Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Review: Elevating Intelligence in Eyewear

Key Takeaways

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses have integrated AI technology, making them more intelligent than previous smart glasses.

The glasses are perfect for enjoying music and recording videos, making them a valuable accessory for daily activities. Despite the ongoing development of AI features, these glasses offer outstanding audio quality, a comfortable fit, and a responsive AI assistant, positioning them as a product with great potential.

I have often labeled many glasses with technological features as "smart," even if their only function was playing audio. However, in my opinion, none of them were as intelligent as AirPods. The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, however, incorporate a touch of intelligence that might make all the difference and allow this product to reach its full potential, unlike the Ray-Ban Stories from 2021 that failed to live up to expectations.

However, the main reason why you would want these glasses today has little to do with the artificial intelligence and everything to do with the ability to listen to music or capture videos without any hindrances.

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses have gained popularity among the youth, and now they have been upgraded with AI-enhanced wearable technology. These glasses effortlessly combine the functionality of listening, calling, capturing, and live streaming with the timeless design of the classic frame.

Ray-Ban's brand of speakers boasts two custom-built speakers, providing an exceptional sound experience. With dimensions such as a temple length of 150mm and lens height of 40.6mm, these speakers are designed for comfortable wear. Offering seamless connectivity, they are equipped with Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 2.4 - 5Ghz. The included accessory, a charging case, ensures convenience while on the go. Additionally, these speakers offer ample storage space of 32GB. Featuring a custom 5-mic array microphone, they deliver superior voice clarity. The built-in camera captures stunning moments with its 12MP resolution, while videos are recorded at 1,440 x 1,920 resolution and 30 frames per second. Overall, these speakers are highly regarded for their excellent sound quality and comfort, reminiscent of traditional Ray-Ban Wayfers.

Responsive Meta assistant

Nice charging case

Cons Touch controls were laggy at times

Using battery case is needed to get a full day of use

Full AI potential isn't ready yet

$299 at Meta $299 at Ray-Ban $299.99 at Best Buy

What Are Meta Smart Glasses?

Tyler Hayes

Content must be

I got my first pair of camera glasses in 2016 when Snapchat introduced Spectacles. Since then, there have been several similar products, but they have mostly been mediocre speakers and average cameras.

Meta's latest frames, which incorporate artificial intelligence, feel like the beginning of something significant. If the new large language models (LLMs) used in products like ChatGPT have a chance to become a part of our real-time interactions, they need to be more accessible than picking up our phones and opening an app. They need to be worn on our face or in our ears.

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses offer a convenient solution for accessibility. Moreover, in 2024, they will possess the capability to use the camera to identify objects within the user's field of vision and provide answers to queries like, "What is that in front of me?" This feature sets Meta apart from other virtual assistants, such as Alexa from Amazon, as it aims to provide a superior user experience directly on the wearer's face.

Surprisingly, I found the Meta AI assistant on the Smart Glasses to be quite enjoyable to use. It provided prompt responses and, although its knowledge was somewhat limited without real-time data, it still managed to provide valuable information when needed. For instance, while I was occupied with cooking in the kitchen, it answered a question regarding measurements. (Yes, I did wear the sunglasses indoors for testing purposes. Considering that Ray-Ban offers transitional and clear lenses, the practicality remains intact.)

I wasn't fond of saying "Hey Meta" aloud or adding a third voice assistant to my collection, but it proved to be effective for certain tasks. However, the AI capabilities seemed more like a concept demonstration rather than a compelling reason to purchase. I will reassess next year when the feature selection expands.

The inclusion of a camera and speakers in authentic Ray-Ban sunglasses is the primary consideration to purchase Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses today, for better or worse. Based on my experience, intelligence is undoubtedly the crucial component that previous "smart glasses" lacked, and Ray-Ban, with the assistance of Meta, has managed to excel in terms of fit, style, and overall specifications, something that other glasses have failed to achieve.

The Style and Fit of Fashionable Smart Glasses

Tyler Hayes

Ray-Ban has made significant enhancements to ensure this product is comfortable to wear. Despite the semi-transparent blue matte color and visible camera lens, the iconic Ray-Ban Wayfarer style remains fully intact. In fact, they feel just like a regular pair of Ray-Bans, which serves as my only point of comparison.

The polarized blue lenses perfectly complement the frames. While the customization options for these Smart Glasses are not limitless, they do offer meaningful choices. I was tempted to opt for clear lenses so I could wear the glasses indoors, but ultimately decided to stick with the sunglasses option (a decision I now slightly regret as the shorter days of fall and winter are approaching).

The standard size fits my head perfectly, though there is also a large option available. When comparing them to the first-generation Stories, I could clearly notice the adjustments that have been made on these newer ones to enhance their comfort when worn.

Furthermore, besides their polarization, my pair also provided complete UVA and UVB protection, ensuring excellent functionality as legitimate sunglasses.

A Day in the Life of Wearing Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses

Tyler Hayes

In Southern California, I had numerous chances to utilize these Smart Glasses as an alternative to my usual eyewear. Though they were slightly weightier than many of my sunglasses, the difference was negligible and didn't warrant any complaints.

Above all, the standout feature of these glasses was their ability to replace earbuds. The innate appeal of listening to music through the glasses made me inclined to wear them frequently.

The Smart Glasses are advertised as being twice as loud as the previous Stories. I can attest to that. Recently, while I was out for a run with the Stories, the street noise made it hard for me to hear a podcast. However, when I tried out these new Smart Glasses, they were loud enough to overpower both wind and street noise when I rode on an electric scooter.

But it's not just the volume that has improved. The sound quality is excellent, comparable to that of AirPods 2. Although they are not Dolby Atmos-certified, they have a natural spatial audio feeling. This is thanks to their great directional optimization and open-ear listening, allowing music to blend seamlessly with your surroundings. It often felt like the music was accompanying me, crisp and clear wherever I went. Additionally, they capture audio from videos in a spatial manner, providing an authentic playback experience.

The touch controls have improved compared to the previous glasses, but they are not flawless. There were instances where double taps were mistakenly registered as a single tap or when trying to pause music resulted in unintentional volume adjustment.

Having a camera on your phone in your pocket is convenient, but having a camera readily accessible as if you are always peering through a viewfinder takes capturing moments to a whole new level.

By utilizing voice commands, I effortlessly recorded videos and snapped photos while biking or running. Alternatively, I simply pressed the small button located on the top of the right stem.

Equipped with a 12MP ultrawide camera, this device can capture high-resolution images measuring 3,024 x 4,032 pixels. Its image quality rivals that of an iPhone camera from several years ago. Although it may not match the latest version in my pocket, a camera must still be sufficiently impressive for me not to regret keeping my phone stowed away. While this camera comes close, it has not quite reached that level just yet.

In broad daylight, I found the camera to capture decent pictures, even good ones. However, even in optimal lighting conditions, I wouldn't entirely rely on it for critical events or capturing important memories. The images were clear and not grainy, but I hesitated to fully trust it due to its often distorted and fish-eye-like ultrawide perspective. Additionally, I couldn't quickly confirm if I had captured the intended shots.

One unintended consequence of the glasses, which emit a glowing light when taking pictures or videos, was that my 10-year-old daughter wasn't looking directly at the lens when I snapped the first picture of her. As a result, it appeared more like a candid shot rather than a portrait.

The Meta Smart Glasses currently excel in providing a first-person perspective in situations where holding your phone is inconvenient or undesired. The camera serves as a delightful and imaginative tool at present. Perhaps future versions will see individuals growing more reliant on it for capturing unforgettable memories.

The videos are recorded at a resolution of 1,440 x 1,920 pixels and a frame rate of 30 frames per second. When reviewed on my phone, I found the results to be perfectly satisfactory. However, when viewed in fullscreen on a 27-inch Studio Display, the images appeared slightly stretched. Nonetheless, this minor issue is inconsequential since the primary aim is to encourage people to share their clips and images on Facebook and Instagram.

I was pleased with how the Meta View app, which is compatible with both iPhone and Android devices, could seamlessly consolidate the videos and photos into concise montages. I appreciate this feature and frequently utilized it. Please note that your browser does not support the video tag.

The previous 5MP camera system on the first-gen Stories glasses, which captured images at a resolution of 2,592 x 1,944, proved to be inadequate. The outcomes simply did not meet the desired quality. However, the newly improved glasses now produce images of sufficient quality that they do not detract from the captured content.

Below, you will find a gallery of sample images taken directly from the glasses, without any editing.

Close

The Charging Case Is Integral

Tyler Hayes

In 2021, I found the charging case for the Stories glasses quite appealing. Although it had a slightly bulky and rigid design, it boasted a pleasant leather-like exterior texture. However, in retrospect, I realize that the case wasn't as impressive as I initially thought, especially when compared to the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses case. The Ray-Ban case closely resembles a soft case for traditional Ray-Ban glasses and exudes a more stylish and compact aura. Furthermore, it is more convenient for traveling compared to the bulkier Stories case. Additionally, the new case ensures better security for the glasses, preventing any unnecessary movement or shaking.

Ultimately, the case is indispensable for charging the glasses, both on the previous generation and this newer model. Unfortunately, without it, you won't be able to charge them. Cleverly, Meta relocated the pairing button to the case, thereby separating this functionality from the glasses themselves.

The Extras: More Details and Tidbits

The privacy LED on the glasses is larger and more prominent, and it cannot be deactivated. It will require you to determine whether you are comfortable being noticed in social situations.

The glasses offer the capability to live stream on Facebook or Instagram at 720p resolution, although it is unlikely to be utilized frequently.

There was minimal sound leakage when playing music at a 30% volume level. The extent of this may vary, but it appeared to be similar to the noise leakage you would typically encounter with standard AirPods that do not have a tight seal.

The 5-microphone array provided excellent sound quality during phone calls. (You can listen to two examples below.)

The battery of the glasses decreased by approximately 20% after a 30-minute video call. The listed battery life is four hours per charge, but it is difficult to determine the actual usage time as it is not consistently used for multiple hours.

The glasses have 32GB of onboard storage, which is marketed as sufficient space for a minimum of 500 pictures and 50 videos (each lasting 60 seconds).

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Price and Availability

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses start at $299 but vary in price depending on color and lens choice.

Should You Buy the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses?

Tyler Hayes

Given the placement of glasses over our eyes, it is often assumed that smart glasses will incorporate screens in the future. However, we are far from achieving that goal. Hence, it is intriguing to envision an alternate approach where the camera intelligently interprets and enhances our surroundings, delivering pertinent information subtly through our ears.

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, although not quite perfect, are at least moving in the right direction and heading towards an intriguing destination. They allowed me to capture shots while on the move that would have been difficult with my phone. Additionally, the speakers were of good quality, eliminating the need for regular earbuds.

A significant indicator for me that these Smart Glasses are promising and worth the investment is that both my wife and 10-year-old daughter found them cool. And creating something cool is not an easy task.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses

7/10 These smart glasses have been adopted by the younger generation of influencers and are now being upgraded with AI-powered wearable technology. The ability to listen, make calls, take photos and videos, and live stream is seamlessly integrated into the timeless design of the glasses.

$299 at Meta $299 at Ray-Ban $299.99 at Best Buy