Meta and Ray-Ban appear to be gearing up for a new generation of smart glasses, with early leaks pointing to improved battery life, expanded AI capabilities, and some fresh design choices. Images and details reportedly posted to a WeChat group called the XR Research Institute suggest that the third-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses are in development—and may debut later this year.
According to the leak, two models are currently in the pipeline. One is internally codenamed “Aperol,” while the other, “Bellini,” seems to be the optical (non-sunglass) variant. While these names might be cheeky nods to classic cocktails, the upgrades they hint at are more technical in nature. The design shown in the leaked images suggests a departure from the current Meta smart glasses’ silhouettes, though the frames still align with Ray-Ban’s overall design language.
The current Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which launched in 2023, have carved out a niche by offering a familiar, stylish form factor paired with modest smart features. But limited battery life and basic AI functions have been ongoing limitations. That may be changing. The new models are said to support “significantly better” battery performance, particularly in relation to Meta’s Live AI features. While current versions cap out around 30 minutes of continuous AI use, the updated glasses reportedly aim for hours of operation on a single charge.
The improvements don’t stop at endurance. The same leak claims Meta is developing more advanced AI functions for the glasses, including real-time object recognition and scene understanding—potentially bringing a more contextual, assistive experience to users on the go. This would push the glasses closer to being practical augmented reality devices, without straying too far into the still-nascent AR space.
While nothing has been confirmed by Meta or Ray-Ban, the timing of the leak is notable. Last year’s Ray-Ban Meta models were revealed during the Meta Connect event in late September, and this year’s conference is scheduled for September 17–18. If the pattern holds, the Ray-Ban Meta 3 lineup may make its official debut there.
Meanwhile, Oakley-branded Meta smart glasses have also appeared in recent weeks, potentially hinting at a broader hardware push from Meta into sport and lifestyle wearables. If battery life and AI functionality do improve as reported, Meta’s wearables could move from novelty status to genuinely useful tools for hands-free communication, navigation, and information gathering.
Smart glasses still face plenty of hurdles—from privacy concerns to mainstream adoption—but Meta’s continued investment in this category suggests it sees long-term potential. For now, all eyes will be on Meta Connect to see if Aperol and Bellini are more than just code names for another round of quietly ambitious wearables.
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