On October 17, 2023, Ray-Ban and Meta released a new generation of their smart glasses. Compared to the last generation (Ray-Ban Stories), these glasses feature improved audio, an ultra-wide 12-mp camera, IP-X4 rated water-resistance, a live streaming feature, and Meta AI. The glasses start at a retail price of $299 USD.

The idea of these glasses is to be able to take calls, listen to music, and take photos and videos hands-free. The glasses come in a charging case that holds 8 charges for 36 hours of use. The camera is vertically-oriented, perfect for social apps, and connects to your phone via Bluetooth. 

Everything is through audio as there is no screen or display. Users say, “Hey Meta,” to summon the audio assistant that operates the device. The live streaming feature is limited, however, to Instagram and Facebook, the apps that Meta owns.  

Mark Zuckerberg’s Instagram Reel shows him asking the glasses’ AI how to braid his daughter’s hair. That feature is only available in the US and is still in beta. Due to this, its functionality is very limited. In the future, AI may be able to identify objects around the person, ask it questions like, “write me a rap song,” and interact with ChatGPT. 

As for reviews, users claim that speakers are better than expected and most are shocked at the lack of audio bleed. The music is controlled by swiping and tapping the side of the glasses. If the user has Spotify, the Smart Glasses can also pull up their “favorited” songs. 

Many users say it is easy to import videos/pictures from glasses to phone, though videos max out at one minute. The glasses seem to be strictly for social media, and may cause discomfort to people around you.

While recording, the glasses flash a faint white light just above the lenses to alert others. Most agree the light isn’t enough for bystanders to tell that the glasses are recording them which has become a privacy concern.

Oakdale Sophomore William Blair, who has tried the glasses, shared, “The glasses [are] really good, if they weren’t expensive, I’d actually consider buying them. The speakers on the glasses are very good for being open-faced. [When] wearing them, they sound amazing, from the outside you can’t really hear them.” 

His only critique was the privacy concerns: “It’s definitely a privacy concern, hopefully they fix it in the future, I’m just not sure how they would fix it, it’s such a small camera and small object.” 

With over 150 frame/lens combinations and many interesting features, the Meta-Ray Ban Smart Glasses could mean a lot for the future of augmented reality, but keep in mind that by agreeing to the terms of these glasses, you could be sacrificing more of your privacy than you think.