Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3: 9-hour battery, six mics and a $449 starting price

Meta unveiled the third generation of its Ray-Ban smart glasses at Meta Connect, and the new frames bring an extra hour of battery life, upgraded microphones and a higher starting price. The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 are on sale now from $449, up from $379 for the previous generation.

Aviator, Zena and an updated Wayfarer

The Gen 3 line arrives in two new frame styles: the Aviator and a more angular frame called Zena. The Wayfarer has been refreshed too, and Meta plans to sell 27 color and lens combinations, including Black, Havana and seasonal colors.

Engadget's hands-on notes that the Aviator frames are noticeably thicker than earlier Ray-Ban Meta models and felt a little loose on the face, though the reviewer liked the bolder look. Meta says it will offer more than 100 frame styles and color variations across its Ray-Ban, Oakley and Meta-branded lines by the end of the year. The Gen 3 frames are slightly slimmer and carry over the adjustable temple tips from the Optics line.

Nine hours of battery and a sixth microphone

According to Meta, the Gen 3 line now tops out at nine hours of battery life, one hour more than the previous generation. Engadget cautions that real endurance depends on usage: with continuous audio playback, its reviewer got a little over five hours from the Gen 2 model.

Meta has also added a sixth microphone. The company says the array reduces background noise by more than 90%, so calls and voice commands work in noisy places; a PCMag reporter tested it at a busy reception and was still clearly heard, while Meta's AI remained intelligible over the music.

A longer, programmable action button

The action button on the right of the frame is longer and customizable: press its front to snap a photo, long-press it to record video, or press the back to launch the Meta AI assistant or a custom prompt. The camera is unchanged at 12 megapixels with 3K video, and a light flashes while recording as a privacy safeguard. Media imports automatically into the Meta AI app, and the glasses charge in their case.

Some features are still to come: landscape-orientation photo and video capture, which Meta says will eventually reach other models too, plus Dolby Atmos recording and spatial sound.