Looking to pick up a pair of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses this year? You might want to hold off on that decision, as Meta’s annual product conference will kick off on September 17, and we’re expecting the company to unveil new smart glasses.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses have been one of Meta’s most successful products to date, garnering tons of attention worldwide and selling millions of units. You may not be aware that these glasses are actually second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses, as the original Ray-Ban Stories weren’t nearly as popular.

Part of the success was greatly improved hardware between the first and second generation, while the other part has been the excitement of Meta AI being built into Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.

Since we’re anticipating Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Gen 3) to be announced at Meta Connect 2025, my recommendation is to wait and see what Meta will unveil and how much better they might be over Ray-Ban’s current offerings. For now, let’s go over the potential differences based on what we know to help you make a decision now.

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Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Gen 3) are expected to come in two main varieties: sunglasses and prescription glasses. The currently available Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are offered in three different traditional Ray-Ban styles, each with a selection of colors and lens types. However, Meta is unable to offer all types of prescriptions due to the frame styles.

Separating prescription and sunglasses styles would likely allow these prescription glasses users to utilize the new generation of smart glasses. If you’ve already taken a look at the available prescription options for Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and can’t get what you need, you should definitely wait and see what’s available with the new rumored style options.

Folks who are looking to primarily take photos or videos with their smart glasses should also wait to see what upgrades Meta will deliver with the camera on Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Gen 3). The recently released Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses offer a notable camera upgrade for folks recording active video. If you plan to take your smart glasses out for a run, hike, or even while playing sports, waiting for a potential camera upgrade is a good option.

That’s because the higher-resolution camera allows Meta to offer better image stabilization, keeping the video jitter-free and bump-free, almost no matter what you do. We don’t expect any other camera upgrades over what Meta just delivered with Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses, though, but Meta could always surprise us with AI super resolution or something.

Speaking of Meta AI, we’re expecting a big upgrade for Meta AI on all of the company’s upcoming smart glasses. That should include Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Gen 3), as it’s likely the company will include a new chipset that’s able to do even more than the two-year-old chipset in the current Ray-Ban Meta product.

This upgraded Meta AI is said to be able to provide longer interaction sessions, including additional live AI time with recording storage. Meta AI will be able to pull up data from your personal recordings on request, helping you remember where you left your car keys, the coffee mug, or even someone’s name whom you previously addressed.

Google’s upcoming Android XR-powered smart glasses are also able to perform these functions, and we fully expect any competing Meta smart glasses to be able to do it, too.

What about the price?

Of course, any upgrade discussion isn’t complete without a price. While there are currently no rumors regarding the price of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Gen 3), we don’t expect Meta to launch them at a wildly different price range than what’s currently available.

At the most, they’ll probably retail for $400-500, just like Oakley Meta HSTN. Meta Hypernova, the other, more advanced smart glasses that we expect to see unveiled at Meta Connect, are rumored to retail for $800, and there’s no expectation that Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Gen 3) will cost anywhere near that price since they aren’t expected to feature any display technology like the Hypernova.

Still, there’s a high chance that they could be more expensive than the $250-300 price tag you would spend on the current Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, but we’ll have to wait and see. At the least, if Meta does release its new smart glasses before the end of the year, you could always pick up a discounted pair of Gen 2s during this year’s Black Friday sales in November.

What you need to know

• Leaked renders show off two fresh Ray-Ban Meta styles—’Aperol’ (sunglasses) and ‘Bellini’ (optical)—hinting at a shift from the one-style-fits-all approach.
• Both models are expected to have much better battery life and next-level AI with object detection, scene recognition, and maybe even facial ID.
• A rumored always-on mode could keep cameras and sensors running nonstop, letting the AI give live reminders.

It looks like Meta and Ray-Ban are gearing up to introduce new smart glasses sooner than anticipated, and we’ve got a sneak peek thanks to some recently leaked renders.

A group calling itself XR Research Institute (via UploadVR) has shared two images that appear to showcase two fresh Ray-Ban Meta models: a sunglasses variant labeled “Aperol” and a prescription-lens style named “Bellini.”

This could be a refreshing break from the usual one-style-fits-all approach, giving users more personalized choices. Bellini does echo the current Headliner look, but it’ll be worth watching if these distinct designs actually make it to shelves.

These code names aren’t new, as they were also mentioned in a May report by The Information, linking them to future Meta eyewear releases.

Smarter + longer lasting

According to XR Research Institute, both models boast significantly longer battery life compared to the current Ray‑Ban Meta glasses. And they could pack smarter AI too, with features like real-time object detection and scene recognition.

These rumored features line up with what The Information reported earlier—a “super sensing” mode that could keep Meta AI running for hours, a big leap from the current 30-minute limit.

Potential new tricks include reminders for forgotten items and facial recognition: imagine being told someone’s name as soon as they walk into view.

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Beyond facial recognition, Meta’s AI might soon get even smarter. Picture it reminding you to grab your keys if you forgot, or nudging you about groceries as you head home. The super-sensing mode keeps the cameras and sensors running nonstop so the AI can stay locked in on your day-to-day activities.

Here’s where timing gets interesting. XR Research Institute thinks these models might arrive before the year’s end. But The Information puts Aperol and Bellini off until 2026.

Currently, Ray‑Ban Meta glasses come in various frame styles (Wayfarer, Headliner, Skyler), all compatible with clear, sun, polarized, and Transitions lenses. But this rumored pivot to separate optical and sunglass models could signal a bold new direction for the lineup.

Although they’re normally pretty expensive, you can occasionally find good deals on smart glasses if you know where to look. For instance, buyers can currently get 20% off the Ray-Ban Wayfarer Meta smart glasses, chopping about $60 off the normally $300 price tag. Ray-Ban’s smart glasses include a phone camera, access to voice assistants, and speakers offering impressive audio quality.

For those who want a hands-free tech tool, we consider these the best overall AI smart glasses out there, offering minor water resistance, tons of photo and video storage, and easy compatibility with other devices.

This discount is for the Wayfarer style of the smart glasses, which come in a shiny black finish and tinted green lenses.

Recommended if: you’re looking for the best overall AI-based smart glasses on today’s market; you need something that features cameras, easy voice calling, and voice assistants like Meta AI; you want a classic, stylish smart glasses option such as Ray-Ban’s Wayfarers.

Skip this deal if: you want smart glasses that feature an XR smart display; you need a pair of glasses offering a high-quality anti-reflective lens; you need smart glasses with over four hours of battery life.

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are a super handy pair of glasses, featuring a charging case, mics and speakers for hands-free calling and media, and a solid camera for easy video and photo capture. The glasses also make it easy to access the Meta AI voice assistant, along with live English translation in Spanish, French, or Italian, real-time QR code scanning, and much more.

It is worth clarifying what you’re looking for in smart glasses, especially if you’re looking for a pair that features a smart XR display. These don’t include a smart display, and are primarily for use as a hands-free tool for pairing with your phone or quickly accessing photo and video capabilities, voice calls, and other things you would normally need to use your phone for.

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

Setting up live translation on Ray-Ban Meta glasses

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

Setting up live translation on the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses is easy, but you currently have a very limited selection of languages.

Using Ray-Ban’s live translation is, well, not good

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

I couldn’t trigger a translation session using voice commands, and the translator doesn’t seem to understand human laughter is not language.

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

Google Translate is still the undisputed king

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

Really, the Ray-Ban Metas are just superfluous hardware. There’s nothing these do that Google Translate on a phone doesn’t do better.

What you need to know

• Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are beginning to receive an update, which brings Spotify capabilities, as well as Apple Music and Shazam, to more places.
• The glasses AI grabs more natural, “lifelike” voices while its capabilities for real-world insights expands to the U.K.
• Earlier this year, Meta announced that its Ray-Ban glasses have crossed 2 million units sold, and there are plans to increase its production to 10 million by 2026.

Owners of Meta’s smart glasses are in for an end-of-the-week treat as the company rolls in a patch full of additions.

Update v14.1 for the Ray-Ban Meta glasses was spotted by Android Central’s Nicholas Sutrich earlier today (Apr. 17). The update focuses on the smart glasses’ apps and AI software. To start, Meta states Ray-Ban is picking up the ability to “play music and shuffle by artist, albums, and playlists” via Spotify.

With this, users are receiving two important voice commands: “shuffle my (X) playlist” and “repeat this song.”

Each of these can be kick-started with “Hey Meta” once the patch is installed. Spotify is available for the Ray-Ban smart glasses for English users in the U.K., Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, and Norway. Meta is also expanding its “connected apps,” such as Apple Music and Shazam in conjunction with Spotify, to the previously listed regions.

Meta AI on the smart glasses can now interpret queries about weather, air quality, and the UV index via voice commands. The latest v14.1 patch for the Ray-Ban glasses includes a few AI updates, which can be seen below.

• Updated Voices: Meta AI Voices have been updated to sound more natural and lifelike. Users can navigate to Meta AI Settings > Voice to select a voice for the software to use.
• Meta AI expands to the U.K.: Users can learn about the history of landmarks while walking or get recipe suggestions based on the content in their home.

Ray-Ban on the Rise

Meta dropped the most futuristic AI update for the Ray-Ban smart glasses right before the holidays in December. The patch concerned Early Access program members, as the company delivered Live Record and Live Translate. The former allows the Ray-Ban glasses to record what you see and offer AI-powered insights without users needing to say “Hey Meta” aloud.

Members could also interrupt the AI or ask a follow-up question after it gives its response. Live Translate is pretty straightforward; users can hear or read the response of a person speaking another language via the glasses’ speaker or their phones.

More importantly, since launching in 2023, Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses seem to be a hit after having sold 2 million units since then. To celebrate, EssilorLuxottica announced that it’s looking to increase mass production of the device to 10 million units by 2026. Additionally, it seems both companies are betting big on these smart glasses. While Meta has already started a huge smart glasses push, even grabbing some top tanked celebrities to showcase it, there are rumors that the next generation will feature a built-in display.

The display might be tiny, but it would alleviate the need for users to reach for their phones or rely solely on the Ray-Ban speaker for info.