Meta’s Ray-Ban Gen 3 glasses add modest hardware at a higher price
Engadget reports longer estimated battery life, an extra microphone and new frame styles, while most announced software features are also coming to Gen 2.
Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 smart glasses add incremental hardware changes and start at $449, $70 above Gen 2, according to a comparison by Engadget.
The new model is rated for up to nine hours of battery life, one hour more than Gen 2. Its charging case is rated for up to 50 hours, compared with 48 hours for the previous model. Those are estimates; Engadget says real-world battery performance remains to be reviewed.
Gen 3 has six microphones, one more than Gen 2, and an action button that can summon Meta AI, capture images or serve as a shortcut. Meta says the microphone redesign improves background-noise reduction, a claim Engadget says still needs testing. Dolby Atmos spatial audio support is planned for later in 2026.
The lineup adds Aviator and Zena frame styles, while Wayfarer is the only Gen 2 shape carried over for now. The comparable Gen 3 Wayfarer is slightly smaller but marginally heavier than Gen 2, at 51.5 grams versus 51 grams.
Most software features announced alongside Gen 3 are also expected on Gen 2, including hearing enhancement, access to Meta’s Muse AI agent and dynamic photo capture. That leaves the higher price resting largely on hardware changes and frame options, rather than exclusive access to those features.
