Meta and Ray‑Ban Unveil Gen 2 Smart Glasses with Major Battery, Video and Feature Upgrades
Key Points
- Gen 2 Ray‑Ban Meta glasses double battery life to eight hours.
- Fast charging reaches 50 % in about 20 minutes.
- Charging case now provides 48 hours of extra power.
- Video resolution upgraded to 3K Ultra HD with multiple frame‑rate options.
- New hyperlapse and slow‑motion video modes slated for release.
- Live‑translation expands to include German and Portuguese.
- Pricing starts at $379 with 27 frame and lens configurations available.
- Future software update will add conversation‑focus audio enhancement.
Meta and Ray‑Ban have officially launched the second‑generation Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses, offering a suite of upgrades over the original model. The new glasses retain a wide range of frame styles and lens options while boosting battery life to eight hours, adding faster charging, and delivering 3K Ultra HD video capture. Additional software features such as new shooting modes and expanded live‑translation language support are also announced. Pricing begins at $379 for standard lenses, and the device ships with a charging case that provides extra on‑the‑go power.
New Generation Launch
Meta and Ray‑Ban have confirmed the arrival of the Gen 2 Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses, the latest iteration of the collaborative wearable. The launch introduces a series of hardware and software improvements while preserving the diverse frame shapes, colors and lens choices that defined the first version.
Battery Life and Charging Enhancements
The most noticeable hardware upgrade is the battery. Meta reports that the new glasses can operate for up to eight hours on a single charge, doubling the runtime of the original model. In real‑world use, this translates to a full day of activity without needing to plug in. Audio playback or voice calling can last for five hours continuously. Charging speed has also improved; the glasses can reach 50 % charge in roughly 20 minutes, two minutes faster than the previous generation. The accompanying charging case now supplies an additional 48 hours of power—six full cycles—up from the earlier 32‑hour provision.
Video Capture Upgrades
Camera capabilities have been refined. The Gen 2 glasses record video in "3K Ultra HD" at 6.4 million pixels per frame, delivering twice the resolution of the prior model while maintaining a 12‑megapixel still‑photo sensor. Users can select from several recording modes: 3K at 30 fps, 1440p at 30 fps, or 1200p at 60 fps, allowing flexibility for different shooting scenarios.
New Shooting Modes and Software Features
Meta announced two forthcoming video capture modes: hyperlapse, which compresses extended periods into short clips, and slow motion, which expands brief moments. Both modes will be rolled out across Meta’s AI‑glass lineup. In addition, the live‑translation feature will expand to include German and Portuguese, bringing the total supported languages to six. These language packs can operate offline after being downloaded.
Pricing and Availability
The Gen 2 glasses start at $379 for standard lens configurations. As with the original, a broad palette of frame designs, colors and lens types is offered, amounting to 27 distinct configurations.
Future Upgrades
Meta hinted at upcoming software enhancements, such as a "conversation focus" function that uses the glasses’ open‑ear speakers to amplify the voice of a person speaking directly to the wearer, improving clarity in noisy environments. This feature, along with other AI‑driven improvements, will be added to the device after launch.