Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 vs Gen 2: is the cheaper pair still worth buying?

I waited for Gen 2 before buying Ray-Ban Meta, partly because the first generation’s battery life had put me off. Having now lived with the newer pair, I’m glad I waited. That doesn’t mean I’d tell someone to ignore a much cheaper Gen 1, though, particularly if they’re only going to wear them for an hour or two at a time.

For a first pair you expect to use throughout the day, we’d favour Gen 2. Gen 1 becomes more interesting when the saving is substantial, the condition is good and the seller gives you enough reassurance about returns and what’s included. An existing Gen 1 owner has another option: keep them if they’re already doing the job.

This comparison combines my documented Gen 2 experience with manufacturer specifications and UK buying checks. It isn’t a side-by-side hands-on test, and the links aren’t affiliate links.

A discounted price doesn’t always mean there’s a pair to buy

On 7 September, we found a £247 listing for the Gen 1 Wayfarer in matte black with graphite polarised lenses. The closest Gen 2 comparison we checked was the matte-black Wayfarer with graphite polarised lenses in 53-22 at £409. We rechecked both pages on 9 September: Gen 2 was still £409 with an order button, while Gen 1 explicitly said “Sold Out”. The earlier prices suggest a £162 difference, but that isn’t a saving you can currently order.

The older product is identified as 53-22 in the product listing, although its live page didn’t expose a size selector during our check. These are closely matched frame and lens descriptions, not a claim that the generations are optically or physically identical. Sources: Gen 1 listing and Gen 2 listing.

So we’re not presenting £247 as a deal you can currently order. The £162 is a difference between displayed prices, not a verified available saving. Other colours, sizes and retailers may have different stock, which is why a useful comparison needs the actual pair in front of you rather than an old launch price or a search result.

The battery is the reason I’d pay more

Ray-Ban quotes up to four hours of moderate use for Gen 1 and eight for Gen 2. For continuous audio streaming and voice assistance, its figures are up to three and five hours respectively. Neither number is a promise of that much continuous filming, and your settings and use will affect it. Ray-Ban’s battery FAQ.

In my first month with Gen 2, I wore them for roughly three hours of mixed use a day and charged them at most once daily. They didn’t fall below 20% during that period, although they often stayed on my desk between uses. That’s ordinary use rather than a controlled endurance test, and I can’t use it to tell you exactly how a Gen 1 would have performed alongside them. The full account is in our Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 review.

What I can say is that charging didn’t become the nuisance I’d worried about. If you want music on a commute, a few photos over lunch and calls later on, the extra headroom is a persuasive reason to buy Gen 2. If you mainly want a camera for a short dog walk, you may be happier taking the saving and using the case between outings.

Gen 2 improves video, not the whole reason for owning the glasses

Gen 2 records video at up to 3K, compared with the older generation’s lower-resolution capture. If you film regularly, that’s another reason to consider the newer pair alongside the battery improvement. Meta also says Gen 2 can reach around half charge in 20 minutes, which is useful when you need a top-up before going out. Meta’s Gen 2 announcement.

But the appeal of taking a photograph without reaching for your phone isn’t exclusive to Gen 2. Nor are open-ear audio, calls and voice-controlled assistance. The older pair still belongs to that same camera-and-audio category, rather than becoming an entirely different sort of product because the newer one exists.

Framing photos the way you want them is a learned skill on these glasses. Neither standard generation gives you an in-lens viewfinder, so paying more won’t remove the need to get used to where the camera points. The separate Meta Ray-Ban Display range shouldn’t be confused with either pair.

Don’t assume every AI feature needs the newer hardware

Meta was already rolling visual questions out to UK Ray-Ban Meta owners before Gen 2 launched. That’s one reason to be wary of comparisons that put all the AI features in the Gen 2 column and leave the older pair looking like a basic camera. Meta’s UK rollout announcement.

There’s also a feature that favours the older pair: Meta says social livestreaming is only available on Gen 1. If broadcasting directly to Facebook or Instagram is why you want the glasses, check the current platform and account requirements before choosing Gen 2. Recording a video to share later isn’t the same thing. Meta’s livestream guidance.

More generally, check the particular function you want, including UK availability, supported languages and phone requirements. We’ve put those regional questions in our UK AI glasses feature tracker, rather than assume a US demonstration tells you what your own pair will do here.

For my own use, quick photos, music controls and occasional visual questions have made the glasses useful. I’d choose around those everyday jobs before paying for a feature I’ve only seen in an announcement.

Used and refurbished pairs need a different comparison

An older pair sold as new, a refurbished pair from a retailer and a used pair from a private seller aren’t equivalent offers. Before considering a cheaper Gen 1, we’d want clear answers on its condition, battery behaviour, returns, warranty and charging case.

Ask whether the advertised price includes the proper case and whether the lenses are scratched or prescription-made for somebody else. If replacement lenses are needed, get that cost first. A low sticker price is much less appealing once you’ve added the things required to wear and charge the glasses normally.

Battery condition is especially relevant when a shorter original battery specification is already part of the trade-off. We haven’t measured any used Gen 1 batteries, so we wouldn’t turn a seller’s “excellent condition” label into an estimate of how long they’ll last. Ask what was tested and what you can do if the delivered pair doesn’t match the description.

For a used pair, also confirm that it’s been reset and can be paired with your own account. Don’t take over a seller’s account or accept a device you can’t set up properly. Ray-Ban’s support FAQ covers setup and resetting; check the seller’s own terms for the purchase itself.

So how much cheaper would Gen 1 need to be?

There isn’t one price that makes sense for everyone. My own buying rule would be fairly simple: if the comparable Gen 1 is only around £50 cheaper, I’d pay the difference for Gen 2. If the gap is nearer £150 and the older pair is genuinely available from a seller I’m comfortable with, I’d consider Gen 1 for lighter use. Those are judgement calls, not claims about today’s cheapest offers.

Two common buying questions

Are Ray-Ban Stories the same as Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1?

No. Ray-Ban Stories are an earlier product. A second-hand listing that just says “Ray-Ban smart glasses” needs checking before you compare its price with the two generations discussed here. Ray-Ban’s model guidance.

Can I use either generation without a phone?

They’re designed around a compatible smartphone and the Meta AI app, not as standalone phone replacements. Some actions can happen on the glasses once set up, but don’t buy either expecting independent mobile calls and a fully offline AI assistant. Ray-Ban’s setup requirements.