Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses haven’t gone out of style since they were introduced in 1952. (We’ve been wearing them for a few decades ourselves.) Smart glasses, on the other hand, have been around for a lot less time. And let’s face it: While their tech is impressive, smart glasses haven’t always been aces when it comes to design. (Remember when Google Glass first came out and the complaints flooded in about the “geeky” look? We certainly do!)
So, it makes sense that two great things — Ray-Bans and smart glasses tech — would seek each other out. The result is Ray-Ban’s Meta Smart Glasses, a stylish blend of high tech and old-school cool. Let’s take a closer look at how these sunglasses integrate top-notch video and audio features with the venerable Wayfarer design.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, $328.61
If overall look is the priority for your smart glasses, then the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses don’t disappoint. With eight different frame and lens configurations, you can opt for anything from the classic Wayfarer black frame-black lens combo to versions with polarized or transition lenses.
In contrast to previous smart glasses, all the tech is concealed in these lenses. You’ll barely notice the built-in HD camera at the front of the frames, nor the tiny capture button for video and photos that’s located in the top corner. And to perform other functions, such as activating a song playlist or adjusting your audio volume, you just tap at the sides of your frames. In short, you’ll feel like you’re in your own version of “Mission: Impossible” when you put these glasses on.
That feeling only intensifies when you start using the Smart Glasses’ features. Using voice command, you can instruct the glasses to take photos or videos, create text messages or answer phone calls. The 12-megapixel camera takes vertical, social media-ready photos, captures videos with decent image stabilization (including videos of your own face for chats), and can even do livestreams.
These Wayfarers also come equipped with Meta AI, and you can ask it to make sense of what you’re looking at — for example, translating a sign, identifying your surroundings or scanning a barcode of a product on sale. These glasses also excel when it comes to audio, with open-ear speakers that are great for playing music or taking calls, plus a five-mic system that works well when capturing video or your voice during a podcast, phone convo or video call. (The mics even recognize voice commands to create text messages or make phone calls.)
This pair of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses is one of those cases of two tastes that pair together seamlessly, providing convenient and social media-savvy features with the lightweight comfort and classy look we associate with Ray-Bans. As Amazon reviewers put it, they’re a game-changer for daily life and content creation, and we recommend them as the next big step in fun, wearable tech!
