Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 vs Gen 1: what changed and which pair you have

Gen 2, which Meta launched on Sept. 17, 2025, doubled the battery life of the 2023 Ray-Ban Meta glasses, added 3K video and cost $80 more at launch: $379 against $299. The 12MP camera, five-microphone array, 32GB of storage, IPX4 water resistance and the three styles carry over, so the differences come down to battery, case capacity, video resolution and price. Ray-Ban's US store is now clearing out the last Gen 1 pairs from $224.

This comparison is based on Meta's announcements and disclosures, EssilorLuxottica's brochures for opticians, and Ray-Ban's FAQ and US prices as listed on Oct. 25, 2026. We haven't tested either generation.

Gen 2 vs Gen 1 at a glance

What changed

Battery and case

Meta's disclosures list Gen 1 at up to four hours on a charge, with a fully charged case good for up to 32 more hours and 36 in total. Gen 2 gets up to eight hours, up to 48 more from the case and 56 in total. Meta calls that almost twice the battery life of Gen 1 and says Gen 2 charges to 50% in 20 minutes. EssilorLuxottica's brochure puts continuous audio at 3.5 hours on Gen 1 and five on Gen 2, and continuous calls at four hours against 5.5.

The documented difference between the two cases is capacity: 32 hours against 48. Ray-Ban sells replacement cases by model code, so know which generation you have before ordering a spare.

Video and photos

Gen 2 added 3K Ultra HD video, with more than twice as many pixels as Gen 1, which records 1080p. EssilorLuxottica's brochure lists both with stabilization for 1080p video and up to 60 frames per second at 1080p, and puts Gen 2's 3K at 30 frames per second. Both are listed with a 12MP ultra-wide camera. The brochure counts "500+ photos" on Gen 1's 32GB against "1000+" on Gen 2's, and says Gen 2 transfers files to the phone 10% faster.

Recording length has changed with software updates. Meta's 2023 launch release described Gen 1 videos of up to 60 seconds. Ubergizmo reported in August that an update raised the limit from three minutes to five at 1080p and 30 frames per second, switched on in the media settings of the Meta AI app, and that it applies across several Meta glasses lines. Meta's Gen 2 launch posts don't give a maximum.

Features and updates

Meta said hyperlapse and slow motion would come to all of its AI glasses by software in fall 2025, and conversation focus was announced as an update for Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta HSTN glasses. EssilorLuxottica told opticians in March that software updates "are retroactive and supported on both Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) and Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) models," so software features don't separate the two.

Price

Gen 1 launched at $299 and Gen 2 at $379. Meta kept Gen 1 on sale after Gen 2 arrived, "starting at just $299" in its launch blog. On Oct. 25, Ray-Ban's US store listed the last Gen 1 pairs at $224 to $284 as "last chance" stock, and Meta's Spanish store lists Gen 1 from €247. Our price guide has every current model.

What stayed the same

EssilorLuxottica's brochure lists the same 12MP ultra-wide camera, five-microphone array, 32GB of storage, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6, IPX4 water resistance, touchpad and capture button for both generations. Both come in Wayfarer, Headliner and Skyler, with the Wayfarer in two sizes, and both take prescription lenses, which our prescription guide covers.

Is Gen 1 still worth buying?

At $224, a new Gen 1 pair costs $155 less than Gen 2's $379 starting price, and you give up half the battery life and 3K video. On a used pair, remember that Ray-Ban's FAQ says the battery in the glasses and the case can't be replaced, so a pair that has seen heavy use keeps whatever capacity it has left. If you're weighing Gen 2 against the newest pair, see how Gen 3 compares.

How to tell which generation you have

Ray-Ban's FAQ gives one visible sign, and four more things from Meta's and Ray-Ban's materials narrow it down:

1. The temple marking. Ray-Ban's FAQ says Gen 2 added a "(gen 2)" marking on the inner temple, and its US FAQ says every pair shows the product name on the inner right temple.
2. The product name. Ray-Ban and Meta label the glasses Gen 1, Gen 2 or Gen 3 in their product names, such as "Wayfarer (Gen 2)." An order confirmation or receipt that uses the name settles it.
3. The purchase date. Gen 1 went on sale on Oct. 17, 2023 and Gen 2 on Sept. 17, 2025, so any pair bought before the second date is Gen 1. Meta kept selling both afterward, so a purchase on or after Sept. 17, 2025 could be either.
4. The model code. Ray-Ban's catalog gives each generation its own codes, and its assistance portal asks for the model code when you order a replacement case.
5. The serial number. Ray-Ban's FAQ says it is printed on the inside of the left temple, and Meta's help center says the Meta AI app lists it under Glasses, Device settings, General and About. It doesn't say the number reveals the generation, but Ray-Ban asks for it, with proof of purchase, to open a warranty claim.

The Gen 1 codes come from Ray-Ban's product listings and the Gen 2 codes from EssilorLuxottica's brochure and Ray-Ban's Gen 2 listing. The pages we read don't say where the code is printed on the glasses, so ask the seller to quote it from the original listing, packaging or receipt.

One more mix-up to avoid: Gen 1 is not Ray-Ban Stories, the 2021 glasses that Facebook, now Meta, launched with EssilorLuxottica. Those are a separate product, and our smart glasses timeline explains the difference.

Buying used: what to check

Ask the seller to factory reset the glasses. They pair with one Meta account at a time, and Ray-Ban's FAQ says the buyer is prompted to reset them at login if the seller hasn't. Ask for the serial number and the receipt, because a warranty claim needs both and the warranty runs one or two years from purchase depending on the country. Finally, ask how long the battery lasts in real use.