Ray-Ban Meta glasses now give turn-by-turn walking directions
The directions use your phone's location, so the phone still has to come along. The new audio settings are only starting to reach owners.
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Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2Price, Specs & How It Compares
Replaced by Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3)
Original price$379
The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) is now the current model. Replaced does not mean the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 stops working or can no longer be bought.
Last updated
Gen 2 is mature hardware with the widest feature set in the category, in frames people are happy to be seen in. It works the same way on an iPhone as on an Android phone, which nothing else in smart glasses manages nearly this well.
iDevice advice
NO NEED TO RUSH
$379 at Amazon matches its lowest price in the 50 days iDevice has checked it, and iDevice's price verdict still reads No rush.
Should you upgrade from…
Ask about the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2
Latest on Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3)
More news- Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 costs $70 more, and most of what's new comes to the Gen 2 too
The extra $70 buys new frame styles and small hardware gains, not a better camera. Gen 2 owners get most of the new software anyway.
Read the story - Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 is out today at $449 with 9 hours of battery
Meta launched the third Ray-Ban Meta at Connect. It costs $449, runs an hour longer at 9 hours, adds Aviator and Zena frames and a six-mic array, and keeps the same 12MP camera.
Read the story
Best for
What 5 reviewers said
More reviewsThe battery life and sound are very good.
Battery life
Battery life is much improved, around eight hours typical and five or six under heavy use.
Privacy
Meta removed the option to opt out of storing voice recordings, raising privacy concerns.
Sound quality
Podcasts and calls sound great through the glasses' speakers.
Comparison
Compare smart glassesHow it compares
Cost over 3 years
$379
Device price plus up to three years of optional subscription.
Weight
~50g
Grams on your face. Lower is lighter.
Battery life
8 hrs
How long it lasts on its own, away from a charger.
Cost over 3 years
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2$379
Solos AirGo V2AirGo Elite costs $12.99 a month. It is optional. Over 3 years that is $468.
Unlimited AI and live translation as someone is speaking. The cheaper Premium plan is $4.99 a month and covers ChatGPT only.
Samsung Galaxy Glasses$379 · soon
Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3)$449Weight
Battery life
DeviceOptional subscription
Weights are for the frame as sold, without a case or a charger.
Battery life can vary based on usage, settings and firmware version.
If not this one
- If display decides itSnap Specs
It runs AR on its own and anchors digital objects in the room.
- If AI assistant decides itMeta Ray-Ban Display
Reviewers prefer its AI assistant.
- If hearing support decides itNuance Audio Glasses
An FDA-cleared over-the-counter hearing aid built into the frame, for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
Quick answers
All FAQsQuick answers
Should I buy the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2?
No need to rush. $379 at Amazon matches its lowest price in the 50 days iDevice has checked it, and iDevice's price verdict still reads No rush. Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. See the full answer
Does the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 come with a charger?
It comes with a charging case, a cleaning cloth and a reference guide. Meta's own compare page says the USB-C charging cable is not included.
3.9 / 5
Very good
Battery life
Battery life is much improved, around eight hours typical and five or six under heavy use.
Privacy
Meta removed the option to opt out of storing voice recordings, raising privacy concerns.
Sound quality
Podcasts and calls sound great through the glasses' speakers.
Scores published by other outlets, normalized and averaged. iDevice did not test these products for this score.
5 expert reviews
- Read reviewAndroid PoliceAndy BoxallApr 12, 2026
- Read reviewCGMagazineBrendan FryeNov 17, 2025
- Read reviewWIREDBoone AshworthNov 2, 2025
- Read reviewEngadgetKarissa BellOct 1, 2025
- Read reviewThe VergeJay PetersOct 1, 2025
Reviewer breakdown
What reviewers agreed on, and how many raised each
- Battery life5
- Privacy4
- AI features fall short3
- Sound quality3
- Live translation3
Liked itDidn’t
Sep 17, 2025 · Announced
Meta announces Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2
Sep 17, 2025 · Went on sale
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 is available on announcement day
Dec 16, 2025 · New feature
Conversation Focus begins rolling out to Ray-Ban Meta glasses
Mar 26, 2026 · Filed with regulators
FCC filings expose Scriber and Blazer Ray-Ban Meta model names
Mar 31, 2026 · New feature
Meta identifies the FCC-linked styles as Gen 2 prescription models
Jul 3, 2026 · Price
Meta tests a $19.99 plan around expanded Conversation Focus use
Jul 27, 2026 · New feature
Meta pauses the Conversation Focus subscription limit after pushback
At a glance
PREVIOUS MODELMeta Ray-Ban Gen 2
CURRENT MODELRay-Ban Meta (Gen 3)Price
The starting list price, not a temporary sale price. It is usually the first thing that rules a product in or out.
From $379
From $449
Case battery
Both list the same runtime on the frames, so the charging case is where the endurance difference actually is.
Up to 50 hrs extra from the case
Weight
Weight decides all-day comfort. Exact and approximate figures stay labeled as the makers state them.
Show 15 more specifications⌄
Video
Camera hardware changes what you can capture and which visual features are possible.
Connectivity
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other connections determine what the device can work with.
Frame partner
The eyewear partner decides the styles, the shops and where you get them fitted.
Microphones
More microphones is usually how a device picks your voice out of a noisy room.
Prescription lenses
For glasses, prescription support can decide whether the product is usable at all.
Ongoing cost
Some products need a membership after you buy the hardware.
AI
AI features vary from simple voice help to camera-based assistants.
Unknown
Visual AI
AI features vary from simple voice help to camera-based assistants.
More specs⌄
Processor
The processor affects speed, efficiency and which features the device can support.
Livestream
Sport
No
No
Current offers
We may earn a commission when you buy through these links.
Other models to consider
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2
Top questions
Should I buy the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2?
No need to rush. $379 at Amazon matches its lowest price in the 50 days iDevice has checked it, and iDevice's price verdict still reads No rush. Price checked Oct. 14, 2026. See the full answer
Does the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 come with a charger?
It comes with a charging case, a cleaning cloth and a reference guide. Meta's own compare page says the USB-C charging cable is not included.
Using it
Can I get prescription lenses?
Yes, you can. The frames can be glazed to your prescription. Through LensCrafters and Sunglass Hut. -12.00 to +6.00.
Do the lenses tint automatically?
Yes, the lenses tint themselves. They darken in sunlight on their own.
How good is the camera?
It shoots on a 12MP main camera. The focus is fixed, with no autofocus.
What does it cost?
It costs $379 to $499. That is the list price, before any subscription.
Does it work with my phone?
Yes, it works with an iPhone or an Android phone.
How heavy is it?
It weighs 50g.
Is it built for sport?
No, it is not built for sport. It is an everyday frame. Nothing stops you wearing it, but it is not made to grip.
Can I take a photo without using my hands?
Yes, you can say the word or press the button. A capture button on the frame, and a spoken command when your hands are full.
Does it work without my phone?
No, it needs your phone.
What video can it shoot?
It shoots 3K at 30fps. That is its highest setting.
How does it connect?
It connects over Bluetooth 5.3.
What chip is inside?
It runs on Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1.
Which AI assistant does it use?
It uses Meta AI. The assistant is fixed, so you cannot swap it.
What software does it run?
It runs Meta Horizon OS.
Does it do AR?
No, it does not do AR. Nothing is drawn over what you see.
Can I get sunglass or clear lenses?
You can have either. It is sold as sunglasses and with clear lenses.
Whose frames are they?
They are made with EssilorLuxottica and Ray-Ban. More than one frame maker is involved.
How many styles can I choose from?
There are 5 frames to choose from. 150 combinations once you pick a colour and a lens.
Can people tell when it is recording?
Yes, a light comes on. People around you can see when the camera is running.
Can it give me directions?
Yes, it can give you directions. It gives turn-by-turn directions without you taking your phone out.
Can I livestream from it?
No, you cannot livestream from it. You record first and share it afterwards.
Can it translate?
Yes, it can translate.
Does it have a screen?
No, it has no screen.
Can I hear it without earbuds?
Yes, it has open-ear speakers that play out loud.
Can it see and answer questions about what I am looking at?
Yes, it can see what you are looking at and answer about it.
Sizing and fit
Will they fit my face?
The nose pads are fixed. What you get is what you wear, so try them on before you buy.
Battery and charging
How do I set it up?
Remove your glasses from the case. Turn your glasses on by sliding the power switch on the left frame towards the front of the glasses. Put your glasses back inside the case, making sure to gently push down on the top of the glasses so that the bottom of the nose bridge on your glasses makes contact with the charging port inside the case. From the Meta AI mobile app, tap Glasses in the top right. Tap Add in the top right and follow the on-screen instructions.
How do I clean it?
Use a dampened cloth and mild soap, avoiding all types of solvents or alcohol. Don't use dirty or abrasive cloths which could alter the features of the lenses. Gently clean the lenses, camera lens, and the nose bridge charging contacts. Dry off the glasses before putting them back inside the charging case or wearing them.
Battery care tips?
Battery saver is a mode for Meta AI glasses that extends your battery life by temporarily pausing high-drain background functions. When enabled, battery saver can increase battery life by up to 47% (approximately 1.5 additional hours) when activated at 20% battery, or up to 88% (approximately 7.9 additional hours) if enabled at a full charge. Battery saver mode is available on all Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Oakley HSTN, and Oakley Vanguard models.
How long does the battery last?
It runs 8 hours. That is 2 days with the extra from the case, and 5 hours of continuous audio or voice.
Water
Price and models
Is there a newer one?
Yes: the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3), out September 23, 2026.
Returns and warranty
In the box
Works with
Ray-Ban Meta Audio lasts all day and fits better, but its one button does little
If you want Meta's glasses without a camera on your face, the $349 Audio pair is lighter on the nose and lasts longer than the camera models. Just don't expect its button to answer calls.
Up next
Ray-Ban Meta glasses now give turn-by-turn walking directions
The directions use your phone's location, so the phone still has to come along. The new audio settings are only starting to reach owners.
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 costs $70 more, and most of what's new comes to the Gen 2 too
The extra $70 buys new frame styles and small hardware gains, not a better camera. Gen 2 owners get most of the new software anyway.
Meta will let you keep your glasses' camera requests out of AI training
Unless you switch it off, Meta keeps the right to learn from what your glasses see. The stronger privacy system it promised on stage has no ship date.
Meta Ray-Ban Display goes on sale in the UK and Canada, and online for the first time
Germany, France and Italy follow on October 13. US owners get voice-driven hologram calls on WhatsApp later this fall.
Ray-Ban Meta Audio drops the camera for $349 and ships October 13
You give up photos, video and anything that needs the camera to see. In return the frame is lighter and Meta rates it three hours longer on a charge than Gen 3.
Meta confirms Muse is coming to its AI glasses in the next few months
Muse can book, buy and call on your behalf, and on the glasses it asks first before anything sensitive. There's no date beyond the coming months.
Meta Connect 2026: $1,299 VR Glasses, a camera-free Ray-Ban and a $449 Gen 3
Only the Gen 3 Ray-Ban Meta is on sale today. The camera-free pair ships in three weeks, and the VR Glasses make you wait until spring.
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 is out today at $449 with 9 hours of battery
Meta launched the third Ray-Ban Meta at Connect. It costs $449, runs an hour longer at 9 hours, adds Aviator and Zena frames and a six-mic array, and keeps the same 12MP camera.
Meta Glasses are getting FDA-cleared hearing enhancement for $149
Meta's FDA-cleared Hearing Enhancement comes to supported Meta Glasses later this year for mild to moderate hearing loss. It costs $149 once or comes with Meta One, with a 30-day free trial.
Meta is testing Muse as the assistant on its smart glasses
A leaked setup screen lets you swap Meta AI for Muse and lists navigation, Shazam and Strava as coming. A second find shows a Meta Pay wallet built for the agent.
Meta heads into Connect on Wednesday with a privacy problem to fix
Meta's biggest glasses event comes after a year of complaints about people being filmed in secret, and a camera-free pair looks like its clearest answer. None of it is official until the keynote.
Meta's camera-free glasses could be unveiled next week and ship in October
The Information reports Meta is preparing a pair of smart glasses with no camera, codenamed Luna, possibly unveiled at Connect next week with shipments targeted for October. It keeps six microphones, speakers and a side button for Meta AI.
A free app now warns you when Meta glasses are nearby
ZuckOff listens for the Bluetooth broadcasts of Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta and Snap Spectacles and flags a pair in the room. WIRED reports it can't tell whether they are recording.
Meta is being sued over glasses facial recognition it never switched on
A proposed class action says Meta's dormant NameTag feature could match faces seen through its glasses against Facebook and Instagram photos, citing Meta's own patents.
An app now warns you when Meta smart glasses are nearby
Zuckoff reads the Bluetooth signals smart glasses broadcast and estimates how close a pair is. Its developer wants glasses makers to adopt the kind of alert phones already give for stray trackers.
Meta disabled the cameras on thousands of tampered Ray-Bans
Meta will not say how many. It gave a percentage instead, and the enforcement is a software switch on hardware it already sold.
Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Now Launch Walking Directions By Voice
Firmware 128 brings the display model's navigation to glasses without a screen, in the US, Puerto Rico, Canada and select cities.
A New York club will throw you out for smart glasses in your bag
The bans arriving on both sides of the Atlantic are written about carrying the glasses, not about switching them on. Meta's recording light has no answer to that.
Meta patched its recording light twice in two months
Cover the LED mid-recording and the camera now shuts off. The clip-on accessories sold to defeat that light are still for sale.