Ray-Ban Meta (2nd Gen)

Overview

We're still grappling with the long-term privacy implications of generative AI, much less generative AI on camera-enabled wearables. At the same time, as someone who has been wearing Meta's smart glasses on and off for more than four years, I can say that Meta has been able to turn something that once felt gimmicky into a genuinely useful accessory.

– As reviewed by Engadget

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 6 expert reviews

Excellent:

2
Good:

2
Average:

2
Bad:

0

8.2

User Score

Based on 2,513 reviews
as rated by users

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Last revision on July 2, 2026

Reviewers Liked

An unobtrusive camera at eye level
Lots of frame options
YouTuber-friendly 3K video
Meta AI translations are a game-changer for travel
Double the battery life of previous glasses
No change to size, can swap lens from older model

Reviewers Didn't Like

Higher price
Framing POV photos and video is still a challenge
Still no landscape photo or video mode
AI features are still a mixed bag

Competitors and Related Products

Our editors hand-pick related products using a variety of criteria: direct competitors targeting the same market segment, or devices that are similar in size, performance, or feature sets.

Expert reviews and ratings

The second-gen Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses raise the bar with an improved camera, offering a fun and fashionable way to capture life from your eyes.

By PCMag on December 11, 2025

Fashion aside, these devices are in a fraught place. Privacy rights and the absolute explosion of surveillance tech are much harder to ignore these days. Especially as people buy mod kits to disable the indicator light on the Meta glasses that let people see when the Meta glasses are recording, or use their glasses to record themselves harassing workers in massage parlors.

By Wired on November 05, 2025

The Ray-Ban Meta (gen 2) boast a better camera and longer battery life over the previous model, which keeps them atop our list of the best smart glasses. However, there’s no real competition at the moment.

By Tom's Guide on October 23, 2025

Meta’s new glasses have twice the battery life, but they still have the tricky issue of being a camera right on your face.

By The Verge on October 01, 2025

By Engadget on October 01, 2025

At least these Ray-Bans still don't cost an arm and a leg, and they're going to improve over time. Do you want Meta on your face? That's the other big question, especially when it comes to AI and data privacy and Meta's own policies on AI and content moderation.

By cnet on September 29, 2025

Hands on: I’m curious to see if their improved battery life will change the way people use them, the new camera feature render this next generation significantly more versatile and it looks as though Meta is committed to platform for the long-term, considering the features it already has planned for the future.

By TechAdvisor on October 03, 2025

The second-gen glasses aren’t groundbreaking, but they’re improved. And for anyone who’s not willing to spend $800 on the Meta Ray-Ban Display, the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 are probably the only smart Ray-Ban smart glasses worth buying.

By Gizmodo on October 01, 2025

Hands on: I gravitate toward the sporty Vanguard design with its IP67 water resistance and nose pads, but my Transitions Ray-Bans are better suited for any environment or time of day, and they're more affordable, too. The Gen 2s are where most smart glasses newbies or vets should start.

By AndroidCentral on September 29, 2025

Ray-Ban Meta (2nd Gen)

Overview

Pros/Cons

Reviews

Price: $459