Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) is here, but should Gen 2 owners bother?

At its Connect 2026 event, Meta has taken the wraps off its Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) smart glasses. These wearables were announced alongside the new Meta VR Glasses, Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses, as well as new designs which were created in collaboration with global pop icon Lisa.

What’s new in the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3)?

Now, if you were hoping the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen) 3 is a massive improvement over its predecessor, you’re going to be disappointed. Most of the changes appear to be small. But at the same time, depending on how old your current device is, it could be worth upgrading to.

The biggest upgrade here is probably battery life. According to Meta, the glasses now last up to nine hours on a charge, up from eight on the Gen 2. The charging case holds a little more too, going from 48 to 50 extra hours.

Meta also added a sixth microphone and moved the mics around on the frame. The company claims this blocks out more than 90% of background noise. So calls and voice commands should sound clearer on a windy or crowded street.

There’s a new built-in action button as well. It is used to open Meta AI instantly. But at the same time, you can customize it for a different shortcut. Meta also slimmed down the frames for a more comfortable fit. As for the camera, that hasn’t changed. The smart glasses still feature the same 12MP sensor with 3K video.

Pricing & availability

The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) is currently available for purchase starting at $449 in the US. That’s $70 more than the Gen 2 cost when it launched last year. You can order a pair through Meta’s online store. There are 27 color and lens combos spread across three styles.

The Wayfarer design returns and Meta has added the Aviator and a new cat-eye frame called Zena. Also, to mark the Aviator’s 90th birthday, there’s also a limited-edition version in a vintage beige color.

That being said, if you don’t care about the camera, the camera-free Audio pair costs $100 less and is a cheaper alternative.