Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Review: The Most Practical Smart Glasses Yet?
The idea of smart glasses isn’t new. We’ve seen iterations from companies like Google (Google Glass), Snapchat (Snapchat Spectacles), Bose (Bose Frames Tempo), Amazon (Echo Frames), and even Facebook before its rebrand to Meta (Ray-Ban Stories). However, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, launched in September 2022, stand out. They offer a unique blend of practicality and functionality that makes them a compelling choice for everyday wear. These glasses, a collaboration between Meta and EssilorLuxottica, are a significant improvement over the first-generation smart glasses and boast a host of features that make them truly stand out. But are they worth the price? Let’s delve into the details to find out.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Price and Availability
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses come in a range of styles and price points, starting at $299 (roughly Rs. 25,000) and going up to $379 (roughly Rs. 32,000). You can also opt for prescription lenses through Ray-Ban, which is a fantastic addition. These glasses are currently available in 15 countries including Australia, Canada, the US, and Europe. You can purchase them through Meta.com and Ray-Ban’s online and offline stores. Unfortunately, they are not yet available in India, and there’s no word on when that might change.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Review: The Package
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses come in sleek packaging, but the real highlight is the charging case. This slim, portable case not only protects the glasses but also charges them, effectively extending their battery life. The case fits easily into a backpack, making it convenient for carrying around. Beyond the case, the glasses feature a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera with a five-mic system for capturing high-quality photos (3024×4032 pixels) and videos (1440×1920 pixels). They offer 32GB of storage, ensuring you have plenty of space for your content. The glasses are equipped with open-ear speakers that provide decent volume and bass, even in noisy environments.
Controls are intuitive and user-friendly. The right side of the glasses houses a touchpad for playing or pausing music, controlling volume with swipes, and even snapping photos or recording video. The left side features the power switch, and the Capture button, situated on the top of the right side, offers a satisfying tactile feel.
A key feature of the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses is the Capture LED, which blinks each time a photo is taken and remains lit during video recording. This privacy-focused feature addresses concerns about the potential for surreptitious filming that arose with the original model.
The Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 Platform, Qualcomm’s first XR platform for smart glasses, powers the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. This platform delivers several key advantages:
- Dual ISPs for capturing high-quality photos and videos.
- Support for binocular displays enabling hands-free notifications and directions.
- On-device AI for smoother and more efficient operation.
- Blazing-fast connectivity for seamless integration.
- Optimised thermals for comfortable wear, even during extended use.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Specifications
Here’s a concise summary of the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses’ technical specifications:
- Camera: 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, 3024×4032 pixels image resolution & 1440×1920 pixels video resolution.
- SoC: Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 Platform.
- Mic: Custom 5-mic array.
- Audio: 2 custom-built open-ear speakers.
- Controls: Capture button on the right side with support for gestures.
- Storage: 32GB.
- Battery Life: Up to 4 hours of battery life.
- Charging case: Adds up to 8 hours of usage time (in addition to the 4 hours the glasses offer).
- Companion App: Meta View app.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2.
- Weight: 133 grams (including charging case).
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Review: Practical Everyday Wearable, Useful Too
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses can seamlessly integrate into your daily life. They are available in a variety of styles, including wayfarer and headliner, and you can have prescription lenses added, making them a perfect replacement for your regular glasses.
These glasses are a practical alternative to action cameras, allowing you to capture moments without the need for additional equipment or mounting. The 12-megapixel camera might not be the highest-resolution camera available, but it captures more than enough detail for social media sharing. Because they don’t look like bulky AR/VR glasses, like the Apple Vision Pro, they blend in seamlessly, making them discreet and comfortable for everyday wear.
The process of capturing photos and videos is effortless. A simple tap on the Capture button initiates the process, and the stability of the recorded videos is impressive. Although the glasses can record videos up to 60 seconds, you can live stream videos directly from the glasses, although video quality isn’t as high as recorded videos.
The open-ear speakers allow you to take calls hands-free, listen to music, or even view content on your phone using the glasses as speakers. However, it’s important to note that privacy is compromised as the open-ear speakers make it possible for others to hear your conversations.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Review: Meta View App Support
The Meta View app is the companion app for the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. This user-friendly app allows you to easily connect to your glasses, quickly transfer files, manage privacy settings, and adjust video length. It also serves as a quick reference for checking the battery status, making calls, and sharing photos or videos on social media platforms.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Review: What Can Improve
While the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses have many impressive features, there are areas where improvements could be made.
- Voice Commands: The only available function for voice commands in India and other international markets is to record photos and videos hands-free. Other AI-powered functions are not yet available.
- Shutter Lag: There is a noticeable delay between the time you press the Capture button and the time the photo is actually captured. Although the delay is only about one second, it can be frustrating when capturing fast-moving subjects.
- Zoom Function: There is no zoom function on the glasses, which would have been a welcome addition given that the camera is fixed.
- Photo Quality in Low Light: Photos and videos captured in low light conditions don’t turn out well.
- Undocking from the Charging Case: The placement of the docking pin on the nose of the glasses requires a bit of force to detach the glasses from the case, which can become tiresome.
- Battery Performance: The battery life, while respectable, doesn’t come close to the advertised four hours of use between charges. You can expect to see the battery drop below 20% after only two hours of use. Although the charging case provides supplemental power, achieving the claimed battery life remains a challenge.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Review: Verdict
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses represent a significant step forward in the world of smart glasses. Their practical design, ease of use, and diverse functionality make them a compelling choice for everyday wear. The ability to capture photos and videos hands-free is a major selling point, and the integration with social media platforms is seamless. However, their limited availability, lack of AI features, and shutter lag make them less appealing for users who require advanced functionality.
Pros:
- Smart glasses with a variety of combinations available.
- Decent picture and video quality for social media uploads.
- Comfortable to wear.
- Excellent voice quality during calls and videos.
- Impressive battery life with the charging case.
Cons:
- Limited availability (not available in India).
- Undocking glasses from the case can be difficult.
- Shutter lag while capturing photos or videos.
- Missing AI features.
- Average camera performance in low-light conditions.
Overall, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are an innovative and practical option for users looking for a versatile pair of smart glasses. Their strengths lie in their ease of use, comfortable design, and ability to capture moments hands-free. However, their lack of advanced AI features, shutter lag, and limited availability hinder their potential.
