In October we tested Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses for you, and found the camera, audio and calling functions quite useful and simple to employ. The eyewear has a similar style and quality to traditional Ray-Ban glasses.
This October, Meta released the second generation of its Ray-Ban glasses, and I have been testing them over the last couple of weeks. Despite the premium charged for these new models relative to traditional Ray-Bans, I really like them. The $299 Headliner I have feels similar to traditional Ray-Bans, but comes with additional smart features. These glasses let you capture video, snap pictures, make phone calls, and listen to music, plus the speakers are 50% louder compared to the last model. There is also an improved camera which can take portrait-mode photos - ideal for social media posts. Meta's Reality Labs division, which includes its wearable products such as the smart glasses and the Meta Quest, contributes less than 1% to the company's overall revenue; however, these products represent Meta's effort to make their presence felt in the devices market, in addition to their strong advertising and social media presence. Here's what you should know about the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
Marketed as wearable every day like a regular pair of sunglasses, Ray-Ban Meta glasses have the comfort, style and practicality needed to live up to that promise. They're comfortable to wear and only heavier by a few grams compared to regular glasses. I personally tested them out in the office, and the response I got when wearing them indoors tells you just how similar they look to classic Ray-Bans. With or without the tech features, the sunglasses function just as well as any regular polarized pair. Taking it a step further, those who want to replace corrective lenses can do so just like they would with an ordinary pair.
If you're looking to take pictures on the spot without taking out your phone, Meta glasses are the way to go. You can either press a button on the side of the glasses or simply say, "Hey Meta, take a photo." For instance, I had a great experience capturing images of the Big Apple while wearing the eyewear. As an example, take a look at this pair of photos of the exact same tree - on the left is the one taken with my phone and the one on the right was taken with the glasses.
It's effortless to upload images or videos to the Meta View app on your phone, and then they can be saved to your camera roll. It's apparent to those around you when you're capturing a picture or video since the light on the right side of the glasses will flash while taking a photo and pulse while filming, making it unlikely for someone to take a photo or video without another person noticing. This is an integral functional feature for Ray-Ban Meta's integration into mainstream society. Others know when you're recording and you can't even obscure the light to take a photograph since the glasses will not capture the image if you attempt.
The audio and calling features are the standout for me. With these glasses, I can use them instead of earbuds; as I was walking around Central Park, I enjoyed the sound and felt more aware of my surroundings than with earbuds. An unleashed dog and a red light-running biker definitely proved that point.Listening to music felt more like having a soundtrack playing in the background, as compared to some of the more immersive experiences that modern headphones provide. I haven't tried AirPods with the noise transparency setting yet, so it'd be interesting to compare that.The glasses are a bit louder than my 3rd Generation AirPods, so I'd recommend earbuds if you're taking public transportation and don't want to bother other passengers. During home listening sessions, though, the glasses didn't disturb my roommate.The tap-to-pause feature was my favorite; I could also adjust the volume by sliding my finger.
The glasses work well for phone calls; both myself and the receiver were satisfied with the audio quality when I made calls in both my room and in noisier areas. I could easily answer incoming calls by double-tapping the right side. Charging the glasses is also convenient thanks to the supplied hard shell case that recharges them when stored. Charging the case with a USB-C (not included with the glasses) gives you approximately eight charges, which is an improvement from the three from the prior model.
I had trouble taking photos with these glasses while wearing a ball cap; it was particularly bothersome to have to adjust my bill when I just wanted to snap a picture without the hat being in the frame. This isn't a problem for people who do not habitually wear headgear, though.
The glasses have voice command features that let you send messages and ask questions, like "What's the weather?". Unfortunately, I find it to be more of a novelty than something I'd use regularly. As a sports fan, I'm also disappointed that this voice assistant can't give me the score of the game from the night before, something that's possible with an Apple Watch or a phone. If this is something you already use often, then maybe you'll find some of these voice commands useful. As for me, though, I don't use them very frequently.
The battery life of these glasses won't last for all-day use. Mixed use will provide you with roughly four hours before needing a charge, but this can vary depending on how much they're used. Charging from 7% to full only takes about 50 minutes, which is quite fast. When using prescription lenses, you may run into some issues due to not being able to take them off and charge throughout the day. They are water resistant, though not waterproof, so you must be careful in rain.
I'm definitely getting the glasses. I find the inclusion of music, picture-taking and headset functions very appealing, even if that means a higher price than the standard black Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses ($171 versus $299). To me, the perk of being able to use the glasses in place of earbuds and a headset makes the extra cost worthwhile.
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