Meta recently made headlines by announcing new AI-powered Oakley smart glasses, set to join their existing line. These upcoming Oakleys boast several upgrades over the current Ray-Ban Meta glasses, notably a higher-resolution 3K camera (compared to 1080p on the Ray-Bans) and reportedly double the battery life.
This news arrives as I reflect on seven months of living with the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. When I first reviewed them, I was impressed. These glasses pack a camera, open-ear speakers, microphones, and voice-activated Meta AI into stylish, seemingly normal Wayfarer frames. They felt like something out of science fiction. I liked them so much, I even had prescription lenses fitted and integrated them into my daily life. But the true test for any tech product isn’t the initial honeymoon phase; it’s how it holds up after the novelty fades and it simply becomes another device you need to remember to charge.
The bottom line? After over half a year of wearing them while working, commuting, exercising, and simply living my life, I still genuinely like the Ray-Ban Metas. However, my appreciation has evolved into a more nuanced understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. They’ve earned a spot in my semi-daily routine, but they haven’t become my only pair of glasses.
Life with Ray-Ban Meta: Daily Comfort and Durability
One of the first things I noticed as the initial excitement wore off was the weight. At around 49 grams out of the box, the Ray-Ban Metas are already on the heavier side for sunglasses. Adding prescription lenses bumped them up to 54 grams. Compared to my regular, admittedly chunky, prescription glasses which weigh 39 grams, the difference is noticeable. While not unbearable, they can feel slightly uncomfortable during prolonged wear. This weight difference also impacts stability, particularly during physical activity. As noted by others who’ve tried wearing them for exercise like running, the weight can cause them to slide down the nose once you start sweating, requiring conscious effort to keep them in place.
Because of this, I often found myself switching back to my lighter, standard glasses when I didn’t anticipate needing the smart features. I’d only swap to the Ray-Bans when I knew I wanted to take photos, record video, or needed hands-free capabilities. The main inconvenience here was occasionally forgetting which pair I had on and muttering “Hey Meta” to my ‘dumb’ frames!
Despite the weight, I have to commend the build quality. After seven months of regular use, without any special care or ‘babying’ them, the hardware has held up flawlessly. The tech components function just as well as they did on day one, and the frames themselves show no signs of warping or damage. The Wayfarer design, a timeless classic, also ensures they haven’t gone out of style. If it was cool enough for James Dean, it’s cool enough for me.
Battery Life: Adequate, But Often Lacking
Meta states the glasses offer “up to four hours” of battery life. In my experience, this is a tad optimistic, particularly if you’re actively using features like the camera or music streaming. Frequent charging is definitely required. The integrated charging case is a clever solution, allowing you to top up the battery while carrying them. Since the primary function of glasses (helping me see) still works when the battery dies, this isn’t a complete dealbreaker for passive use.
However, planning for longer outings where I intended to capture lots of photos or videos became a hassle. You’re faced with either limiting your recording or needing a backup pair of glasses so you can charge the Metas on the go. Heavy usage, like streaming music while capturing photos and videos during a nearly two-hour event, can drain the battery down to single digits. Adding to the annoyance, you can’t disable the low battery notification chime without turning off all notifications, which is frustrating. The fact that the small battery is non-replaceable also raises concerns about the glasses’ long-term viability as the battery inevitably degrades over time.
The Social Aspect: Navigating Public Perception
When I first started wearing the Ray-Ban Metas daily, most people didn’t seem to notice. However, as awareness of the product grew, so did the number of people who spotted them. More than once, I was asked, “Are you taking pictures of me?” I wasn’t thrilled about my eyewear prompting conversations about surveillance or Meta’s intentions, but I understand the wariness. These glasses undeniably blur the line between fashion and technology in a way that’s still new to many, and some people find them off-putting or intrusive.
Features Ranked: From Essential to Niche
The Ray-Ban Meta glasses pack a variety of features, but their usefulness varies significantly in day-to-day life. Here’s how they stacked up for me:
- The Camera: This was, by far, the most essential feature for me. While it feels strange to call a smartphone camera inconvenient, pulling out your phone, unlocking it, opening the app, and framing a shot involves numerous steps. Pinching the arm of your glasses or simply saying “Hey Meta, take a picture” or “Hey Meta, take video” is incredibly quick and seamless. This hands-free capture is fantastic for recording moments while your hands are busy, like biking or running errands. I used it extensively to capture spontaneous moments or scenes that would have been missed fumbling for a phone, such as capturing snippets during a race without breaking stride. The ultrawide perspective does a good job of capturing the feeling of being there. While the photo quality is surprisingly decent for casual snaps, the lack of a viewfinder and limitations in low light mean they won’t replace a dedicated camera for high-quality or artistic shots.
- Text and Calls: The ability to send texts and make calls hands-free is incredibly practical. Getting a text notification and replying by voice is a game-changer when your hands are full, especially while driving or multitasking. Call quality is solid, and the voice recognition is remarkably accurate, even in noisy environments like traffic or crowds. You can easily initiate calls or texts with a simple voice command.
- Music and Audio: The open-ear speakers offer audio that is, frankly, ‘mid.’ It’s fine for podcasts or casual listening while cooking or needing situational awareness (like listening to directions or being aware of your surroundings during a run), but the sound quality is “tinny” and lacks depth. If you care about music fidelity, you’ll quickly revert to earbuds or headphones. The significant upside, however, is the voice control integration with major music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. Saying “Hey Meta, play some funk” and having music start instantly is undeniably cool and convenient. The open-ear design is also a plus in environments where earbuds might be restricted or unsafe due to needing to hear ambient sound.
- Language Translation: A more recent addition, the real-time language translation from Spanish, French, and Italian to English (and vice-versa) is genuinely impressive. I found it remarkably accurate and fast enough for conversational use. Translating a graduation speech or even dialogue from a Telenovela worked flawlessly. This feature has the potential to be a “killer app” for smart glasses, opening up possibilities for travel and communication. As noted by others considering these for travel, the potential for translation is a valuable hands-free feature, even if other devices might offer similar capabilities with different priorities (like dedicated translation earbuds).
- Meta AI: For me personally, the integrated Meta AI was the least used feature after the initial novelty wore off. The ability to say “Hey Meta, look” and have it describe my surroundings was cool for a few minutes, but I found limited practical application in my daily routine beyond brief moments of amusement. While the AI can be used for various tasks like setting timers while cooking, getting recipe ideas while shopping, identifying nature while exploring, getting navigation assistance, or brainstorming ideas hands-free, I didn’t consistently rely on it for these tasks. Your mileage may vary depending on how much you integrate AI into your life.
Looking Ahead: What’s Needed and the Future
While the current Ray-Ban Metas offer useful hands-free functionality, they aren’t yet the true digital assistant I envision. I wish I could say, “Hey Meta, book me a cheap hotel in Yonkers next weekend,” and have it handle the transaction. Right now, they are limited to tasks like media control, communication, basic information, and translation.
Based on recent reports and predictions, the future of Meta’s smart glasses line seems promising. Meta Connect 2025 is expected to feature new AI glasses, possibly including a refreshed Oakley model aimed at athletes with camera placement better suited for activity and potentially AI fitness features. There are also rumors of a next-generation Ray-Ban model featuring an in-lens display for notifications and previews, and potentially a gesture control band accessory. These features would add significant capability and address some current limitations.
Privacy Considerations (Yes, They Still Exist)
Meta recently informed users that Meta AI camera use is always enabled unless “Hey Meta” is off, and that disabling voice recording storage is no longer an option. Essentially, Meta can potentially see what you see and store what you say. This raises clear privacy concerns. For many, this level of potential data collection is unsettling. Personally, I find my life too mundane to worry about Meta having footage of me doing laundry or playing video games, but if privacy is a high priority for you, these glasses are likely not a suitable product.
Value and Timing: Should You Buy Now?
The value of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses depends on the individual buyer. The list price ($299 or $379 depending on style) feels like a good deal for a device combining a camera, AI assistant, Bluetooth headset, and glasses. If you need prescription lenses, the value proposition is even stronger; they can be cheaper than regular prescription glasses while adding significant tech features.
However, the recent announcement of the Oakley models changes the purchasing equation, making now potentially not the best time to buy the current Ray-Bans. The new Oakleys, priced at $399 or $499, offer that significantly better 3K camera and double the battery life. If you don’t already own a pair, the improved specs of the Oakleys for a relatively small price increase make them a compelling choice to pre-order. If you already have the current Ray-Bans, upgrading might not be essential unless battery life or camera quality is a critical need. Since Meta hasn’t confirmed if or when they will release a Ray-Ban model with comparable specs to the Oakleys, buying the current generation risks acquiring a product just before a notably better version becomes available.
The Bottom Line
I’m not a Meta enthusiast, but credit where it’s due: the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are a genuinely good piece of technology. The initial novelty factor does fade, but their usefulness, particularly the hands-free camera and communication features, persists. Unlike many gadgets that end up collecting dust, these have earned a regular spot in my rotation. If they could shave off a bit more weight, they might just become my everyday glasses. They represent a fascinating step towards integrating computing into our vision, offering practical benefits today while hinting at a more capable future.
