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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Ray-Ban Meta Optics are updated Gen 2 smart glasses.
• They are slimmer and lighter than current Gen 2. 
• They’re designed with adjustable nose pieces and temple tips.

Ray-Ban and Meta have been collaborating for several years now, combining smarts and fashion in several lines of glasses. So far, we’ve gotten Meta Ray-Bans, Oakley Meta HSTN, and Oakley Vanguard glasses for athletes. Today, Meta is launching a new line in what the company is calling its “optical-first styles designed for glasses wearers,” Meta Optics. 

Also: Can Meta workers see through your Ray-Ban smart glasses? Here’s what security experts say

These glasses are designed for people who normally wear glasses, and they come with some nice features those customers will look for. I saw these briefly at Essilor Luxottica’s Switch conference three weeks ago in Orlando, Fla.

The new line will come in two styles: Ray-Ban Meta Blayzer Optics (Gen 2) and Scriber Optics (Gen 2). The former are more rectangular, while the latter are more cat-eye shaped. Personally, I prefer the Blayzers. I haven’t had a chance to try them on yet, nor take photographs, but I did get a few minutes of hands-on time at the conference.

Similar, but different

Notable differences between these glasses and the previous Wayfarer/Skyliner/Headliner glasses include a slimmer design, overextension hinges, adjustable and interchangeable nose pieces, and adjustable temple tips. 

This is important for glasses wearers, allowing them to get a more comfortable fit for everyday glasses. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses until this point have had molded arms and nose pieces, which is a sort of take-it-or-leave-it proposition.

Also: How the Oakley Meta smart glasses beat my Ray-Bans on a 5-mile test walk

Additionally, the Ray-Ban Meta Optics will come with an action button that can be programmed to capture content or access personalized shortcuts or Meta AI, though it’s not clear how this is different from the capture button that ships on previous frames. 

In fact, many of the specifications are the same. The camera is the same — a 12MP shooter capable of capturing 3K video, and battery life looks to be comparable as well. 

This is largely a new version of the Gen 2 hardware that we’ve seen before, but with improvements to the “chassis,” for lack of a better word. I have reached out to Essilor Luxottica with more questions, and I’ll be sure to update this article if and when the company gets back to me.

Price and availability

The new glasses will come in Matte Black, Matte Gray, Shiny Black, and Shiny Stone Beige.

They’ll be available for preorder in the US starting today. Beginning April 14, you’ll be able to buy them from Ray-Ban’s website and some Essilor Luxottica locations, including LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, Salmoiraghi & Viganò, Apollo, Grand Vision Optical, and Vision Express, as well as most countries in Europe, with Brazil, Mexico, and India later this year. In the US, pricing will start at $499.

Also: These smart glasses beat the Meta Ray-Bans for me with useful features and a cheaper price

I’ll be getting a pair of the glasses in the near future, so I’ll get a better feel for the glasses then. For now, this is a great upgrade to the Meta/Ray-Ban collaboration. They’re still a tad on the chunky side for my taste, at least for everyday wear. I’ve always preferred more subtle frames, but that’s a style/fashion choice, and as my wife will attest, I’m not the best judge in that category.