Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Gen 3 with AR display and $349 price, shipping July 2026 in US/Europe
Meta announced the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 smart glasses, featuring an augmented reality display and priced at $349, with shipping expected in the U.S. and Europe in July 2026. According to reports, the new model builds on previous versions by integrating a full-color in-lens display, upgraded cameras, and AI-powered features for enhanced audio and visual experiences.
The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 smart glasses are expected to launch around Meta Connect 2026, with availability in the U.S. and Europe later that year or possibly in early 2027, according to multiple reports. Brightness is said to range from 30 to 5,000 nits, with automatic adjustment through UV detection. Display features include turn-by-turn walking directions with visual maps, live translation captions, and message viewing from apps such as WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, according to sources familiar with the product.
The new model reportedly builds on the 2025 Ray-Ban Meta Display Glasses by integrating a full-color in-lens display with a 600-by-600-pixel resolution embedded in the right lens, offering a 20-degree field of view at 42 pixels per degree and a refresh rate of 90Hz.
Camera capabilities are expected to advance with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera featuring 3x zoom, capable of capturing images at 3,024 by 4,032 pixels and video at 1,440 by 1,920 pixels at 30 frames per second. This represents an upgrade from the 2023 Ray-Ban Meta model that introduced a 12MP camera with Meta AI integration. The Gen 3 glasses are rumored to include a “Look and Ask” function that allows users to activate AI queries about their surroundings, including identifying names and addresses, a feature that has raised privacy concerns in some discussions. A capture LED will indicate when photos or videos are being taken, according to leaked specifications.
On the hardware front, the Gen 3 glasses are expected to utilize an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon AR series chipset, likely the Snapdragon AR 1 Plus, improving upon the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor used in the 2025 model. This upgrade aims to support longer and more complex AI tasks. Reports also mention a “super sensing” capability for continuous environmental awareness, allowing the glasses to remember locations and objects without user prompts and recognize people or belongings in the field of view. Meta AI will continue to enable voice control, question answering, and hands-free interaction across the device’s functions.
Battery life is projected to reach up to six hours of mixed use, with a total of 30 hours possible using a portable collapsible charging case. The glasses can reportedly charge to 50% in 20 minutes. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, with compatibility for iOS 15.2 and later and Android 10 and later. Audio hardware consists of dual off-ear speakers and five microphones to support audio capture and voice AI functionality. Additionally, the glasses may offer an optional Neural Band accessory worn on the wrist, enabling control of the in-lens display through subtle hand movements, according to sources who have reviewed the device.
Pricing details remain unclear, with no official confirmation of the $349 price point widely reported. The current 2025 Ray-Ban Meta Display Glasses are priced at $799, while the standard Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses start at $299, according to Meta’s official website and product listings. The rumored $349 price for the Gen 3 model would mark a significant reduction compared to the existing display-equipped glasses, but this figure has not been verified by Meta or its retail partners. Shipping timelines also remain unconfirmed, though reports place the launch window in late 2026 with potential delays into early 2027 for some markets.
The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 glasses are positioned as a premium category distinct from the standard Meta smart glasses line, emphasizing advanced display and AI capabilities. This follows a progression from the original Ray-Ban Stories launched in 2021, through the 2023 Ray-Ban Meta with 12MP cameras and AI features, to the 2025 display glasses that introduced in-lens augmented reality technology. Privacy concerns have been noted in relation to continuous sensing and recognition features, as the glasses’ ability to identify surroundings and individuals could raise data protection issues.
Meta’s official channels currently promote the Ray-Ban Meta glasses starting at $299, without in-lens display, and the Ray-Ban Meta Display Glasses with Neural Band at the higher $799 price point. The Gen 3 model remains unannounced by Meta, with all details based on leaks, rumors, and industry reports. The company is expected to provide official information at Meta Connect 2026, where previous product generations have been unveiled.
