[Gadgets] Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Review: Versatile and Practical

[Wolf.17]

 

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are the most practical glasses to launch lately. The biggest advantage of such smart glasses is that they free you from the constraints of taking out your smartphone or a camera to record a moment. Being wearable, it records what you see, bringing a unique perspective or simplifying - truly living in the moment. Launched in September last year, Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are made in partnership with EssilorLuxottica and come with tons of improvements from first-generation smart glasses. Meta and Ray-Ban claimed that they have redesigned the smart glasses from the ground up, and after weeks of usage, we couldn't help but notice most of these.

However, the idea of smart glasses isn't entirely new. There have been numerous versions launched by different companies, including Google (Google Glass in 2014), Snapchat (Snapchat Spectacles in 2016), Bose (Bose Frames Tempo in 2021), Amazon (Echo Frames in 2020), and even Facebook before rebranding to Meta (Ray-Ban Stories in 2021). 

So, are the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses worth the price? I try to answer that in my review. 

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Price and Availability 

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses prices start at $299 (roughly Rs. 25,000) and go up to $379 (roughly Rs. 32,000) depending on the style. People who wear prescription lenses can get one made via Ray-Ban, and that's excellent. For regular users, these are available in wayfarer and headliner styles.

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are available in limited countries, and the features are also limited depending on which market you use them in. For example, smart glasses are not available in India, and we don't see any news of this arriving here in markets anytime soon. The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are available in 15 countries, including Australia, Canada, the US, and Europe. These are available via Meta.com and Ray Ban's online and offline stores. 

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Review: The Package

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses come in sleek packaging with nothing fancy. However, what's interesting is the case. Unlike your regular sunglasses, the Meta smart glass case is a charging case, and it's portable. The slim case fits the smallest backpacks, ensures the glasses are charged, and extends battery life. The Meta smart glasses sport a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera with a five-mic system. The camera offers 1440x1920 resolution and packs 32GB storage. The smart glasses also pack open-ear speakers with extended bass and decent volume, even in noisy environments. The right side of the glasses houses a touchpad for tapping to play or pause songs and supports swipe gestures for volume. The left side packs the power switch, while the capture button is placed on top of the right side and offers a good tactile feel. 

For privacy purposes, the LED blinker dubbed Capture LED housed on the right side of the glasses blinks every time you snap a photo and remains on continuously when recording a video. This is a good feature, considering Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses aren't spy cameras and shouldn't be used like one. This was one of the concerns raised during the original model, where people claimed that glasses could allow them to film others without their consent. 

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are powered by the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 Platform, the first Snapdragon XR platform designed for smart glasses. These glasses come equipped with dual ISPs for capturing photos and videos and support for binocular displays that enable hands-free notifications and directions. Thanks to Qualcomm's Snapdragon, the AR1 Gen 1 is not only smart but also capable of on-device AI, blazing-fast connectivity, and optimised thermals.

https://www.gadgets360.com/wearables/reviews/ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-review-5474225#pfrom=indepth