Meta released its own smart glasses line yesterday, and if you're confused about what's actually different from the Ray-Bans you already know, you're not alone. Contrary to earlier reporting from Android Central, the Meta Glasses and Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 run the same hardware. Same Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip. Same 12MP camera. Same 8-hour battery. Same Muse Spark AI. Meta's VP of wearable devices Ming Hua confirmed it at the launch event, telling Engadget the new glasses were built on "the same hardware platform as our best-selling AI glasses."
The bigger difference is the price. Meta Glasses start at $299 on Meta.com. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 starts at $379 on Ray-Ban.com.
Six other differences:
Meta Glasses have a three-way adjustable nose pad that snaps into three positions. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 has a fixed pad on most styles.
Meta Glasses have adjustable temple tips. The ends of the arms have an internal wire core you can bend to shape around your ears, plus overextension hinges that flex outward for wider head shapes. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 does not have either.
Meta Glasses have a dedicated action button on the right arm. One press triggers Meta AI or a remappable shortcut. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 does not have this button.
The Meta Glasses case provides 40 hours of additional charge. The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 case provides 48 hours.
Meta Glasses have a 6-mic system. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 Wayfarer, Skyler, and Headliner have 5 mics. The Blayzer and Scriber Optics also have 6.
Meta Glasses have Wi-Fi 6 Triband (2.4/5/6 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.4. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 has standard Wi-Fi 6 (2.4/5 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.3.
The frame shapes are entirely different. Meta Glasses come in Adventurer (rectangular), Fury (bold rectangular), and Starfire (oval cat-eye, Kylie Jenner collab at $399). Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 comes in Wayfarer, Skyler, Headliner, Blayzer Optics, and Scriber Optics. There is no Wayfarer in the Meta Glasses lineup.
On prescription lenses: Meta Glasses use the new Rx Lens Swap program. You can take the frames to any optician after purchase without voiding the warranty. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 uses a tool-free at-home swap with LensCrafters and third-party providers like Lensology.
Both are available now at Meta.com, LensCrafters, Sunglasses Hut, Best Buy, and Amazon. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 is expected at Connect on September 23.