while they’re essentially the most pedestrian of Meta’s new wearable lineup, they’re additionally essentially the most approachable, boasting a bevvy of welcome enhancements that I can’t wait to capitise on.
In essence, Meta has taken the learnings and upgrades its current Oakley Meta HSTN glasses, lorded over the 2023 Meta Ray-Bans and built-in them into the much more diverse and versatile body choices of Ray-Ban’s portfolio.
Longer battery life
Meaning new “steelcan” batteries, which – regardless of their decrease profile – provide up twice the battery life (Meta quotes as much as 5 hours of steady audio playback/voice calling or as much as 8 hours of blended use), with a 50% fast-charge in simply 20 minutes.
And though they use the identical case as their predecessors, collectively, the brand new Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) boast a complete 56 hours of battery life (effectivity enhancements imply they permit for 48 hours of cost, up from 32 beforehand).
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
Improved video seize
To take a look at, all of the {hardware} placement and interplay stays the identical earlier than (bodily buttons, plus swipe-and-tap contact controls on the specs’ proper arm, in addition to voice enter) however the 12Mp digital camera has now been bolstered to seize 3K video at 30fps (together with the earlier 4:3 Full HD+ at 30 and 60fps choices), with a few of the most fun enhancements coming simply after launch; coinciding with the arrival of the Oakley Meta Vanguards: sluggish movement and hyperlapse video seize.
Accessible by way of the identical Meta AI app current customers will already be acquainted with, Meta confirmed that hyperlapses (suppose stabilised time lapse video) may be captured over a interval of as much as half-hour, with no audio seize, however the potential so as to add music on captured clips.
Gradual-motion footage, in the meantime, information in Full HD at 120fps, with the choice to provoke each new modes solely by way of a easy “Hey, Meta…” voice immediate.
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
Upgraded audio
A smaller however notable enhancement involves microphone efficiency, with a brand new wind-noise discount algorithm, which ought to enable for clearer calls and higher comprehension of your voice instructions when speaking to Meta AI (though this wasn’t an space the earlier Meta Ray-Bans struggled with in my expertise anyway).
Reside Translation – which got here to the current-gen specs again in Could – additionally beneficial properties German and Portuguese language assist, with the arrival of the Gen 2s.
One characteristic that I wasn’t capable of attempt at my hands-on session, which I believe has some main implications for individuals who are arduous of listening to or have focus points, is Dialog Focus.
Much like many pairs of headphones, the microphone array can isolate the voice of the particular person you’re listening to, boosting their speech by way of the built-in audio system, to assist carry their phrases out in opposition to any background din. Better of all, Meta has already confirmed that this assistive improve is coming to the first-gen Meta Ray-Bans and the Oakley HSTNs by way of a software program replace, too.
Combine and match type
Fashion-wise, as with 2023’s specs, you’ve acquired three predominant body types to decide on between: the basic Wayfarer, Skylar or Headliner (with Wayfarer additionally being supplied up in ‘normal’ and ‘massive’ sizes). All in, there are some 27 new body/lens mixtures to select from, however if you wish to stand out, there are three limited-run seasonal color choices to contemplate at launch.
Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd
Dealing with all three in particular person (pictured above), the shiny Cosmic Blue Wayfarers, with Sapphire Transitions lenses, get my vote, however you even have the choice of shiny Skylar frames in Mystic Violet (with Amethyst Transitions lenses), and Headliners in Asteroid Gray (with Amethyst Transitions lenses).
Worth & Availability
The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) launched in line with Meta Join 2025 on 17 September, with a beginning value of £379/$379/€419, and Meta additionally expanded its attain for this era to incorporate new markets like Switzerland and the Netherlands, with plans to carry them to Brazil quickly, too.
The good factor is that in case you’re not valuable concerning the improved digital camera and battery capabilities, or the brand new body and lens type mixtures supplied up by these next-gen specs, Meta goes to maintain promoting the earlier Meta Ray-Bans at £299/$299/€329.
Early Verdict
All in all, although the upgrades aren’t seismic, I can’t wait to see what it’s prefer to stay with the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2).
I’m curious to see if their improved battery life will change the best way folks use them, the brand new digital camera characteristic render this subsequent era considerably extra versatile and it appears to be like as if Meta is dedicated to platform for the long-term, contemplating the options it already has deliberate for the future.