Meta now sells camera AI glasses under three names: Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta and its own house brand, Meta Glasses. All three run Meta AI through the same phone app. Most of them share the same 12 MP camera, and the starting prices are $200 apart. For most buyers the choice comes down to four things: price, battery life, prescription support, and how much water and sweat the frames will see. This guide compares the current lineup using Meta’s own spec sheets and store prices checked on November 10, 2026.
Quick Answer
- Best value: Meta Glasses, from $249. It has the same 12 MP camera and 3K video as Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3, but a narrower prescription range and a shorter-lived case.
- Best everyday pick: Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3), from $449. It has the longest battery of the camera models (up to 9 hours), the widest choice of frames and lenses, and a prescription range of -12.00 to +6.00.
- Best for sport: Oakley Meta. Choose the HSTN ($399) for casual wear and light workouts, or the Vanguard ($499) for running and cycling, where its IP67 rating and centered camera matter.
- No camera wanted: Ray-Ban Meta Audio, from $349. It is the battery leader at up to 12 hours.
Specs and Prices Side by Side
| Meta Glasses | Oakley Meta HSTN | Oakley Meta Vanguard | Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) | Ray-Ban Meta Audio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (US) | $249 | $399 | $499 | $449 | $349 |
| Camera | 12 MP, 100°, left side | 12 MP ultra-wide, 3K | 12 MP, 122°, centered | 12 MP, 100°, left side | None |
| Video | Up to 3K at 30 fps; 1080p at 60 fps | Up to 3K at 30 fps | Up to 3K at 30 fps | Up to 3K at 30 fps; 1080p at 60 fps | None |
| Battery (rated) | Over 8 hours | Up to 8 hours | Up to 9 hours | Up to 9 hours | Up to 12 hours |
| Case adds | 40 hours | 48 hours | 36 hours | 50 hours | 48 hours |
| Microphones | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Water resistance | Not listed on compare page | IPX4 | IP67 | Not listed on compare page | Not listed on compare page |
| Prescription range | -12.00 to +2.25 (LISA Adventurer listing) | Available (see note) | Not offered | -12.00 to +6.00 | -12.00 to +6.00 |
Sources and check date: Starting prices are from the Meta Glasses, Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta store pages, Meta’s compare page (Ray-Ban Meta Audio) and Oakley.com (Vanguard), all checked November 10, 2026. Camera, battery, microphone and prescription figures come from Meta’s compare page and from Meta’s launch posts for HSTN and Vanguard. Prices change often in the run-up to Black Friday, so check the retailer before you buy. Sources disagree on the HSTN prescription range: Gadget Clarity lists -12.00 to +6.00, while Android Central lists a narrower range. Confirm it with your optician or the Rx tool at checkout.
Meta Glasses: The Cheapest Way In
Meta’s house-brand line, made with EssilorLuxottica, includes the Adventurer, Fury, Starfire, Nova and Capri frames, plus celebrity editions with LISA and Kylie Jenner. On Meta’s compare page, its camera and media specs match Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 line for line. That means a 12 MP wide-angle camera with a 100° field of view, 3K video at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps, Photo Ultra HDR, dynamic photos and a six-mic array. The store now lists Meta Glasses from $249. As we reported from Connect, that entry price is a black Adventurer with a plug-in charging case. Most styles have sat at $299, and the celebrity editions start at $399.
The trade-offs are real but narrow. Meta rates the battery at “over 8 hours”, with 40 more from the case, against 9 and 50 for Gen 3. The prescription range on the LISA Adventurer listing tops out at +2.25, which rules out many farsighted buyers. There is also a fresh caveat. This week Meta pushed an urgent version 130 update for Meta Glasses after a rare issue where moisture made some frames “too warm”. The fix is software, and Meta is offering replacements to anyone affected. If you buy a pair, update it on day one.
Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3): The Default Choice
Gen 3 launched at Connect on September 23 at $449, and that is still its starting price on the Meta Store today. Gen 3 offers the most frame options of any camera model: Wayfarer, Aviator and the cat-eye Zena come in Standard and Large sizes. Lens choices include sun, polarized, Transitions and clear. It is rated at up to 9 hours per charge, with 50 more from the case, the best of the camera models. It also adds a customizable action button for Meta AI. The prescription range runs from -12.00 to +6.00.
So what does the extra $200 over Meta Glasses buy? On paper, not a better camera. You get an hour more battery, more case capacity, the full prescription range, more styles and Ray-Ban’s retail network for fittings. If you need a prescription stronger than +2.25, or you just want a Wayfarer, Gen 3 is the obvious pick. Our Ray-Ban Meta setup guide covers pairing and the settings worth changing first.
Oakley Meta: HSTN vs Vanguard
Oakley Meta covers two quite different products. The HSTN, from $399, is a sporty everyday frame. Meta rates it at up to 8 hours of typical use, 19 hours on standby and 48 more hours from the case, and it carries an IPX4 splash and sweat rating. Lens options include Prizm, Prizm Polarized, clear and Transitions. The Vanguard, $499 on Oakley.com, is built for training. It has a centered 12 MP camera with a 122° lens, so footage comes from your true point of view rather than beside your left eye. It is rated IP67 for dust and water, has Strava and Garmin integration, and runs up to 9 hours (6 hours of continuous music), with 36 more from the case. The catch is that no prescription lenses are offered for Vanguard.
Given this week’s moisture warning on Meta Glasses, the Vanguard’s IP67 rating is worth knowing about. Meta says the version 130 issue does NOT affect Oakley or Ray-Ban frames. If you sweat heavily, run in the rain or ride in all weather, the Vanguard is the frame Meta built for that.
Ray-Ban Meta Audio: If You Don’t Want a Camera
Ray-Ban Meta Audio drops the camera entirely. It is listed at $349 on Meta’s compare page, weighs 43 grams in the Burbank style and is rated at up to 12 hours, with 48 more from the case. It keeps the six-mic array, open-ear speakers, live translation and Meta AI by voice. It is the right answer for people who want AI glasses for calls and music but work somewhere cameras are not welcome. Our Ray-Ban Meta Audio review roundup goes into detail, and our look at employer smart glasses policies explains why camera-free frames are getting attention.
What About a Display?
None of the glasses above has a screen. If you want messages, navigation and captions in the lens, the product is Meta Ray-Ban Display with the Neural Band wristband. It is a different category at a higher price, and our Meta Ray-Ban Display vs Even G2 comparison covers it. For the wider market, including XREAL, Even Realities and the new Android XR frames, see our Best Smart Glasses of 2026 guide.
Which Should You Buy?
| If you… | Buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want the lowest price for a camera pair | Meta Glasses ($249+) | Same camera and video specs as Gen 3 on Meta’s compare page |
| Need a prescription above +2.25 | Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 ($449+) | -12.00 to +6.00 range, Standard and Large sizes |
| Want the longest camera-glasses battery | Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 or Oakley Meta Vanguard | Both rated up to 9 hours |
| Run, cycle or train in the rain | Oakley Meta Vanguard ($499) | IP67, centered 122° camera, Strava and Garmin |
| Want a sporty look for daily wear | Oakley Meta HSTN ($399+) | IPX4, Prizm and Transitions lenses |
| Don’t want a camera at all | Ray-Ban Meta Audio ($349+) | Up to 12 hours, 43 g, no capture LED needed |
For most people, the real contest is Meta Glasses vs Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3. If your prescription fits and you are happy with Meta’s frame shapes, the $249–$299 house brand gives you the same capture hardware for far less. If you need a stronger prescription, a specific Ray-Ban style or the extra battery, Gen 3 justifies its price. Black Friday is November 27. Prices on all of these are likely to move, so we will track verified discounts in our Black Friday VR and smart glasses deals coverage.