ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The newest good glasses can be found for $379 in varied types 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 decisions
oct / 2025
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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. Perhaps 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 actually consultant of these valuable moments in time.
Whereas a lot progress has been made with good glasses in 2025, a lot of which make the Meta Ray-Bans seem much less succesful, I might nonetheless put my cash on the most recent mannequin to promote probably the most throughout the vacation season.
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At a beginning fee of $379, they’re $80 dearer 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 when 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 seem 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 imagine 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 good glasses kind issue, the brand new Ray-Bans get the job executed.
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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 climbing journey and located myself placing them again into the charging case each two to a few hours. That is barely higher than the mileage I bought from the earlier mannequin, however nonetheless not sufficient to final a full day.
I ought to point out that it was additionally sizzling and sunny — as I seen the gray transition lenses slowly however absolutely kick in every time I bought 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 when you’re simply taking pictures and movies in brief spurts, then you definitely 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 sizzling 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 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 methods to determine
Contemplating the corporate is trickling many 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.
Except for shade and transition lens decisions, in addition they look and weigh the identical, whether or not you choose the Wayfarer, Headliner, or Skyler design. There have been moments throughout my testing once I’d unintentionally choose up and put on the first-gen Ray-Bans for the reason that charging circumstances are additionally an identical.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
That is to say, the second-gen Meta Ray-Bans usually are not as huge a leap because the originals had been to the Meta Ray-Ban Tales. And that is okay, as a result of they’re nonetheless probably 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 shopper.
For those who’re buying on a price range, I extremely advocate shopping for the older Meta Ray-Bans, particularly if you could 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 embody some questionable AI and knowledge insurance policies that you could be not be comfy agreeing to. If issues like focused adverts and chat historical past sharing offer you pause, then I might think about different wearable choices.
