New Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses bring a lot of improvements
Ray-Ban and Meta have unveiled the second generation of their smart glasses, which you can now pre-order.
The first generation was launched in September 2021 under the name Ray-Ban Stories.
The camera and audio glasses let you make calls, take photos and videos from a first-person perspective, listen to music and podcasts, and dictate or have messages read aloud. They don't have a display, but they weigh less than 50 grams and are almost indistinguishable from a pair of regular Ray-Bans. An LED signals to the environment that images and videos are being recorded. In practice, however, the light is barely visible, especially in bright sunlight.
The second generation unveiled today at Meta Connect 2023 drops the Ray-Ban Stories branding in favor of a more generic name: Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses. How dull and boring.
Better cameras, livestreaming and a new design
The new wearable also comes without a display, but cameras with 12 instead of 5 MP and five instead of three microphones. It records videos in Full HD (1,920 by 1,080 pixels) at 30 frames per second, the original could do just 1,184 by 1,184 pixels.
The most prominent new feature of the smart glasses is livestreaming via Instagram and Facebook.
A remix of the new Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses. | Image: Ray-Ban / Meta
Like the Ray-Ban Stories, the Smart Glasses come in a classic Wayfarer design (standard and large) as well as a new Headliner design. The weight is virtually unchanged, ranging from 48.6 to 49.2 grams depending on the design chosen, which is still an impressive feat of engineering considering all the technology built in.
The collection will be available in new colors as well as transparency. As with Ray-Ban Stories, you can choose from a variety of lens options, such as sun, polarized, clear, transitions, and prescription. There are more than 150 variations.
More powerful speakers and a fancier charging case
Audio is another area where things have improved: The new generation is 50 percent louder than the Ray-Ban Stories. They also offer greater clarity, deeper bass and directional audio for less audio leak, which gives you a rich listening experience even in noisy or windy environments.
With the companion app Meta View, you can transfer your recorded memories to your smartphone, where you can edit and share them. It worked the same way with the Ray-Ban Stories.
The new, sleeker charging case. | Image: Ray-Ban / Meta
The case, which doubles as a charger, has been downsized and now comes in a stylish brown color. It is 32 percent 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.
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 the following countries:
- USA
- Canada
- UK
- Ireland
- Italy
- France
- Spain
- Belgium
- Austria
- Australia
- Germany
- Norway
- Finland
- Denmark
- Sweden
The US price starts at $299, just like the first generation Ray-Ban Stories. Ben was able to try on the Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses. His hands-on article will be published soon on MIXED.
Specifications of the Ray-Ban | Meta Smart Glasses
- Style: 21 different variations; each can be ordered with prescription lenses.
- Weight:Wayfarer: 48.6g
○ Wayfarer (Large): 50.8g
○ Headliner: 49.2g - Camera:
○ 12 megapixel ultra wide angle camera
○ Photos: Portrait capture default: 3024 X 4032 pixels
○ Videos: 1080p at 30fps (1440x1920 resolution)
○ Capture LED: 2mm - Audio:
○ 2x open ear speakers
○ Custom 5-mic array - Wireless:
○ Bluetooth 5.3
○ Wi-Fi6 - Storage: 32GB of storage, capable of storing up to 500 photos, and 100 30-second videos.
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 Platform
- Water Resistance
- IPX-4 rated, designed to be water resistant. Simply remove the glasses as soon as you can, wipe them completely dry and you're good to go.
- The Product is not designed to resist submersion or extended exposure to water or other liquids. In case of water exposure, dry the product thoroughly and clear the charging areas of residue or other debris.
- Battery
- Rechargeable smart glasses with up to 4 hours with single charge with mixed use.
- 75 minutes in charging case for full charge
- Quick charge glasses 0-50% battery in 22 minutes
- Up to 32 hours of additional battery life per fully charged case.
- Age: Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are intended only for use by persons age 13 or older.
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