Meta glasses Gen 3: release date, price, specs and what changed.

Meta glasses Gen 3 release date and availability

Meta announced Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) at its Connect event on September 23, 2026, in a post titled “Introducing Ray-Ban Meta Audio and More AI Glasses Styles”, and said Gen 3 was “available today”. There was no pre-order gap: when we checked Meta’s US store on September 30, 2026, the Gen 3 Wayfarer product page showed an estimated delivery two days out and in-store pickup.

That timing follows Meta’s pattern. Gen 1 was announced in September 2023, Gen 2 launched on September 17, 2025, and Gen 3 arrived at the following September’s Connect. The same announcement also introduced two products that are easy to confuse with Gen 3: Ray-Ban Meta Audio, which has no camera and ships October 13, and new Meta-branded frames such as the $249 Adventurer. Neither is Gen 3. Source: Meta’s announcement, checked September 30, 2026.

How much are the Gen 3 Meta glasses?

Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) starts at $449 in all three styles on Meta’s US store (checked September 30, 2026). That is the base price with standard lenses; Transitions, polarized and prescription lenses add to it. Meta also shows a monthly Affirm financing option beside the price, which spreads the cost rather than reducing it.

For context, Gen 2 is still sold from $379, the outgoing Gen 1 Wayfarer and Skyler were $224 against a $299 list price, and the Gen 2 Optics frames are $499. So Gen 3 is not the most expensive Ray-Ban Meta; it is the newest one. Every Meta model’s price is in our Meta glasses price list.

Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 specs

These are the figures from the specifications panel on Meta’s Gen 3 Wayfarer page, read on September 30, 2026.

• Camera: 12 MP ultra-wide, photos at 3024 × 4032 pixels
• Video: 3K Ultra HD at 30 fps; 1080p+ at 30 or 60 fps; 720p+ at 120 fps; hyperlapse and slow motion
• Audio: open-ear speakers with adaptive volume, 6-mic array
• Battery: up to 9 hours on a charge, up to 50 more from the case, 50% in 20 minutes
• Storage: 32GB, which Meta rates at 1,000+ photos or 100+ 30-second videos
• Weight: 51.5 g (standard size), 53.8 g (large); the case is 133 g
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3; iOS 17+ or Android 10+
• Prescription: prescription-ready, -12.00 to +6.00 total power
• Translation: live translation across 20 languages, per Meta’s FAQ
• Warranty: 12 months against manufacturing defects, from EssilorLuxottica

Like every Ray-Ban Meta generation, Gen 3 has an LED that lights up when you take photos or video so people around you know. Meta also says that later this year its AI glasses will be able to capture video with Dolby Atmos spatial sound.

Meta Gen 3 vs Gen 2: what actually changed

Meta’s own answer to “what’s new in Gen 3 compared to Gen 2” is a slimmer design, a more comfortable fit, a 6-mic array, longer battery and the new action button. Here is how that looks side by side on the two Wayfarer spec sheets.

Sources: Gen 2 Wayfarer page and Gen 3 Wayfarer page, checked September 30, 2026.

Two things stand out. First, the camera did not change: Meta lists the same 12 MP sensor and the same video modes for both. Second, “slimmer” shows up in the dimensions (2 mm narrower, 1 mm shorter temples) rather than the scale: the standard Gen 3 Wayfarer is listed at 51.5 g against 51 g for Gen 2. Also note the phone requirement went up to iOS 17, which matters if you use an older iPhone. For the earlier jump from Gen 1 to Gen 2, see our Gen 2 vs Gen 1 comparison.

Gen 3 styles: Wayfarer, Aviator and Zena

Gen 3 comes in three shapes and, according to Meta, 27 colour and lens combinations. On the US store the Wayfarer is offered in 8 colours, the Aviator in 6 and the Zena in 6. The Aviator is new to Ray-Ban Meta, and Meta is releasing a limited-edition vintage-inspired Aviator for the style’s 90th anniversary. The Zena is what Meta calls a bold new cat-eye. If you liked the Skyler or Headliner shapes, note that those are not in Gen 3: they remain Gen 2 (and Gen 1 for Skyler) styles. All three Gen 3 styles take prescription lenses, including single vision, progressives and Transitions, and get the adjustable temple tips. The full lineup of shapes across every generation is on our Ray-Ban smart glasses guide.

Should you upgrade to Meta glasses Gen 3?

1. You own Gen 2 and it works: the case is weak. Same camera, same video modes, roughly one more hour of battery. Upgrade only for the Aviator or Zena shape, or the action button.
2. You own Gen 1: the case is strong. Battery goes from up to 4 hours to up to 9, and video goes to 3K. But Gen 2 at $379 delivers most of that jump for $70 less.
3. You are buying your first pair and want the Ray-Ban frame: choose the shape first. If it is a Wayfarer, Gen 2 at $379 gives up one hour of battery and one microphone; if it is an Aviator or Zena, Gen 3 is the only option.
4. You use an older iPhone: check it runs iOS 17 before ordering Gen 3.
5. You mainly want a camera, audio and translation and not Meta AI: you may not need a Ray-Ban at all; see the next section.

Cheaper alternatives to Meta glasses Gen 3

Within Meta’s own range, the cheaper routes are Gen 2 at $379, the Gen 1 Wayfarer and Skyler while stock lasts, refurbished pairs and the $249 Meta Adventurer; our cheap Meta glasses guidelists them all with dates. Outside Meta, camera-and-audio glasses start well under $200. We make some of them, so weigh this accordingly. OXIVUE frames give up the Ray-Ban frame, Meta AI and app integration, prescription lenses and Meta’s 3K video; there is no display either. They keep an 8 MP camera, open-ear audio and two-way translation through a free app, with no social account and no subscription.

OXIVUE list prices; one pair is currently $50 off at checkout, applied automatically. All specs side by side are on our comparison page, and a ranked list of non-Meta options is in Ray-Ban Meta alternatives.

Bottom line

Meta glasses Gen 3 came out on September 23, 2026 from $449. It is a refinement, not a reinvention: the same 12 MP camera and 3K video as Gen 2, with an extra hour of battery, a sixth microphone, an action button and two new shapes. Buy it if you want the Aviator or Zena, or are coming from Gen 1; otherwise Gen 2 at $379 is the value pick in Meta’s range. If you want hands-free photos, open-ear audio and translation without the Ray-Ban price or a Meta account, the OXIVUE M02C at $159 is our everyday pick and the M08 at $149 the cheapest way in, with free US shipping from $99 and a 2-year warranty on the frame.

Frequently asked questions