Following the launch of the Quest 3 headset, Meta isn't sitting still: the latest product to roll off the production line is the new and improved Ray-Ban Smart Glasses.
This successor to 2022's Ray-Ban Stories (made in collaboration with Ray-Ban, of course) is essentially intended to work with Instagram and Facebook, allowing for photos and videos that can be quickly and easily uploaded at the touch of a button.
These improved models promise more functionality and better technology than ever before. But as VR becomes increasingly popular, are these models enough to convince us that there is a place (and demand) for smart glasses in the market?
Design
Make no mistake, this is a beautiful piece of eyewear. Based on the classic Wayfarer style, it's simpler and sleeker than its old Stories predecessors, the frames are slimmer and all the tech is neatly stored in the temples of the glasses. The result looks very stylish: almost a standard pair of Ray-Bans, if it weren't for the camera and LED on either side of the frames.
They're also incredibly customizable: the pair I received were solid black, but you can choose from up to four frame colors, including the excellently named Jeans (blue) and Caramel (reddish brown), as well as several lens tints. The end result, Meta promises, is 150 beautiful variations: more than enough to get you started. Even better, they're comfortable to wear: they weigh barely more than a standard pair of glasses (48-50g, depending on the type of glasses), despite the tech crammed inside. And because Meta is constantly releasing new styles, they'll suit just about any face shape.
The glasses also come with a gorgeous-looking case (again, a vast improvement over the plain black Stories version): sleek leather, modeled after the traditional Ray-Ban case, but with an LED button that lights up depending on battery life. These can also charge the glasses, making them a handy on-the-go solution (the case itself holds a charge for 36 hours; not bad).
So far, so promising. The biggest issue Meta ran into with Stories was privacy: understandably, people were uncomfortable with being filmed or photographed without their consent. Meta has attempted to solve the problem here by placing an LED light on one side of the frame that glows when the glasses are in use - while attempts to block out the light disable their streaming capabilities.
That's admirable, but despite the glossy advertising campaign, Meta still faces a challenge: making these glasses generally usable.
Couple
One of the biggest draws of these smart glasses is how easy they are to use. And they're also packed to the brim with technological wizardry. The glasses themselves work via Bluetooth: they connect to the Meta app (which of course needs to be downloaded first) and send all your videos and photos to it. A simple tap on the side of the glasses and they take a photo; a swipe and they start and stop recording video. It's like wearing a very smart camcorder.
Where they really shine is on Instagram and Facebook. Once paired with your device, the glasses make livestreaming more exciting than ever before: at the touch of a button, you can switch between your phone's camera and the glasses' camera mid-stream, which will undoubtedly be a sensation for influencers looking to liven up their content feed. And it's a lot of fun, to be honest - and easy to use, especially at big events when you want to keep your hands free. The only catch? They're still dependent on the strength of your Wi-Fi or data, meaning they can struggle at gigs or festivals.
Functions
It's impressive how many features the Ray-Ban Metas actually pack. There are five microphones discreetly placed across the frames, allowing you to capture impressively high-quality audio. The same goes for the speakers: they're placed in the frame above the airs, and deliver a surround sound experience that's stunningly high-resolution and better than my own phone. And while this does make the arms thicker than your average Wayfarer, the tech inside more than makes up for the extra size.
During our demo, Meta told us that the audio leak had been improved: it has. When you wear these glasses, it feels like you're wearing headphones; when someone else does, it's surprisingly hard to hear what's playing, even with the bass turned up to 2X.
And then there's the camera. It's 12MP, and supports up to 60 seconds of video at 1080p resolution: put simply, that's miles better than my poor old Android. The footage, too, is excellent; an argument for buying this one in itself. More bafflingly, there's also space for some rudimentary AI: saying "OK Meta" can start and stop video, take photos (and send them to your contacts), and play music. Pretty impressive stuff, and one that makes good use of the cutting-edge Snapdragon AR1 Gen1 processor, even if it isn't quite capable of telling you what the weather is or setting reminders on your phone.
Battery life and specifications
Meta promises that their glasses will last 36 hours (or about eight charges) when used with the charging case. The reality without a case is a little less spectacular.
On a full charge, you'll get about four hours of use out of it-a touch better than the older model, which got about three. But the case does have one secret weapon: its fast-charging feature, which can take you from zero to 50% in about 20 minutes. Not bad, especially if you're on the go.
Pronunciation
The Ray-Ban Meta glasses feel tailor-made for big-audience experiences. I can imagine myself wearing them at a festival or a gig rather than just relaxing at home, but Meta tries to sell them as both: the future of easy memory-making, of snapping your kids on the beach and the Rolling Stones on stage.
And guess what? I could be convinced. These look great, the photo quality is great, and the technology (which is better than ever) is easy to use. Maybe smart specs are the future after all...
Where to buy
Find them at Ray-Ban or at Selfridges