The best camera glasses have become an explosively popular form of camrea recently. As such we've seen some huge growth in this sector, the dominant name in the space being Meta, following its partnerships with Ray-Ban and Oakley to develop AI-powered camera glasses that are as stylish as they are smart.
Meta's glasses tend to be on the expensive side, but you don't have to spend a lot to get a decent pair of camera glasses – there are basic options at the cheap end of the market. I've picked out a balanced list that covers the range in terms of budget, with glasses offering features like Wi-Fi app control, fast-charging, swappable lenses and more.
My top pick is the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Gen 2, which come with upgraded camera functions that makes them an effortlessly superior buy to the Gen 1 versions – even factoring in their higher price. There are plenty more viable options however, so let's take a look – and see our guide to the best body cameras for more wearable goodies.
With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones.
The best camera glasses
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Best camera glasses overall
It feels like the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses have been around for no time at all, but the companies have already come out with a Gen 2 version – and with it, have produced the best pair of camera glasses you can buy at the moment. Not that you'd see much difference just looking at them from the outside – at first glance, these glasses are pretty much the same as the first generation, with style variants including Wayfarer, Headliner and Skyler.
The improvements are all internal. The cameras for the Gen 2 version have been beefed up, with the video resolution significantly buffed up to 3K as opposed to Full HD as on the first generation. Battery life has also been significantly improved – Meta claims around eight hours' mixed use, which can be significantly extended by popping them in the charging case whenever possible. This is a pretty radical upping from the estimated four hours of the previous glasses, and what's more, it also charges faster. As little as twenty minutes in the case can get you from zero to 50%, and a full charge can take around 75 minutes.
In our review, it became obvious quickly that these glasses are a significant jump over the original Gen 1 version. Better image and video quality meets a smoother and more polished user experience. The jump from Full HD to 3K is massive and makes content filmed on these glasses look and feel so much more professional that it did on the previous versions. They're as stylish as ever, and the battery life also held up very well in our testing.
The Gen 2s come at the same initial price point as the previous versions. While the While they come at the same starting premium as the previous generation, their arrival seems to have caused a real-terms $100/£100 discount to the price of the Gen 1 glasses, which are of course still plentifully available. If you've got the budget, the Gen 2 glasses are definitely superior, but the Gen 1 version will likely appeal to most people.
See our full Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 smart glasses review
Features ★★★★½ |
Just as well-equipped as Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2. |
Design ★★★★ |
Sleek and sporty, though better waterproofing would be nice. |
Performance ★★★★½ |
The same slick video prowess as the Ray-Bans. |
Value ★★½ |
They start out pricey, and only get pricier. |
Best camera glasses for sport
There isn't a great deal of difference between the Oakley Meta Glasses and the Meta Ray-Ban Gen 2 Glasses in terms of their camera and functionality. In fact, there's none at all – they deliver the same video quality and AI smarts. The differences this time are external, with the Oakley Meta HTSN Glasses being designed for sports users.
They come with a range of lens options. These include Oakley's PRIZM glass lenses, which are color-tuned to optimise contrast and detail, protecting your eyes from the sun without compromising your vision in a way that is specifically tailored towards sports. Alternatively, you can also get the Oakley glasses with polarized, transition or clear lenses.
As we found in our review, the real selling point here is the styling and design. The Oakley glasses just look and feel fabulous, with the sturdy rim and circular shape being well-suited to a host of sporting activities, from golf to hiking. The effective light filtering also provides 100% UV protection, which is great for long-term outdoor use. Our reviewer found them to be 'the embodiment of everything that’s so great (and stylish) about the Oakley brand'.
All this does come at a cost, and the Oakley glasses are among the most expensive camera glasses option available currently. They start at $399/£399, and certain lens and style options can see you cruising well beyond the $400/£400 mark. Still, if you want glasses to record your sporting endeavors, there's nothing out there quite like these.
See our full Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses review
Features ★★★★½ |
Similar to Gen 1, but upgraded in a few interesting ways. |
Design ★★★★½ |
Identical to the previous generation. |
Performance ★★★★½ |
Improved video quality from even better camera. |
Value ★★★½ |
Quite expensive camera glasses. |
Best affordable Meta glasses
If you want the functionality of Meta's flagship glasses but aren't too fussed about Ray-Ban or Oakley style, then you may want to consider this recent release – Meta's own glasses, which take the innards from the Gen 2s and put them in a plain old frame. Maybe too plain for some – you could be forgiven for thinking these glasses are pretty bland – but you still get access to the 3K Ultra HD video capabilities, 12MP photos, and the Meta AI functionality. Which, for many people, is all the important stuff.
As these are Meta's latest pair of glasses, they also benefit from Meta's latest features. That means they ship with Meta Spark, the new version of Meta AI that's specifically built for smart glasses (it'll be rolling out to previous models via firmware updates), and a new Dynamic photo feature, in which Meta AI will take several photos in succession, similarly to a standard camera's burst mode, and then suggest to you the one it thinks is best. You can override its decision if you prefer.
Shipped with a charging case, the Meta Glasses represent decent value for money, and are an ideal choice for those who love the sound of the Gen 2 Ray-Bans, but can't quite make their budget stretch to them.
Best budget camera glasses
This pair boasts a 24-megapixel sensor – but in reality, still images are disappointing. Oho make lots of different camera glasses, but if you are after a low-cost novelty item then its basic 1080P offer more than the price tag suggests.
They don't have the design finesse of the Ray-Bans – but at less than a quarter of the price they feel relatively robust, and look the part.
The pair boasts a 24 megapixel sensor - but in reality stills images are disappointing. The video (which is undoubtedly what camera glasses are best for), was very watchable in our tests - up to what you might expect from a basic dash cam, say.
The glasses have a built-in rechargeable battery (topped up via a USB-C socket), and have 32GB of built-in memory - so no extra costs to get them up and running.
The basic options for the glasses are controlled by one button - which positioned on one of the arms we found a little to easy to knock accidentally (so you start or stop recording when you don't mean to).
See our full OhO Sunshine camera glasses review
Features ★★★½ |
Basic, but does the job and offers Full HD. |
Design ★★★ |
Robust but rudimentary, with some poor button placement. |
Performance ★★★½ |
Full HD video looks good – but don't bother with stills. |
Value ★★★★ |
One of the most affordable options. |
Best affordable Ray-Bans
Not only does Ray-Ban styling inspire confidence, but like their predecessor the Ray-Ban Stories, their partnership with Meta offers convenient social sharing to many. The result is, a pair of glasses that look good, are built to a high standard, and perform the functions people use in their everyday life.
If you love the idea of Ray-Ban style but can't afford the latest Meta camera glasses, then the previous version may be of interest. While their camera and AI features are not as high-quality, they still look the part.
There are no AR features here, but you do get the ability to shoot high quality images and video via the two 12MP cameras placed on the front. You can then easily share these via Meta's apps including WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and Threads.
You also benefit from excellent quality audio playback, calls and voice assistance, courtesy of five built-in microphones (two more than on the Ray-Ban Stories). You charge them via an included charging case and battery life lasts for up to six hours, although that very much depends on how much you use it.
The glasses come in a few different named variations – most popular is the Wayfarer, a unisex pair. There's also the Skyler variant, which seems to be geared more towards women, and the wider Headliner variant, which appear to be more aimed at men – though of course, you can wear whatever you like. All of them have the exact same camera specs; the differences are purely cosmetic.
See our full RayBan Meta smart glasses review
Features ★★★★ |
Well featured, with prescription lens option. |
Design ★★★★½ |
Sleek and stylish, with a range of variants. |
Performance ★★★★ |
High-quality imagery from dual 12MP cameras. |
Value ★★★½ |
Price has dropped since Gen 2. |
Best Meta alternative camera glasses
If you're looking for something like the Meta Glasses but don't necessarily want to use Meta-made products, the Rokid AI Glasses Style could be a good choice. They don't quite have the same je ne sais quoi as a pair of Ray-Bans, with a design that could charitably be described as 'functional' and uncharitably descibed as 'cheaply bland', but their AI functions use a combination of ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.
In our review, we found the AI functions to be somewhat useful, if a little unreliable and prone to non-specific 'service errors'. The camera hardware was also solid – the Rokid AI Glasses Style – a more affordable counterpart to Rokid's flagship Display glasses – are built around extremely similar hardware to Meta's Gen 2 glasses, meaning 12MP photos and 3K video are the order of the day. Both are reliably punchy and vibrant, with decent levels of details.
Our reviewer also felt that the privacy light – a small, white LED that is all-but invisible in daylight – was inadequate to really be described as actually protecting other people's privacy, and that the battery of the glasses seemed nowhere near as robust as advertised. These glasses in general have the feel of being cheap versions of Meta glasses, but aren't actually all that much cheaper, raising the question of who exactly they're for.
Still, if you want the Meta-like experience without buying Meta, the Rokid Glasses are certainly a viable option.
Read our full Rokid AI Glasses Style review
Features ★★★½ |
AI tools are smart but temperamental. |
Design ★★½ |
Bland styling and inadequate privacy light |
Performance ★★★★½ |
Generally good-looking images and videos. |
Value ★★★ |
Ought to be cheaper to compete with Meta. |
Best camera glasses for ease of use
Camera glasses are the kind of device you ideally want to be quite straightforward – without too many complex things to remember. The Glide by iVue is an ideal choice for anyone who likes to keep things simple; it's designed with one-button control – you hit the button to start recording, then hit it again to stop. That's it! The Glide even has its own 64GB of built-in memory, so you don't need to faff around with memory cards!
At 46g this is the lightest pair of glasses in this guide, and it also includes swappable lenses, allowing you to choose between tinted sunglass or polarised clear lenses. A small light above the bridge indicates when it's recording, and you also have the option to capture 24MP stills as well as 1080p video – interestingly, iVue's newer and more expensive Denali glasses (featured below) don't offer this functionality. Once you're done recording, you simply plug the glasses into your computer via the USB-C connection to offload your footage; there isn't a companion app for instant sharing.
See our full iVue The Glide review
Features ★★★½ |
No-frills operation, but for some users that's an asset. |
Design ★★★½ |
Simple and functional, with swappable lenses. |
Performance ★★★½ |
Decent 1080p video and 24MP stills. |
Value ★★★★ |
Cheaper than many rivals. |
Best camera glasses with display
If you're looking for camera glasses because secretly you want to feel like you're living in the future, the Meta Ray-Ban Display Smart Glasses will give you what you're looking for.
These glasses come as a set with the Meta Neural Band, which is worn around the wrist, and allows you to control the functionality of the glasses with simple gestures, the results of which you can see in the glasses' built-in display. That's right – integrated into the right-side lens is a genuine display, which is private to others, and can be easily hidden when not in use.
The fact that these glasses also have a built-in cameras (which appears to be the same setup as Gen 1 of the Ray-Ban Metas), means these are the only glasses on this list that will allow you to capture an image or video, post it to Instagram, and view it on Instagram, all in the same device.
Now, you might be thinking that surely all this doesn't come cheap. You would be right. The Meta Ray-Ban Display Smart Glasses come at an RRP of $799, which is double that of any other glasses on this list. It's also worth noting that they are currently only available in the US, with rollout to other territories expected in 2026.
FAQs
What are camera glasses?
Camera glasses are eyeglasses with a built-in camera that allows you to take photos and videos hands-free. They typically look like regular glasses and come in a variety of styles, including prescription lenses.
How do camera glasses work?
Camera glasses have a small camera mounted on the frame, usually near the bridge of the nose. The camera button is often located on the side of the glasses and can be used to capture photos and videos. Some models also have voice or gesture controls.
Are 'smart glasses' and 'camera glasses' the same?
No, and in this list we've been clear to include glasses which feature cameras. There are plenty of smart glasses out there which don't have built-in cameras – Bose's have a model with built-in speakers, and you can even find Echo glasses with Alexa built-in. In this guide, however, we look for glasses which offer an alternative means of photography – whether as a main function or as just one possibility.
How to choose the best camera glasses
To find the right camera glasses for you, there are a number of factors to consider. First, think about the resolution and frame rate each model offers. We'd advise going for models with at least 1080p resolution and 30fps for optimal video quality. Secondly, consider the field of view: the higher that number is, the more of the scene you'll be able to capture at once. Also look at battery life, additional features such as image stabilization and connectivity options to make sure you pick the right model for your specific needs.
How we test camera glasses
At Digital Camera World we've got a team of expert photographers who are also enthusiasts for anything that uses a camera, from microscopes to document cameras. When assembling a buyer's guide like this, we'll draw on our own experience, refer to our published reviews and those of our sister titles and, where appropriate, to knowledge from trusted customer reviews so we can offer the broadest perspective possible.
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