I wore the Meta Ray-Bans’ successor for a month, and my buying verdict is two-fold

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The newest good glasses can be found for $379 in numerous kinds and lens choices.
• They function 3K video recording and longer battery life.
• It is the identical design because the first-gen, with the identical arsenal of Meta AI instruments.

extra shopping for selections

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Not too long ago, I have been documenting extra of my life with the Meta Ray-Bans than with my cellphone. Possibly it is the truth that I am not shoving a digital camera in entrance of family and friends, or maybe they don’t seem to be catching the pulsing white indicator every time I hit the file button on the glasses, however the footage I’ve gotten has felt extra real, pure, and really consultant of these treasured moments in time.

Whereas a lot progress has been made with good glasses in 2025, lots of which make the Meta Ray-Bans seem much less succesful, I’d nonetheless put my cash on the most recent mannequin to promote essentially the most through the vacation season.

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At a beginning fee of $379, they’re $80 costlier than their predecessor, however nonetheless aggressive in comparison with the $799 Meta Ray-Ban Display. After testing the second-gen glasses over the previous month, I’ve settled on two takeaways, each of that are excellent news for Meta and shoppers such as you.

1. The upgrades are value it for these customers

There’s not rather a lot that separates the first- and second-gen Meta Ray-Bans, however the few variations do matter, particularly should you’re a content material creator.

First, an enhanced 12MP digital camera sensor can now seize in 3K (3024 x 4032) decision at 30fps or 1080p at as much as 60fps. With the sharper video recording, I’ve discovered footage to look much less noisy and colours to be extra correct, resolving two of the problems I had with the unique Meta Ray-Bans. 

Meta says the brand new glasses’ picture stabilization has improved, and I consider it. When evaluating footage to the earlier mannequin, there is a noticeable lack of shakiness as I am strolling and bobbing my head. For content material creators who need higher-quality POV photographs with out shedding the comfort of the good glasses type issue, the brand new Ray-Bans get the job finished.

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The 3K video recording does come on the expense of file measurement and battery life. I not too long ago wore the glasses on an upstate mountaineering journey and located myself placing them again into the charging case each two to 3 hours. That is barely higher than the mileage I obtained from the earlier mannequin, however nonetheless not sufficient to final a full day. 

I ought to point out that it was additionally scorching and sunny — as I observed the gray transition lenses slowly however absolutely kick in every time I obtained out of the automobile — and I used to be recording minutes-long movies, a functionality that was launched shortly after I reviewed the unique Meta Ray-Bans.

However should you’re simply taking images and movies in brief spurts, you then should not have an issue with endurance. Meta says the brand new Ray-Bans can last as long as six hours with steady audio playback, which is a pleasant bump from its predecessor’s four-hour ranking.

Contemplating the improved battery life, is it a scorching take to want Meta would give the carrying case the identical foldable design therapy it did to the Ray-Ban Shows? The present design simply fills any shoulder bag, purse, or fanny pack. I digress.

2. The wiser selection for most individuals

Whereas the brand new Meta Ray-Bans supply significant enhancements, the core expertise is sort of equivalent to that of the older mannequin, which Meta and different retailers are nonetheless promoting for $299. 

Additionally: Which Meta Ray-Bans model should you buy? I tested both pairs, and here’s how to decide

Contemplating the corporate is trickling a lot of the newest Meta AI options to the first-gen glasses, together with stay translation, multimodal inquiries, and celebrity-emulated voices, there are simply as many causes to go for the older pair because the newer one.

Other than coloration and transition lens selections, in addition they look and weigh the identical, whether or not you decide the Wayfarer, Headliner, or Skyler design. There have been moments throughout my testing once I’d by chance decide up and put on the first-gen Ray-Bans for the reason that charging instances are additionally equivalent.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

That is to say, the second-gen Meta Ray-Bans will not be as massive a leap because the originals had been to the Meta Ray-Ban Tales. And that is okay, as a result of they’re nonetheless essentially the most sensible good glasses available on the market, with options that cater to modern-day calls for and enhancements in all of the locations that matter — whether or not you are a tech skilled or common client.

Should you’re purchasing on a finances, I extremely advocate shopping for the older Meta Ray-Bans, particularly if you will discover a pair at a reduction. Tip: Cheaper, refurbished options are a factor.

Lastly, I’d be doing you a disservice if I did not reiterate that the glasses are grounded by Meta companies, which embody some questionable AI and knowledge insurance policies that you could be not be comfy agreeing to. If issues like focused advertisements and chat historical past sharing provide you with pause, then I would take into account different wearable choices.