The Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (Gen 2) is now available to rent at Primes & Zooms. It looks like a classic pair of Wayfarers, but hidden in the frame are a 12MP ultrawide camera, five microphones, open-ear speakers and Meta's AI assistant. You say "Hey Meta", it shoots, translates, plays music or answers calls, and your hands stay free for the coffee you're holding! Compared with Gen 1, the headline upgrades are 3K video and roughly double the battery life.
Here is what it offers, what it's good for, and where a normal camera is still the better choice. We also read and summarised the reviews, so you don't have to.
Key Specifications
| Camera | 12MP ultrawide; photos up to 3024×4032 (portrait orientation) |
|---|---|
| Video | Up to 3K at 30 fps (Ray-Ban India lists 2203×2938); 1440p at 30 fps also available |
| Microphones & Speakers | 5-microphone array; two open-ear speakers |
| Battery | Up to 8 hours per charge (manufacturer's figure); fast charge to 50% in about 20 minutes |
| Charging Case | Adds up to about 48 hours of extra battery (Meta's figure) |
| Storage | 32GB built-in; roughly 500+ photos or 100+ 30-second videos |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3; pairs with the Meta AI app on iOS 14.4+ or Android 10+ |
| Meta AI | "Hey Meta" voice assistant; Hindi voice interaction supported in India (per Meta's India announcement) |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 (splash resistance) |
| In the Rental | Glasses with charging case, USB cable and carry case |
Where This Device Shines
Travel, vlogs and hands-free POV
- Walk a market, ride a train or hike a fort and capture first-person footage without holding anything. The camera is where your eyes are, so the shot is already framed the way you saw it.
- Voice control means you can start a clip without fishing out your phone, which helps when the moment is five seconds long.
Events, behind-the-scenes and content creators
- Engadget's reviewer found the 3K video suits creators, and a pair of glasses is a discreet way to grab POV b-roll at an event or on a set without a second operator.
- The five-microphone array and open-ear speakers also handle calls and voice notes, so one device covers capture and communication.
Trying smart glasses before you buy
- At launch in India, Meta listed Gen 2 from ₹39,900 (December 2025; check the current price). A few days of rental shows you whether the fit, battery and AI actually suit your routine and requirements before you spend that money.
Where This Camera Is Not the Right Choice
✕ Anyone who wants controlled framing or top image quality
- Photos are 12MP, portrait only, and there is no live preview, which several reviewers found makes framing hit-and-miss. TechRadar found night shots mediocre and colours washed out, and Tom's Guide said photos look best in full light.
- For client work or anything you'll crop hard, use a proper camera. See the alternatives below.
✕ Rain, water, or very long recording days
- The glasses are only rated for splashes (IPX4), so no swimming, no rain-soaked treks. For rougher or wetter shoots, look at an action camera instead.
- Eight hours is the manufacturer's claim. Engadget's reviewer got just over five and a half hours of continuous music, and live translation drains the battery faster. Heavy 3K recording will too. The charging case helps, but plan for it.
✕ Anyone wary of the privacy trade-offs, or fussy about fit
- Gizmodo, Engadget, Tom's Guide and TechRadar all flagged privacy concerns, from how Meta uses voice and AI data to the ease of recording people covertly. Be considerate: ask before you film others, and follow the rules of any venue or location.
- Meta AI can still get things wrong (TechRadar caught it hallucinating, and Tom's Guide noted no turn-by-turn directions). The frame also feels tighter than some wearers like, so if you've got a broad or narrow face, check the fit before a big shoot.
What the Reviewers Said
These reviews cover the retail Gen 2 and mostly date from September 2025 to April 2026. Meta updates features by software, so some points may have changed since.
Scored it 87/100 and called the glasses a useful accessory rather than a gimmick. It praised the better battery life, the 3K video and the translation features, but found framing POV shots difficult, measured under the claimed battery life, and noted that lens upgrades are expensive. It also flagged privacy concerns.
Rated it 3.5/5 and named it the best Ray-Ban Meta glasses without a screen, though the gains over Gen 1 are modest. Video and battery life improved, but still photos and the speakers didn't, and Meta AI remains messy. It also raised privacy concerns.
Gave it an Editor's Choice, calling it an evolution rather than a revolution and saying Gen 1 owners have no compelling reason to upgrade. It liked the battery and video improvements, but found the fit tight, colours sometimes washed out, and objected to Meta's ad-targeting policy.
Scored design 5/5, performance 4/5 and value 4/5, calling the battery the biggest upgrade and the glasses still the best smart glasses for most people. It found the camera limiting (portrait only, no preview, mediocre night shots), saw Meta AI make a mistake while sightseeing, and had privacy concerns.
Compared the two generations: the same 12MP camera and IPX4 rating, but better video and roughly double the battery in Gen 2. It recommended Gen 2 for new buyers and said Gen 1 owners needn't rush to upgrade.
Compare Before You Rent
Smart glasses are great at being invisible. If you need something louder, tougher or sharper, these are the closest options we carry:
Insta360 X6
Records in every direction at once and lets you reframe afterwards. Check the listing for its rental notes.
GoPro Hero 13 Black
A purpose-built action camera. We also rent a protective underwater housing and a floaty for it.
Sony ZV-1 II
A pocket vlogging compact for when you want proper image quality and a screen to frame the shot.
Rent the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (Gen 2) at Primes & Zooms
Available for home delivery and pickup across Pune and Mumbai.
Pair it with:
- The Meta AI Creator Bundle: the glasses plus a Nothing Phone 3 for framing, editing and sharing, listed at ₹990/day (10% off the separate rates). The glasses need a phone running the Meta AI app (iOS 14.4+ or Android 10+).
- Ugreen PB205 USB-C Power Bank to keep the charging case and your phone topped up on long travel days
- Live-streaming gear if you're covering an event and want more than a first-person view
