Meta's newest smart glasses are an iterative, expensive update. The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 carry over many improvements from smaller updates, with new features that mostly rely on software rather than reinvented hardware. Other than new colors and frame options, it's hard to tell how the Gen 3 glasses differ from the Gen 2, unless you really dig into the specs. Understanding those differences is the only way to justify the new $449 starting price.

The biggest changes are longer battery life and more microphones. The Gen 3 lasts up to 9 hours on a charge — one hour more than the Gen 2 — and up to 50 hours with its charging case. The Gen 3's six-mic array, one more mic than the Gen 2, allows for better background noise reduction for calls and AI interactions. Meta has also ported over the action button introduced on other models to the Gen 3.

Two new frame styles are added: the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) Aviator and the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) Zena. The only frame shape carrying over from the Gen 2 is the Wayfarer. The Gen 3 Wayfarer is slightly smaller at 129mm hinge-to-hinge, compared to the Gen 2's 131mm, but slightly heavier at 51.5 grams.

The vast majority of software features announced alongside the Gen 3 will be available on older Gen 2 models, too.