ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The most recent sensible glasses can be found for $379 in varied kinds and lens choices.
- They characteristic 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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Lately, I have been documenting extra of my life with the Meta Ray-Bans than with my telephone. Perhaps it is the truth that I am not shoving a digicam in entrance of family and friends, or maybe they don’t seem to be catching the pulsing white indicator at any time when I hit the document 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 sensible glasses in 2025, lots of which make the Meta Ray-Bans seem much less succesful, I might nonetheless put my cash on the most recent mannequin to promote essentially the most in the course of the vacation season.
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At a beginning price of $379, they’re $80 costlier than their predecessor, however nonetheless aggressive in comparison with the $799 Meta Ray-Ban Show. 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 customers such as you.
1. The upgrades are price it for these customers
There’s not lots that separates the first- and second-gen Meta Ray-Bans, however the few variations do matter, particularly in the event you’re a content material creator.
First, an enhanced 12MP digicam 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 dropping the comfort of the sensible glasses kind issue, the brand new Ray-Bans get the job carried out.
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The 3K video recording does come on the expense of file dimension and battery life. I not too long ago wore the glasses on an upstate climbing 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 at any time when 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 in the event you’re simply taking pictures and movies briefly spurts, then you definately 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 score.
Contemplating the improved battery life, is it a scorching take to want Meta would give the carrying case the identical foldable design remedy it did to the Ray-Ban Shows? The present design simply fills any shoulder bag, purse, or fanny pack. I digress.
2. The wiser alternative for most individuals
Whereas the brand new Meta Ray-Bans provide significant enhancements, the core expertise is sort of an identical to that of the older mannequin, which Meta and different retailers are nonetheless promoting for $299.
Additionally: Which Meta Ray-Bans mannequin do you have to purchase? I examined each pairs, and here is find out how to resolve
Contemplating the corporate is trickling many of the newest Meta AI options to the first-gen glasses, together with dwell 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 colour 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 because the charging circumstances are additionally an identical.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
That is to say, the second-gen Meta Ray-Bans should not as large a leap because the originals have been to the Meta Ray-Ban Tales. And that is okay, as a result of they’re nonetheless essentially the most sensible sensible glasses in the marketplace, 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.
In case you’re procuring on a price range, I extremely suggest shopping for the older Meta Ray-Bans, particularly if you’ll find a pair at a reduction. Tip: Cheaper, refurbished choices are a factor.
Lastly, I might be doing you a disservice if I did not reiterate that the glasses are grounded by Meta providers, which embrace some questionable AI and information insurance policies that you could be not be snug 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.
