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The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are the first pair made like a spy in a movie. They are more than simply stylish accessories because they are feature-rich, understated, and stylish. They are an effective tool for communication, entertainment, and content production.
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are not a novel idea. In 2013, Google Glass introduced us to the concept of smart glasses, but it failed to capture the public’s attention. Many other companies have attempted to create smart glasses since then, but none have been particularly successful. They either had an overly geeky appearance, poor cameras, dim displays, or limited functionality.
However, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has changed the game. They have collaborated with Ray-Ban, the iconic eyewear brand, to develop smart glasses that are both fashionable and functional. They are available in 150 different styles, with two frame styles, seven colors, and multiple lens options. Color, prescription, and transition lenses are available.
The glasses include a 12MP camera for taking high-resolution photos and videos, as well as five microphones for recording clear audio. They also have speakers that can play music, podcasts, or phone calls, as well as spatial audio support for a more immersive experience. They have AI features such as voice assistant and object recognition, as well as the ability to livestream to Facebook or Instagram. A simple capture button, a gesture area, or a voice command controls all of these features.
How do the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses look?
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are distinguished by their appearance as regular glasses. They are not bulky, heavy, or awkward in any way. They are fashionable, comfortable, and well-fitting. No one can tell unless you tell them or they notice the LED light that indicates when you are taking photos or videos. This means you can wear them anywhere without feeling self-conscious or drawing unwanted attention to yourself.
You can take photos or videos of your pets, children, friends, or yourself without having to hold a phone or a camera. It is possible to listen to music or podcasts without using headphones or earbuds. You can make phone calls and send messages without having to look at a screen or type. You can do all of these things while remaining present in the moment.
What about the smart glasses camera?
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses’ have a 12MP sensor and can take photos with a resolution of 3024 x 4032 pixels as well as 1080p videos at 30 frames per second. In addition, the camera has good image stabilization, color reproduction, and low-light performance. The photos and videos aren’t as good as those taken with the latest smartphones, but they’re adequate for sharing on social media or in a group chat.
The camera also has some advantages over the camera on a smartphone. It can record what you see without requiring you to hold or aim a device. It is capable of capturing candid moments without upsetting or distracting the subjects. It can capture your point of view without revealing your face or hands. It can capture details that you might miss if you are focused on a screen.
You can either press the capture button on the right arm of the glasses or say “Hey Meta, take a photo” or “Hey Meta, record a video” to take photos or videos. When the camera is active, you will hear an audio cue and see an LED light. By tapping an icon on your phone’s screen or double-clicking the capture button, you can also livestream to Facebook or Instagram. During the live stream, you can switch between your phone camera and your glasses camera to show different angles or views.
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have Impressive Audio
The audio quality on the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses is also excellent. The glasses have speakers on both arms that can play sound directly into your ears. Although the sound quality is not as good as that of dedicated headphones, it is superior to that of most smart glasses.
The sound is clear and loud, with some bass. The sound also has less leakage, which means that unless you are listening at full volume, other people will not hear what you are listening to. When watching videos or playing games, the sound also supports spatial audio, which means you can hear the direction and distance of the sound sources.
There are also five microphones on the glasses, one of which is located on the nose pad. The microphones can pick up your voice and filter out background noise, allowing you to sound better on phone calls or in videos. Voice commands such as “Hey Meta, play music” or “Hey Meta, send a message” can also be picked up by the microphones. The voice assistant on the glasses is not particularly intelligent, but it can perform some basic functions such as taking photos, videos, or livestreams, playing music, reading or sending texts, and identifying objects.
You can use the gesture area on the right arm of the glasses, just below the capture button, to control the audio. You can play or pause audio by tapping once, slide forward or back to adjust volume, tap twice to skip to the next track, or tap three times to return to the previous track. You can also tap and hold to activate Spotify Tap, which plays personalized recommendations based on your preferences. If you want to save battery or privacy, there is a small toggle on the left arm of the glasses that allows you to turn off Bluetooth and the camera.
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have an adequate battery life
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses’ battery life is adequate but not exceptional. It depends on how you use them, but you can expect three to six hours of battery life on a single charge. You can get closer to six hours if you use them lightly, such as listening to music or taking a few photos. You can get closer to three hours if you use them frequently, such as when taking videos or livestreaming. When used as headphones, they will drain the battery faster than when used as a camera.
The glasses come with a charging case that allows them to be charged up to three times. The case is small and portable, and it charges via USB-C. The case also has an indicator LED button that displays the case and glasses’ battery status. When charging, the button turns orange, and when fully charged, it turns green. Charging the glasses is also quick. In less than an hour, you can progress from 15% to 100%.
Some drawbacks of the Ray-Ban smart glasses
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are not without flaws. They have some disadvantages that you should be aware of before purchasing them. Here are a few examples:
- They are pricey. The glasses are $299, which is a lot of money for a pair of glasses. You will have to pay extra if you want prescription lenses, transition lenses, or polarized lenses. You can order them directly from Ray-Ban or a LensCrafters location, or you can take them to a local optician, but doing so will void the warranty.
- They are limited. Meta’s apps and services, such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, are the only ones that work with the glasses. They are incompatible with other popular apps such as TikTok, Twitch, and YouTube. They are also incompatible with other voice assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa. You’re stuck with Meta’s voice assistant, which is neither intelligent nor useful.
- They are not waterproof. The glasses are not meant to be submerged in water or exposed to moisture. They are not suitable for use in the rain, shower, or pool. You must also be careful not to overheat or spill anything on them. They may stop working or become damaged if they become wet.
- They are not very smart. The glasses are not truly smart in the sense that they lack display and augmented reality capabilities. They resemble smart sunglasses or smart headphones equipped with a camera. They do not display information or notifications on your lenses, nor do they superimpose graphics or data on your vision. They do have some AI features, such as object recognition, but they are still in beta and are not very effective.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
Q. What do Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses do?
A. Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses include a camera, speakers, microphones, and AI features. They allow you to take photos, videos, livestream, listen to music, make phone calls, send messages, and do a variety of other things. A button, a gesture area, or a voice command is used to control them.
Q. How much do Ray-Ban Meta glasses cost?
A. The basic Ray-Ban Meta glasses with color lenses cost $299. You will have to pay extra if you want prescription lenses, transition lenses, or polarized lenses.
Q. What can you do with the meta glasses?
A. You can do a lot of things with the meta glasses, such as:
- Take photos and videos of what you see, without holding a phone or a camera
- Livestream to Facebook or Instagram, and switch between your phone camera and your glasses camera
- Listen to music, podcasts, or phone calls, without wearing headphones or earbuds
- Use voice commands to control the glasses, such as “Hey Meta, take a photo” or “Hey Meta, play music”
- Use gesture controls to adjust the volume, skip tracks, or pause audio
- Use some AI features, such as object recognition, rap generator, or poem generator
Q. How long can you record on Ray-Ban Meta?
A. You can record up to one minute of video on Ray-Ban Meta, per clip. This is to optimize storage and importing. You can record as many clips as you want, until the battery runs out or the storage is full. The glasses have 16GB of storage, which can hold up to 500 photos or 35 minutes of video.
