Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Review: Style or Serious Tech?
There’s no shortage of smart glasses on the market, but most lean too far into novelty. Meta’s second-generation Ray-Ban Smart Glasses aim to change that — blending familiar style with social-ready features and a hint of AI. I wore them for a week to find out if they’re truly smart or just a pricey gimmick.
Design & Comfort: Classic Ray-Ban, Light Upgrade
From the outside, you’d barely know these are “smart” glasses. That’s a huge win. Meta worked closely with Ray-Ban to retain the iconic Wayfarer and Headliner styles — and it paid off.
They’re lighter than the first gen, at just 48 grams, and come in multiple colors and lens options (including transitions). You can comfortably wear them all day, which I did, in both bright sunlight and indoor settings.
Audio & Call Quality: Surprisingly Great
Each arm packs discreet open-ear speakers that direct audio toward your ears while minimizing leakage. While you won’t get booming bass, sound is crisp enough for podcasts, voice notes, and even casual music sessions.
Call quality impressed me. Thanks to the five-mic array, even outdoor calls in traffic came through clearly. These are now my go-to Bluetooth headset when walking.
Camera & Livestreaming: Fun But Flawed
The 12MP front-facing camera is a serious bump from Gen 1. It takes solid 1080p videos and decently sharp photos, especially in good light. But the big story is livestreaming — you can go live to Instagram directly from your face.
Sounds wild? It is. I tried a short walking tour livestream and found it stable and shockingly engaging. However, battery drains quickly when streaming — you’ll only get around 30 minutes of use.
Meta AI: Still in Beta Brain Mode
Meta recently added voice-interactive AI to the glasses. It can answer questions, summarize text you’re looking at, and offer basic translations. While impressive, it feels more like a “preview” than a polished feature.
Sometimes it fumbles questions or takes a second too long to respond. Still, I see massive potential here — especially once it can integrate more deeply with your Meta accounts.
Battery & App Experience
You’ll get about 4–6 hours of mixed use — less if you’re using camera or streaming features. The carrying case doubles as a charger, adding about four recharges. Not bad, but not ideal for long adventures.
The Meta View app (iOS and Android) is sleek and intuitive. You can view your photos/videos, update firmware, and customize your controls easily.
Final Thought: Good Enough for Early Adopters
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are the first stylish wearable I’ve tried that almost justifies the term “smart.” They don’t try to replace your phone — and that’s a smart choice.
Buy them if:
- You livestream, vlog, or love POV photography
- You want a discreet smart headset + glasses combo
- You’re curious about on-the-go AI
Skip them if:
- You expect an AR display or full AI assistant
- Battery life is a dealbreaker
- You just want sunglasses (and nothing more)
For $299, it’s not cheap — but if you’re into wearable tech and already live on Instagram, these are some of the most fun and functional glasses out there.
