Ray-Ban Meta glasses review: A stylish AI gadget with room to grow

Indian Express

21 hours ago

The idea of an AI wearable has always fascinated me. But smart glasses? Yes, cool technology, but can they be your everyday companion? I recently got my hands on the Ray-Ban Meta AI smart glasses. I tried the classic shiny black with clear transition lenses with a standard fit. Meta, in partnership with Ray-Ban, has been pushing its smart glasses lineup for over a year now.
The smart glasses come with blue-violet light filters that protect eyes from screens, indoor fluorescent lights, and even sunrays. This made it easier for me to wear it at work, watch TV, scroll through Reels on Instagram, and even while reading books.
It is shipped in the standard Ray-Ban packaging with a synthetic leather case that doubles as a charging dock. The box contains a pair of glasses, a charging case, a cleaning cloth, and the usual literature. It does not include a USB-C cable. While the case feels woody and is great to hold, the glasses are made of polycarbonate and seem durable and lightweight.
On the surface, anyone sporting the Ray-Ban Meta would be assumed to be wearing a pair of prescription glasses, endowing it with invisibility. The clear transition lens makes it an obscure pair of spectacles indoors, while outdoors it turns into stylish sunglasses. Once outside during daylight, the lenses take a few minutes to darken; similarly, they clear up within seconds after you are indoors.
The seeming invisibility of the glasses extends to social situations, as those around would barely notice this piece of tech. On the design front, the integrated camera and LED indicator are delicately integrated into the frame, making them look like decorative elements. The indicators are a functional addition, as they light up every time the cameras are in use. This is a great way to let others around know that the smart glasses are recording. On the other hand, the other LED light that blinks each time you take out the glasses is barely visible, unless someone stands closer to you. This discreteness is great, as no one wants to be pried upon each time they step out wearing smart glasses. If only it had an LED to indicate if someone was engaged in a call.
The smartglasses feel sturdy and offer a snug fit. Considering it packs rich-sounding stereo speakers in the stem, the glasses feel light and easy to use. While traditional glasses, plastic or metal, can be bent or reshaped to get a custom fit, Ray-Ban Meta cannot, as the frames are packed with electronics. In case you are planning to buy a pair, I recommend trying them on first. Wear them for a few minutes, feel the pressure points, and assess the weight-related discomfort. Although Meta offers different styles and sizes, issues related to fit are common. Regardless, users can find silicone holders on the temples to keep the frames in place. Be mindful that any attempt to bend the frames may render the warranty void. For those planning to opt for prescription glasses, Meta and Ray-Ban do offer them. However, it is advisable to use certified eye care providers to fit the lenses.
The glasses feature touch controls that I found to be surprisingly intuitive. You can adjust the volume with backward and forward swipes, double-tap for calls and music control, and the dedicated camera button on the stem works just the way it should. One can also customise the capture button, such as a single press for video or photo. I found the seamless transition between regular glasses and hands-free AI to be cool.
This is the first time I am using open-ear speakers, and I am impressed. I could listen to music, podcasts, and all kinds of audio content. Remarkably, the dual speakers project sound directly into your ears using a technology that feels like wearing traditional earphones. The sound quality is good considering the tiny size of the speakers. Even at moderate volumes, it is perfectly audible while staying inaudible to others. However, the audio leaks a bit if you turn up the volume to the max. I have been wearing the Ray-Ban Meta while working with ambient music in the background. Be it lo-fi for work or classic rock for leisure, the speakers sound incredible. Beyond music, phone calls came through crystal clear.
Video and photo capturing is one of the unique aspects of these glasses. These are not iPhone cameras, and they shouldn't be, but the output quality is impressive. The device features a 12MP camera that is located in the corner of the right lens. It can be great for POV shots, especially if you are planning to throw a surprise party for your loved one on their birthday. The glasses can capture a memorable POV video of you carrying a cake to surprise them. The absence of a smartphone or carrying around a GoPro and still being able to capture moments effortlessly seems quite liberating.
The videos and images are adequate for social media posts, especially Instagram stories and Reels. However, the camera does not have vertical recording capabilities yet, and this may upset some creators. Below are some unfiltered images clicked using the Ray-Ban Meta glasses:
The 12MP ultra-wide camera is capable of recording 1080p videos and supports livestreaming for up to 30 minutes. The video resolution is crisp. While you may not be able to create Reels, you can definitely add some action to your Instagram Stories. The smart glasses come with 32 GB of flash storage, enough to store thousands of photos and hundreds of videos.
This could be one of the best use cases of Meta AI integration. Even with some limitations, it works well, as it can identify objects, read text, and offer contextual information about what one is looking at. The responses sound sophisticated, yet at times they lag and may not be accurate. The limitations with AI on this device are a bit arbitrary; it can read images and identify objects, but it fails at times. It often requires specific instructions or phrasing to understand requests. These seem annoying, but it is a good starting point.
While using it, I found that natural speech patterns may not always work, and users may need to reword or adapt their way of communication to get thorough results. It does feel like regression, especially when AI is expected to understand natural language. Perhaps hands-free interaction is the most useful feature of the glasses. Some features, like Live AI sessions that let you walk around and ask questions, and Be My Eyes, which can offer real-time assistance to visually impaired users, are remarkable.
The glasses can translate conversations in real-time between English, French, Italian, and Spanish. The feature works offline once language packs are downloaded. It can be activated by saying, 'Hey Meta, start live translation.' As of now, its responses are inconsistent, and it struggles with context memory, as it keeps forgetting conversations after each session. It also often misidentifies objects, offering vague answers. It handles web searches and can also offer turn-by-turn navigation. Overall, I found the AI features fun but limited.
When it comes to battery life, the Ray-Ban Meta falters, as it is not quite an all-day smart glasses. If you heavily use voice assistants, camera, music, or AI, you could do so for about three to four hours. A useful tip I found on the internet was to disable the always-listening AI feature, as it could extend the battery life by an hour. Charging the case once every four to five days will be enough for most users; this makes the overall power management decent.
The Ray-Ban Meta, despite its limitations, comes with some interesting use cases. It can be your go-to outdoor sunglasses owing to the transition lenses or driving glasses with hands-free commands, music, and navigation prompts that can be great for road trips. It can be a great accessory for casual errands, such as quick AI queries and capturing POV pictures and videos without relying on your phone.
Indeed, a cool gadget. It is so far one of the most stylish pieces of tech in the eyewear space today. It is comfortable to wear, comes with handy AI features, and offers a glimpse into the future of communication. Those considering them as their only pair of prescription glasses may need to think twice. These smart glasses come with fit issues, limited battery life, and reliance on proprietary charging cases, making them somewhat difficult for full-time use.
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are a fun, futuristic device; however, they are yet to become the ultimate all-day wearable as we would hope for.
Bijin Jose, an Assistant Editor at Indian Express Online in New Delhi, is a technology journalist with a portfolio spanning various prestigious publications. Starting as a citizen journalist with The Times of India in 2013, he transitioned through roles at India Today Digital and The Economic Times, before finding his niche at The Indian Express. With a BA in English from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, and an MA in English Literature, Bijin's expertise extends from crime reporting to cultural features. With a keen interest in closely covering developments in artificial intelligence, Bijin provides nuanced perspectives on its implications for society and beyond. ... Read More