Meta and Ray-Ban partnered to launch their first smart glasses in 2021, called Stories. The name was a bit strange, but both companies seem to have moved on. Meta has now announced its second-generation smart glasses, called the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. Meta says they designed the glasses from the “ground up”, improving all the core features of the first generation and adding new capabilities never seen before on smart glasses. Let’s walk through the features.
Ray-Ban Meta “Smart Glasses” Specifications
The most notable new feature of the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses is the ability to livestream video directly to Instagram and Facebook. This is a first for smart glasses, and I can see it being useful for content creators and social media users alike.
The smart glasses feature a 12MP ultra-wide camera for this purpose, which is capable of recording 1080p videos up to 60 seconds. The glasses will also let passersby know that they are being recorded with a white courtesy light on the outside.
They can store about 500 photos and 100 30-second videos before you fill up the 32GB of internal storage. Everything you record or shoot syncs through the Meta View app, which lets you share your captured moments with other apps.
The glasses are powered by a Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor and are IPX4 water-resistant, meaning they can handle light water splashes.
Meta has also improved the audio on the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. The new smart glasses are 50% louder than the first generation, and they offer better clarity and deeper bass. Meta has also added directional audio to the new smart glasses, which reduces audio leakage and provides a more immersive listening experience.
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses come in a classic Wayfarer design, and they’re available in new colors as well as a transparent option. As with Ray-Ban Stories, you can choose from a variety of lens options as well, such as sun, polarized, clear, transitions, and prescription. There are more than 150 variations in total.
The case, which doubles as a charger, has also been downsized and made lighter. It’s 32% lighter and can charge the headset up to eight times for a total of 36 hours of battery life. After that, the case needs to be recharged via USB-C.
Price and Availability
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are available for pre-order now at Meta.com, Ray-Ban.com, and select retailers. They will go on sale on October 17 in a number of countries including US Canada, Australia, and throughout Europe.
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