My week with the Wayfarer (Gen 2) specs reveals what first-gen issues Meta has addressed and which ones you’ll still need to manage.
Testing the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 glasses for the past week, following two years of intermittent use of the original Ray-Ban Metas, has quickly highlighted that Meta has made significant enhancements to these glasses in several important areas — but has retained the fundamental experience (and some of my previous issues) as is.
Meta distributed the Gen 2s generously at Connect 2025, resulting in my unexpected acquisition of the Shiny Cosmic Blue Wayfarer Gen 2 frames equipped with Transitions lenses.
Transitioning from my old Matte Black Gen 1 sunglasses permits me to wear them while at home or during evening runs, which I appreciate.
However, these additional sessions, bolstered by improved battery longevity, also present more chances to notice the shortcomings of these smart glasses.
My comprehensive review will follow in a few weeks after more in-depth testing. But for anyone pondering whether to upgrade or continue using their current pair right now, my initial thoughts may assist in your decision-making.
Battery performance is the Gen 2 highlight
When I initially began using my 2023 Ray-Bans, they typically provided around three hours of playback with music streaming, regular photo-taking, and the sporadic phone call or command. By early 2025, when I wore them for a half-marathon, they hardly lasted two hours. Establishing a strong baseline for Gen 2 will be crucial for new consumers, who know that capacity diminishes over time.
So far, the Gen 2s deplete about 20% capacity per hour, including one instance of 3K video, frequent Meta AI commands, and high-volume music streaming to counteract outdoor noise. A two-hour run left me at 60% capacity, while a one-hour run the following day left me at 79%.
Using them indoors at a lower volume, and having the Meta AI commands switched off to save power, the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2s were at 69% after two hours — quite efficient! Then, a two-minute phone call and recording my cat in 3K for another minute drained an additional 8% power, so keep that in mind.
I don’t think you could reliably use these for continuous audio streaming throughout the day, unless you’re prepared to remove them once or twice for a brief recharge in the case. But this is a substantial improvement over before, and the 50% recharge in 20 minutes is beneficial.
In general, the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 battery enhancement makes me much more inclined to wear them for outings or work-related events, with the reassurance that they won’t become a burdensome weight on my face after just a few hours.
These glasses don’t feel THAT different, yet they continue to evolve
Around the Oakley Meta Vanguard launch scheduled for late October, Meta will introduce numerous updates to the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2s: slow motion and hyperlapse videos, Garmin/Strava integration for real-time workout data, “conversation focus” mode to amplify whichever voice you are engaging with, and new voice command shortcuts like “Photo” without requiring the Meta AI wake word.
Meta has also asserted that the Ray-Ban Gen 2s will be capable of capturing in 1200p resolution at 60 FPS, but this option is not yet operational. Meta has even made available its “Wearable Device Access Toolkit” so developers can integrate Meta AI glasses directly with third-party applications — but we likely won’t see outcomes from this until 2026 or later.
Aside from battery longevity, the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2s don’t strike me as particularly different right now. However, all the features mentioned make me hopeful that they will soon feel more “next-gen.”
On that note, even though the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 glasses provide “over 2x more pixels” than the preceding generation for video recording, the distinction doesn’t seem all that significant. You can discern more details and reduced compression in side-by-side comparisons if you scrutinize closely, at least.
Yet, Nick, who tested the same cameras on the Oakley Meta HSTNs, concurs with me that the image stabilization is impressive at 1080p, creating a super-smooth, gliding video while running swiftly that nearly replicates the effect of a dolly shot in films. Therefore, I find myself favoring that mode; perhaps the 1200p 60FPS mode will serve as a pleasant, smoother compromise between the two when it becomes available.
Honestly, I simply wish we had witnessed an enhancement in photo quality as well. The unchanged 3024 X 4032 resolution remains excellent in ideal conditions, but I would still prefer to see improved low-light performance, color balancing that’s not overly saturated, or a landscape mode when the Gen 3s arrive in a few years.
The drawbacks and minor issues that you’ll have to tolerate
With my previous Ray-Bans, I wore a “Large” pair that exerted less pressure on
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