If there’s one brand that undoubtedly rules the world of sunglasses, it’s Ray-Ban. The name is practically synonymous with the product, especially in discussions of its hit Aviator model that took the world by storm thanks to Tom Cruise and Top Gun. And though its designs have inspired countless similar styles from various brands, Ray-Ban remains an original sunglasses company and one of the top in the industry.
There’s one main reason why the brand doesn’t go out of style: it never ceases to innovate. From its bio-based eyewear collections to its Reverse range of sunglasses with lenses that unconventionally curve inward, Ray-Ban continues to add new and appealing spins to its offerings. That’s why it’s no surprise that it’s also venturing into the realm of emerging technologies.
In 2021, it notably partnered with Facebook’s parent company Meta to release the Ray-Ban Stories. Though these smart glasses made headlines, the Tech Times notes that their limited functionalities saw over 90% of users drop them by 2023. Fortunately, the two brands appear to have improved upon this model, releasing the Ray-Ban Meta just a few months later. Here’s more on how it can level up your eyewear game.
Meta VS Stories: what’s new?
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Released in 2023, this latest drop retains most of the basic features of its predecessor—and then adds more on top. These smart glasses boast 12MP cameras and a five-mic system compared to the Stories’ 5MP cameras and three-mic setup. Wearers also get discreet, open-ear speakers that are 50% louder than those on the older model. And unlike the Stories, which has a battery that can last for 3 hours, the Meta smart glasses can last for 4 hours and reach up to 36 with a fully charged case. That’s not to mention the newer release’s additional AI features, including a Siri-like assistant one can activate with the voice command “Hey, Meta.”
How these smart glasses can level up your eyewear game
Uncompromised eyewear effectiveness
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Despite the fact that it can do more than regular eyewear, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses still provide both the form and function you’d usually find in such accessories. If you need vision correction, you can put your prescription on the lenses. Want UV protection? Get them as sunglasses or with Transitions® light-intelligent lenses. That’s not to mention you can get a pair in classic Ray-Ban designs like the Headliner, Wayfarer, and Skyle, with over 100 different colourways to choose from. That means the third of Londoners for whom the appearance of eyewear influences their purchases need not worry. Unlike early, clunkier iterations of smart glasses, you can use these like normal accessories—but with these next few features from Meta for an even more elevated experience.
Photo and video capture
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One of the biggest draws of the Ray-Ban Meta is that users can capture photos hands-free from a first-person perspective. Without the need to take out your phone or camera, you can easily take photos during busy activities like exploring famous travel destinations or watching a football game. The smart glasses are even capable of taking 1080p videos of up to 30 seconds each, with additional stabilisation features for enhanced quality. It’s not just convenient—blogger and inspirational speaker Shane Burcaw, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, points out that the Meta also makes media capture more accessible to persons with disabilities.
Social media integrations
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This fresh spin on eyewear can do more than just take photos and videos—it can also help you upload what you capture to the Meta social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. Though this is a feature you’ll also find on the Stories, this upgraded model takes it a step further by allowing users to host live streams. One can even seamlessly switch between the point of view presented by their smartphone and smart glasses cameras during the stream itself, allowing for flexibility that poses multiple possibilities in fields like content creation. However, they may also have use cases in the workplace, especially for remote team collaboration and equipment maintenance.
New AI functionalities
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Arguably, the most interesting thing about the Ray-Ban Meta is that it’s always updating its AI functionalities. Just a little over half a year after its initial release, this model now offers more than just a voice assistant. Thanks to updates involving Meta’s large language model Llama 3, these glasses can now scan objects you’re looking at and tell you what they are, identify landmarks, and even provide translations in real-time. That means you can more easily do things like navigate new places or cook new recipes without returning multiple times to your phone.
