Updated
Discontinued
Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1)
Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) is a pair of AI glasses with a camera and open-ear speakers from Meta with Ray-Ban. It starts at $299 in the United States (launch price). Meta no longer sells Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1), which launched in October 2023; it is still supported in the app.
Gen 1 is the 2023 frame that made Ray-Ban Meta mainstream. Ray-Ban's US page no longer lists it, so we mark it discontinued, though Meta has not published an end-of-sale notice. Today you mostly find it used, refurbished or on clearance. The hardware is the oldest in the line: 1080p video, a 12 MP camera, a five-mic array and about four hours of moderate use. The software story is better than the hardware. Meta's notes say Gen 1 receives the same software features as Gen 2, with exceptions such as Autocapture. If you mainly want hands-free photos, music and voice questions on a budget, it still covers that. See Gen 1 vs Gen 2 before you pay.
Good fit
Bargain buyers who want basic camera and audio glasses and accept shorter battery life and 1080p video.
Look elsewhere if
Skip it if you record long clips, need a strong prescription or want every new feature; Gen 2 roughly doubles the battery and adds 3K video.
Key facts
Published figures only. Where Meta hasn't published a number, the row is left out rather than estimated.
| Price | $299 (United States, launch price); ₹29,900 (India, launch May 2025)[2] |
|---|---|
| Type | AI glasses with a camera and open-ear speakers |
| Display | None (audio, camera and voice only) |
| Camera | 12 MP photos; 1080p (1440x1920) 30fps; clips up to 60s at launch[2] |
| Audio | open-ear speakers, 5-mic array |
| Battery: glasses, moderate use | up to 4 hours[3] |
| Battery: glasses, continuous audio/voice assistance | up to 3 hours[3] |
| Battery: glasses + case total | up to 36 hours[2] |
| Battery: case extra charges (8 frame charges) | up to 32 hours[4] |
| Water resistance | IPX4 |
| Chip | Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 |
| Storage | 32GB |
| Controls | touchpad on right arm, capture button and voice ("Hey Meta") |
| App and phone | Meta AI app (formerly Meta View); iOS 17.2 or later; Android 10 or later[5] |
| Prescription | -6.00 to +4.00 total power. Order a complete Rx pair from Ray-Ban.com or certified optical retailers; adding Rx with a certified retailer was US/Canada only per the Ray-Ban PDF.[6] |
| Frame styles | Wayfarer, Headliner and Skyler |
Where you can buy it
Meta lists Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) in 18 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.
Features, and where they work
Status shown for the United States. The count says in how many of the 18 sale countries we have an official source confirming the feature. "Not confirmed" means the maker hasn't said, not that it's missing.
| Feature | In the United States | Confirmed countries |
|---|---|---|
| Audible audiobooks | [7] | 1 |
| Audio and video calls | [8] | 18 |
| Autocapture (Early Access) | [9] | 0 |
| Autocapture with Garmin | [9] | 18 |
| Be My Eyes | [10] | 18 |
| Calendar by voice | [11] | 1 |
| Celebrity Meta AI voices | [10] | 2 |
| Detailed answers in Live AI | [10] | 2 |
| Email read-aloud | [10] | 2 |
| Follow-up questions without "Hey Meta" | [10] | 2 |
| Golf apps (18Birdies, Arccos) | [12] | 2 |
| Hearing enhancement (FDA-cleared) | [13] | 0 |
| Live AI | [14] | 2 |
| Live translation | [15] | 18 |
| Look and ask (Meta AI vision) | [10] | 18 |
| Messaging (WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, phone SMS/iMessage) | [16] | 18 |
| Meta AI voice assistant | [10] | 18 |
| Music and audio apps (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Shazam, Audible and others) | [10] | 18 |
| Offline live translation | [15] | 18 |
| Photo and video capture | [3] | 18 |
| Reminders by voice | [17] | 1 |
| Restyle photos | [18] | 6 |
| Spotify: play a song to match this view | [19] | 18 |
| Walking directions (audio, non-display glasses) | [20] | 6 |
confirmed · maker says not available · not confirmed · announced
Check every feature in your country
Limitations to know before you buy
- Battery is about four hours of moderate use, and three hours with continuous audio or voice assistance, per Ray-Ban's FAQ.
- Video tops out at 1080p, and clips were capped at 60 seconds at launch.
- Meta's Early Access article explicitly excludes Gen 1 from Autocapture.
- The published prescription range is narrower than on newer frames, and Ray-Ban's PDF said adding Rx through a certified retailer was US and Canada only. See Gen 1 prescription.
- Status is inferred from store listings: Meta has not published an end-of-sale date, so stock and support terms vary by seller.
- Meta AI launched on Gen 1 as a US-only beta in 2023, so early reviews describe a smaller feature set than the glasses get now.
Set up and fix
- How to factory reset Meta glasses
- How to reset the Meta glasses charging case
- How to restart or force restart Meta glasses
- How to connect Meta glasses to an iPhone or Android phone
- How to unpair Meta glasses from your phone
- How to turn Meta glasses on and off
- All 17 how-to guides for Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1)
- Glasses won't pair with the Meta AI app
- Glasses won't charge
- Charging case shows a red or pulsing red LED (charging error)
- Glasses won't turn on
- "Hey Meta" / Meta AI not responding
- Meta AI or a feature says it is not available in my country or language
Questions people ask
Does Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 still get updates?
Meta's release notes indicate Gen 1 receives the same software features as Gen 2, with listed exceptions such as Autocapture. Meta has not announced an end date for Gen 1 updates.
Can Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 record 3K video?
No. Gen 1 records 1080p at 30fps. 3K video arrived with Gen 2, so a used Gen 1 is a poor pick if video quality is the main reason you are buying.
Can Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 livestream?
Yes. Meta's 2023 launch post says Gen 1 can livestream to Facebook or Instagram, and you can tap and hold the side of the frame to hear viewer comments read aloud.
What should I check before buying a used Gen 1?
Make sure the charging case is included, because it holds up to eight extra charges and most of the 36-hour total. Then factory reset the glasses before pairing them to your own Meta account.
Which frame styles did Gen 1 come in?
Wayfarer, Headliner and Skyler. At launch Ray-Ban Remix offered more than 150 frame and lens combinations, so used pairs turn up in many colors and lens tints.
How much does Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) cost?
$299 in the United States, ₹29,900 in India, per Meta's list prices.
Can I get Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) with prescription lenses?
Yes, within -6.00 to +4.00 total power. Order a complete Rx pair from Ray-Ban.com or certified optical retailers; adding Rx with a certified retailer was US/Canada only per the Ray-Ban PDF.
Does Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) work with iPhone and Android?
It pairs through the Meta AI app (formerly Meta View). iPhone needs iOS 17.2 or later; Android needs Android 10 or later.
Is Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) waterproof?
No. It is rated IPX4, which covers splashes and sweat, not swimming or submersion.
Related
- Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) vs Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2)
- Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3)
- Ray-Ban Meta Optics (Gen 2)
- Meta Ray-Ban Display
- Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2)
- Ray-Ban Meta Audio
- Which phones and devices work with it
Sources
- Meta Newsroom, 2023(about.fb.com)
- Introducing the New Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses(about.fb.com)
- Ray-Ban Meta FAQ (ray-ban.com US)(ray-ban.com, read 5 October 2026)
- Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 vs Gen 1 (Tom's Guide)(tomsguide.com, press report, read 4 October 2026)
- Meta AI app (Apple App Store)(apps.apple.com, read 5 October 2026)
- Ray-Ban Meta prescription data (PDF)(media.ray-ban.com, read 4 October 2026)
- How to stream Audible on AI glasses(meta.com, read 5 October 2026)
- engadget.com(engadget.com, press report)
- How to use autocapture on AI glasses(meta.com, read 5 October 2026)
- AI glasses release notes(meta.com, read 5 October 2026)
- How to connect your calendar to Meta AI to use on AI glasses(meta.com, read 5 October 2026)
- How to check feature availability for AI glasses(meta.com, read 5 October 2026)
- The Biggest News From Connect 2026 (Meta newsroom)(about.fb.com, read 5 October 2026)
- How to use live AI on AI glasses(meta.com, read 5 October 2026)
- How to use live translation on AI glasses(meta.com, read 5 October 2026)
- Call and message using AI glasses(meta.com, read 5 October 2026)
- How to use reminders on AI glasses(meta.com, read 5 October 2026)
- How to restyle photos with Meta AI on AI glasses(meta.com, read 5 October 2026)
- Updates to Meta AI Glasses: Conversation Focus, Spotify(about.fb.com)
- How to get walking directions on AI glasses(meta.com, read 5 October 2026)
Last verified 5 October 2026 against the sources listed on this page.