Device hub · Smart glasses · Desk research
Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1)
Gen 1 is the 2023 $299 Meta AI / 12 MP / IPX4 hop from Stories.
Product images
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedWayfarer / Headliner product photography stays on about.fb.com and ray-ban.com.
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not a Meta or EssilorLuxottica asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
Placeholder — OEM press not licensedAR1, 12 MP, IPX4, and the 36-hour case sentence stay on the 2023-09-27 post.
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not a Meta or EssilorLuxottica asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
In short
Gen 1 is the 2023 $299 Meta AI / 12 MP / IPX4 hop from Stories. Buy leftover only if you want that generation. Skip it for 3K and up to 8 hours typical (Gen 2) or an in-lens HUD (Display).
Who it is for
- Stories owners shopping the 12 MP / AR1 / IPX4 / Meta AI hop without paying Gen 2 money.
- Leftover-channel shoppers Meta still pointed at from $299 when Gen 2 launched.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants 3K Ultra HD and Meta’s up-to-8-hour typical-use claim. That is [Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2](/glasses/ray-ban-meta-gen-2/).
- Anyone who wants an in-lens display and Neural Band. That is [Meta Ray-Ban Display](/glasses/meta-ray-ban-display/).
- Anyone who wants sports Oakley. That is [Oakley Meta HSTN](/glasses/oakley-meta-hstn/).
- Anyone who wants a USB-C monitor. See [XREAL One Pro](/glasses/xreal-one-pro/).
Key differentiators
- OEM camera hop from Stories: ultra-wide 12 MP stills; 1080p video up to 60 seconds (already the Stories post-April-2022 max, but a new sensor).
- Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 named on the newsroom post — do not silently copy this SiP onto Gen 2.
- IPX4 and case “up to eight additional charges (for a total of 36 hours of use)” are Gen 1 sentences, not Gen 2’s 8 h / 48 h table.
Caveats
- Manufacturer claims only. We have not worn Gen 1.
- Gram weight is not published — Meta only said lighter and slimmer than Stories.
- Meta AI was US beta at launch. Do not write global day-one Meta AI.
- Product photography is not hosted.
Glasses-category specs
Same rows on every glasses page (Meta, Oakley, Even, Amazon, XREAL, VITURE). Camera/AI pairs, everyday HUDs, and AR display glasses stay in one grid — missing cells stay asNone or Not published, not deleted rows.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Product family | Camera / AI / audio eyewear | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27Not an AR display / personal-monitor pair. Not Meta Ray-Ban Display. Not Gen 2. |
| Frame style(s) / SKU | Wayfarer; Headliner. Remix: over 150 custom frame and lens combinations. Transparent colors: Jeans, Rebel Black, Caramel; also Matte Black and Shiny Black | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Frame material | Not published | Cited Meta page |
| Weight | Not published | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Finishes / colors | Matte Black; Shiny Black; transparent Jeans, Rebel Black, Caramel. Lock a Remix SKU before quoting a colorway | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Display type | None on the glasses — Meta Technology 101: Ray-Ban Meta does not include a built-in display | Meta AI Glasses Technology 101The in-lens SKU is Meta Ray-Ban Display. |
| Display resolution | None — no in-lens display | Meta Technology 101 |
| Field of view (OEM) | None — no in-lens display | Meta Technology 101 |
| Peak brightness (OEM) | None — no in-lens display | Meta Technology 101 |
| Refresh rate (OEM) | None — no in-lens display | Meta Technology 101 |
| Virtual screen size (OEM) | None — camera/AI glasses, not a USB-C cinema pair | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Tint / electrochromic | Not published | Cited Meta pages |
| Camera | Ultra-wide 12 MP camera | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Video capture | 1080p videos up to 60 seconds; livestream to Facebook or Instagram (comments in preview; tap-and-hold to hear comments) | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Privacy / recording indicator | Not published | Cited Meta pages |
| Audio / speakers | All-new custom speakers: extended bass, higher maximum volume, improved directional audio / reduced leakage. Five-microphone array for immersive video recording (front, sides, rear, above) | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Microphones | Five-microphone array | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Chip / processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 Platform | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Assistant / AI | Meta AI via “Hey Meta.” Newsroom: Meta AI features available in the US in beta only at launch | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Battery — glasses (OEM) | Not published | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Battery — case (OEM) | Redesigned charging case holds up to eight additional charges (for a total of 36 hours of use) | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Charging (OEM) | Charging case (newsroom). No 50%-in-20-minutes claim on this post — that line is Gen 2 (2025-09-17) | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Power source | Onboard glasses battery + charging case (not USB-C DisplayPort powered) | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Water / dust resistance | IPX4 (water-resistant) | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Prescription / diopter | Prescription-lens compatible (newsroom). Numeric SPH window not on this post — do not copy Display’s −4.00 to +4.00 | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| IPD / fit | Named Ray-Ban styles (Wayfarer / Headliner), not cinema IPD SKUs | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Controls / input | Improved touchpad; interaction earcons; “Hey Meta”; “send a photo” voice. Neural Band is Display-only | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Connection to phone / PC | Companion phone / Meta glasses app. Not a USB-C DP monitor | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Device compatibility | Not published | Cited Meta page |
| Wireless (Bluetooth / Wi-Fi) | Not published | Cited Meta page |
| Sensors / tracking | No OEM 3DoF/6DoF cinema-tracking claim. Camera/AI glasses, not XREAL X1 | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| App / OS | Meta AI on the glasses (US beta at launch); Facebook / Instagram livestream and sharing | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| US MSRP (dated list) | From $299 USD on 27 September 2023. Meta still offered Gen 1 from $299 on 17 September 2025 (Gen 2 newsroom) | Meta newsroom 2023-09-27; Gen 2 newsroom 2025-09-17 |
| Price band | Camera / AI mid (2023 $299 launch) | Derived from $299 start |
| Announced | 27 September 2023 (Connect); pre-order that day | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Availability | Retail from 17 October 2023 in 15 countries including US, Canada, Australia, and throughout Europe. Leftover still listed from $299 on Gen 2 day | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27; Gen 2 newsroom 2025-09-17 |
Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) extras
Unique to this line or SKU. Other glasses keep the first table aligned and swap this extras list.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Livestream | Facebook or Instagram from the glasses; comments in preview; tap-and-hold to hear comments | Meta newsroom, 2023-09-27 |
| Leftover on Gen 2 day | Meta still offered Gen 1 from $299 on 17 September 2025 | Meta newsroom, 2025-09-17 |
| Predecessor | Ray-Ban Stories (2021-09-09). Dual 5 MP / Facebook View / no IPX4 on the Stories newsroom post | Facebook newsroom, 2021-09-09 |
Overview
Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) is the 2023 camera / AI Wayfarer-class pair. Predecessor: Ray-Ban Stories. Successor: Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2. Display is a different SKU.
Camera vs Stories
| Cell | Stories (2021 newsroom) | Gen 1 (2023 newsroom) |
|---|---|---|
| Still camera | Dual 5 MP | Ultra-wide 12 MP |
| Video | 30 s, then 60 s (2022-03-17) | 1080p up to 60 s |
| Livestream | Not on the Stories launch post | Facebook / Instagram |
| Assistant | Facebook Assistant | Meta AI (US beta at launch) |
| Water | Not published | IPX4 |
Battery (do not blend with Gen 2)
Gen 1 newsroom: case holds up to eight additional charges (36 hours total use). Gen 2 newsroom: up to 8 hours typical on the glasses and 48 hours from the case. Quote the page you cite.
Sources
- Meta Newsroom — Introducing the New Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses (2023-09-27) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Meta — AI Glasses Technology 101 (no display on Ray-Ban Meta) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Meta Newsroom — Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) leftover Gen 1 price — accessed 2026-09-19
- Facebook Newsroom — Ray-Ban Stories (predecessor context) — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as Gen 2?
No. Gen 1 is 12 MP / 1080p / 60 s / AR1 / IPX4 / case 8 charges · 36 hours total. Gen 2’s newsroom sells 3K Ultra HD and up to 8 hours typical plus a 48-hour case. Do not blend the battery sentences.
What did Meta claim for the case?
Up to eight additional charges for a total of 36 hours of use. That is not Gen 2’s 48-hour case line. Do not invent mAh.
When did Meta AI ship?
The 2023-09-27 post says Meta AI features were available in the US in beta only at launch.
Official product page: Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1). Specs: Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) specs.