The term “AI” is being thrown around a lot right now, and since the tech is still somewhat new (at least for consumers), we’re seeing a lot of experimentation. Back in 2021, Meta and EssilorLuxottica teamed up with Ray-Ban to drop Ray Ban Stories, a pair of smart glasses that could capture video and photos, play music, and take calls. While these didn’t quite achieve the success the labels were hoping for, they became the blueprint for the recently announced Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which now come with AI voice assistance and a variety of improvements.
These glasses are equipped with an ultra-wide 12 MP camera for capturing photos and videos at 1080p/60fps (capable of live streaming directly to Facebook and Instagram), along with five built-in mics for calls and the new Meta AI voice assistance that can provide info and control the glasses. Open-ear speakers allow you to enjoy music on the go without headphones, and they’ve been designed to give you enough volume in noisy settings. On top of the voice commands, the glasses also feature touch controls (tap and swipe gestures) for capturing video/photos, taking calls, and controlling music. The glasses have 32GB of storage and 4 hours of juice before needing a charge, which the charging case can take care of (giving you up to eight more full charges).
As for the frames available, the classic Wayfarers are back, featuring the new Meta tech, along with a new frame designed with a retro look, the Headliner, and they’ll both be available in Matte Black and Shiny Black. Ray-Ban is also releasing a trio of transparent colors, Jeans, Rebel Black, and Caramel, to showcase the tech inside these new shades. The companion Meta View App has also been improved, letting you control the glasses and edit/share content.
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are available for pre-order now starting at $299, with the polarized variants going for $329. They’ll officially be released online and in participating retailers on October 17th.
