As a tech reporter, I attend occasions and conferences with different gadget aficionados. A telltale signal {that a} product is sweet is when reporters and attendees rave about it and even use their cash to purchase it. And irrespective of the place I went, I could not escape the glowing Meta Ray-Ban critiques.
These experiences weren’t simply ones that I observed; gross sales instructed the identical story. EssilorLuxottica, the glasses producer, reported in February that two million pairs of the Meta Ray-Bans have been offered since their October 2023 launch. After listening to so many rave critiques of the Meta Ray-Bans, I acquired a pair of my very own.
As an eyeglass wearer and an overtly photo-obsessed Gen-Zer, these smartglasses appeared like an ideal match. After carrying them for 5 months, together with at occasions comparable to CES, I’ve some favourite options. Surprisingly, my high picks aren’t what I initially thought they might be.
1. The audio
When contemplating whether or not I needed the glasses, all of the obvious advantages concerned the twin cameras. I by no means anticipated my favourite function to be the audio. The smartglasses are outfitted with 5 microphones and two custom-built open-ear audio system which can be surprisingly performant.
I usually overlook that I’m carrying sensible glasses till I begin scrolling on social media and listen to audio. The audio is truthfully pretty much as good as utilizing any earbuds with ambient mode or open-ear headphones, such because the Shockz OpenFit. There may be sound leakage, however as somebody who incessantly makes use of open-ear headphones, I haven’t got any disgrace.
One other main benefit is how good the microphones are. My greatest type of communication is audio message exchanges, and I used to be nervous that the glasses would make it inconvenient or tough to ship them. As an alternative, the glasses choose up my voice naturally, with no points. In reality, they’re higher than some earbuds that I’ve examined and worn.
2. AI-enabled translation
As a man-made intelligence (AI) reporter, I’ve examined a number of AI translation gadgets, and my e-mail inbox is flooded with pitches from corporations selling them. These merchandise are usually pricey and solely fulfill one process. For that cause, I used to be fairly excited to see that the Meta Ray-Bans embrace an AI-powered stay translation function at no cost.
Though AI translation is just not one thing you’ll attain for every single day, in conditions the place you need assistance, it is good to know that you’ve an assistant shut at hand. Plus, as somebody who grew up in a Spanish-speaking family and is fluent, I attempted the tech with my mother in actual time, and was impressed at how precisely it translated, how fast it was to get began, and the way straightforward it was to arrange.
3. Quick access to Meta AI (bonus, it is multimodal)
Now, I do know most days you could not use an AI voice assistant in your cellphone, however what makes the tech nice on these smartglasses is accessibility.
One of the best half about Meta Ray-Bans is that you simply usually overlook you might be carrying them. So, you’ll be able to go about your day, washing dishes, folding garments, sweeping the ground, and commuting with out your cellphone whereas nonetheless gaining access to essential options, comparable to push notifications, music, and help.
For instance, if you’re grilling exterior and your cellphone is in the home, you’ll be able to shortly ask, “How lengthy ought to I prepare dinner a burger on the grill earlier than flipping?” The AI-enabled assistant is multimodal, utilizing the feed from the cameras on the high of the lenses as context.
In that state of affairs, you would say one thing like, “How lengthy earlier than I flip this?”, and the assistant would use the visible context to offer a solution. Due to the place of the cameras, the glasses can see what you see, which will be much more useful. At any time when I name on this function, it by no means will get previous.
4. Filming
This may occasionally look like an apparent perk, however if you happen to create a number of visible content material, the Meta Ray-Bans are a cool factor so as to add to your arsenal. Due to the positioning of the cameras within the glasses, the footage you get is exclusive, as it’s actually out of your standpoint.
For instance, if you’re on an amusement park trip, strolling by way of a venue, or cooking a meal, individuals see precisely what you might be experiencing. This point-of-view expertise is much like a GoPro system, and, regardless of the inferior high quality, if you’re like me and never an adrenaline junky, this feature could also be extra sensible.
One other profit is the button’s positioning. It’s prominently and conveniently displayed on the high of the appropriate eye, so there is no such thing as a messing round if you see one thing you wish to shoot. This functionality makes it even faster than taking your cellphone out and clicking the file button.
5. Kind issue
Final however not least, I would not have the ability to speak concerning the Meta Ray-Bans with out speaking concerning the type issue. Within the picture above, I’ve them side-by-side subsequent to the pair I put on every single day, and you may see that they give the impression of being extraordinarily related, regardless of packing many parts comparable to cameras, microphones, audio system, and a battery. Most individuals cannot even inform that the Ray-Bans are sensible glasses, except you’re a fellow techie.
One ache level
The battery dies a bit too quick for my liking. In my expertise, I usually could make them final round six hours. Nonetheless, that always means the ability on the glasses lasts midway by way of my day, which is not ultimate. That is why the newly introduced Oakley Meta glasses are so interesting; they’re rated to final upwards of eight hours.
There may be additionally no technique to cost the Ray-Ban glasses whereas they’re in your face, although I am certain an extra element for that might solely add to their present heft. My workaround is to put on the Meta Ray-Bans once I know I want to make use of the options, slightly than every single day.
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This story was initially printed on Might 12, 2025, and was up to date on June 26, 2025.