Best smart glasses to buy in the UK and US
Short answer: For most people, Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 (£409 / $449) is the pair to buy: a 12MP camera, 3K video, Meta AI, up to 9 hours of battery and prescription lenses. Meta Adventurer (£269 / $299) is the budget pick, Oakley Meta Vanguard is for sport, Meta Ray-Ban Display (£749 / $799) is for a screen, and Even G2 (from £599) is for a screen with no camera.
Prices are as of 15 Nov 2026 and move a lot around Black Friday. UK prices include VAT; US prices are before sales tax. Live prices: Smart glasses prices UK and US: live tracker.
| Pick | Glasses | UK price | US price | Camera | Screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 | From £409 | From $449 | 12MP, 3K video | No |
| Best value | Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 | £379 (launch) | $379 (launch) | 12MP, 3K video | No |
| Best budget | Meta Adventurer | From £269 | From $299 | 12MP | No |
| Best for sport | Oakley Meta Vanguard | £387 to £460 | $499 | 12MP, 122° lens | No |
| Best with a screen | Meta Ray-Ban Display | £749 | $799 | Yes | Full colour, right lens |
| Best screen, no camera | Even G2 | From £599 | $599 (launch) | No | Green, both lenses |
| No camera at all | Ray-Ban Meta Audio | From £319 | From $349 | No | No |
Sources: MIXED, TechRadar, EE, Meta, PriceSpy, VR.org, MIXED, Even Realities, Meta UK, all checked 15 Nov 2026.
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3: best for most people
Gen 3 went on sale on 23 Sep 2026 from £409 in the UK and $449 in the US, in Wayfarer, Aviator and the new Zena cat-eye frame (MIXED). It has a 12MP ultra-wide camera, 3K video, 32GB of storage, up to 9 hours of use with 50 more from the case, a 6-mic array and a programmable action button (TechRadar). Prescriptions run from -12.00 to +6.00 (VR.org).
Watch out for: Gen 2 has the same camera and storage for £30 / $70 less. Full breakdown in Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 vs Gen 2: what's different, and which to buy.
Meta Adventurer: best budget pick
Meta's own-brand frames launched on 23 Jun 2026 from $299 in the US, with the same idea as Ray-Ban Meta: a camera, open-ear speakers, Meta AI, live translation in 20 languages and over 8 hours of battery (Meta). In the UK, EE sells it from £269, with polarised lenses at £299 and Transitions at £339 (EE). EE lists a 12MP camera, 32GB of storage and a 53.8g weight.
Watch out for: the prescription range is narrower than Ray-Ban Meta's: -12 to +2.25 overall, and -6 to +2.25 when ordered on meta.com (Meta).
Oakley Meta Vanguard: best for running and cycling
Vanguard costs $499 in the US, with a 12MP camera behind a 122° lens, 3K video, up to 9 hours of battery, IP67 water resistance and a 66g weight (VR.org). UK retailers listed it from £386.99 to £460 on PriceSpy (PriceSpy), and John Lewis had it at £440.96 (John Lewis).
Watch out for: it's a wraparound sport frame, not something you'd wear to the office, and prescription support is unclear: sources conflict on it.
Meta Ray-Ban Display: best if you want a screen
Display puts a full-colour screen in the right lens and comes with the Meta Neural Band, a wristband that reads small finger movements. It costs $799 in the US and went on sale in the UK on 23 Sep 2026 at £749 (MIXED). Meta's UK store lists up to 6 hours of battery.
Watch out for: Meta calls UK stock "very limited" and runs a waitlist, and some features are US-only for now. More in Meta Ray-Ban Display in the UK: price, stock and what's missing.
Even G2: best screen without a camera
Even G2 shows a green display in both lenses, has no camera and supports prescriptions from -12.00 to +12.00 (Even Realities). It costs from £599 on Even Realities' UK store, and the R1 control ring is £239 (Even Realities). It launched at $599 in the US (BGR).
Watch out for: no camera means no photos and no "look and ask" AI. That's the point for some people and a deal-breaker for others.
Ray-Ban Meta Audio: smart glasses with no camera
Meta's camera-free Ray-Ban costs from £319 in the UK (Meta UK) and $349 in the US (MIXED). It's 43g, with up to 12 hours of battery, in Clubmaster and Burbank frames (VR.org). Good for workplaces, schools or venues where camera glasses aren't welcome.
What about Google's Gemini glasses?
Samsung-built Gemini glasses go on sale in the US on 10 Dec 2026: Warby Parker frames from $395 and Gentle Monster frames from $449 to $489 (The Next Web). There's no UK date yet. We track it in Upcoming smart glasses: UK and US launch dates.
How we picked
- Sold now, officially, in the UK, the US or both.
- Real £ and $ prices from official stores or major retailers, with the date checked.
- The job each pair does best, not the longest spec sheet.
- Prescription options, because most people who wear glasses need them.
- Full method: How Lenz reviews smart glasses.
Sources
- Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 costs $449, adds an hour of battery and an action button, MIXED, 24 Sep 2026
- Meta Ray-Ban Gen 3 vs Gen 2: should you upgrade?, TechRadar, 24 Sep 2026
- Best smart glasses 2026, VR.org, updated 5 Nov 2026
- Introducing Meta Glasses, starting at $299, Meta, 23 Jun 2026
- Meta Glasses Adventurer, EE, checked 15 Nov 2026
- Oakley Meta Vanguard prices, PriceSpy UK, checked 15 Nov 2026
- Oakley Meta Vanguard, John Lewis, checked 15 Nov 2026
- Meta Ray-Ban Display goes on sale in the UK at £749, MIXED, 24 Sep 2026
- Even G2 smart glasses, Even Realities, checked 14 Nov 2026
- Even G2 and Even R1 store (UK), Even Realities, checked 15 Nov 2026
- $599 Even G2 takes on Meta AI smart glasses, BGR, 12 Nov 2025
- Ray-Ban Meta Audio, Meta UK, checked 15 Nov 2026
- Google and Samsung's Gemini smart glasses go on preorder from $395, The Next Web, 12 Nov 2026
FAQ
What are the best smart glasses for most people?
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3: £409 in the UK and $449 in the US as of 15 Nov 2026, with a 12MP camera, 3K video, up to 9 hours of battery and prescription lenses. Gen 2 does almost the same for £379 / $379.
What are the cheapest good smart glasses?
Meta Adventurer, from £269 at EE and from $299 at Meta, as of 15 Nov 2026. You get the same 12MP camera and Meta AI as Ray-Ban Meta, with over 8 hours of battery, in Meta's own frame designs.
Which smart glasses have a screen?
Meta Ray-Ban Display (£749 / $799) shows a full-colour display in the right lens with a camera. Even G2 (from £599 / $599) has a green display and no camera. See Smart glasses with a screen: what you can buy in the UK and US.
Are smart glasses worth it in 2026?
If you want hands-free photos, calls, music and an AI assistant, yes: that's what the £269 to £409 Meta range does well. If you want a real screen in your glasses, the options cost £599 or more and are still early.
Related
- Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 vs Gen 2: what's different, and which to buyGen 3 vs Gen 2 on price (£409 vs £379, $449 vs $379), battery, mics, camera and frames, and who should save money on Gen 2.
- Meta Ray-Ban Display in the UK: price, stock and what's missingMeta Ray-Ban Display costs £749 in the UK and $799 in the US. Where to buy it, stock, prescription options and which features are still US-only.
- Upcoming smart glasses: UK and US launch datesGoogle and Samsung's Gemini glasses, Snap Specs and what's next from Meta: confirmed prices and dates for the US, and what's known about the UK.
- Best AI glasses in 2026: Meta AI vs Gemini vs the rest (UK and US)Which AI glasses have the most useful assistant: Meta AI on Ray-Ban and Oakley, Gemini on Google's new glasses, and the display options. £ and $ prices.
Ranks are never for sale. This page has no affiliate links and no paid placements. Prices change daily: check the retailer before you buy.