We tried the new ones for a long time Ray-Ban Meta, smart glasses with camera fruit of the collaboration between Ray-Ban, Luxottica and Meta (Zuckerberg's ex-Facebook). They cost €329 (in the classic version they would cost around €155). Now the question is: are they useful and can they replace the camera of a smartphone or are they a superfluous product that can easily end up forgotten at the bottom of a drawer? Spoiler: they're not perfect but we'll tell you everything in this review.
Ray-ban Meta: technical characteristics
Let's start with a roundup of technical features that never hurt.
Models: 2 available, Wayfarer and Headliner
Colours: 5 colors (classic but also transparent)
Lenses: available with polarized lenses but also with prescription lenses
Recording format: 5:7 only
Video resolution: 1440×1920 Px @30 Fps
Photo resolution: 3024x4032px
Audio speaker: 2x Micro Speakers
Microphones: 5-Microphone Audio Array
Battery: 4 hours of battery life on one charge
Memory: 32 GB Flash Memory (more than 500 shots and more than 100 30-second videos)
Connectivity: Wifi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2
Price: starting from €329
Ray-Ban Meta, full of technology
Ray-Ban meta are the technological adaptation of two of the most iconic models produced by Ray-Ban: Wayfarer e Headliner. Compared to classic sunglasses, they are a little bigger because they contain a camera, speakers, microphones, touch control module, charging pins, battery… in short, they are chock-full of technology. In the black versions you won't notice anything, while the transparent versions (which in my opinion are a little more fanciful) reveal all the technology intelligently crammed inside them.
Intelligent and technological but they are not a perfect product, they have obvious limitations but in general I found them really a bomb.
The curious thing is that Ray-Ban Meta are the perfect fusion between Snapchat's Spectacles which only had the camera (they were released in 2017 and then quickly fell into oblivion because they only worked well with the Snapchat app) and Huawei's Gentle Monster which did not have a camera but only speakers, a microphone for managing audio and phone calls.
Rayban Meta, on the other hand, do everything: they can take photos, shoot videos, answer phone calls, listen to music and even do live broadcasts on Instagram. And all this can be done through voice commands or using the toupad on the right temple.
They therefore promise to be one of the best products of its kind around… even if they are the only ones who have decided to invest so forcefully in such a singular product.
The senseless 5:7 format
The only flaw, or peculiarity, of these Ray-Ban Metas is that they can take photos and record videos exclusively vertically in 5:7 format. This strange format is perfect for sharing posts on the Instagram feed, a little less perfect for stories (which have a 9:16 vertical format). But no big deal because the camera we find on the left is a 12 MP wide-angle one and you can make a nice cut.
The choice of format is obviously dictated by the fact that the glasses, as we said before, are born from the collaboration between Ray-Ban and Meta and the latter owns the Facebook and Instagram platforms. For this reason, the contents are captured in “favorable” formats for Zuckerberg's two platforms.
The contents are downloaded to your phone through the free Meta View app (available for both iOS and Android) but then you can do whatever you want with it. You will find them in your smartphone gallery and from there you can share them anywhere or send them to friends and family via messaging apps.
The other flaw is that unfortunately from the Meta View application you cannot see a preview of what you are recording so very often the shots of photos and videos will be a little crooked also thanks to the camera positioned on the left side. However, with a little training and practice you can overcome this problem.
Photos and videos of unexpected quality
But the quality of photos and videos? I like them a lot. In Singapore I mainly shot in excellent light conditions and the result is wow. The photos have beautiful colors while the videos are well stabilized and with truly crystal clear audio (this is because the microphones on the temples are very close to the mouth obviously)
In the dark we have a double standard: in dimly lit environments the noise in the dark areas is there and can be perceived. I was in a dimly lit elevator (as I show in the video review) and you can see terrible grain. While outdoors, in the Marina Bay area, the night sky was perfectly black, the detail clear with truly top rendering.
I also love using voice commands because maybe I'm driving and I don't want to take my hands off the wheel. So I say “hey Meta take a picture” or “hey Meta take and video” and that's it. I set the video to a maximum duration of 60 seconds so I don't have to interrupt them by pressing the side button. If you want to capture photos and videos manually, just press the button on the right arm to take a photo or hold down a little longer to start a video. An audio signal and a small LED inside the frame will tell you that the glasses are working.
In the car the result is good, the wide angle is not wide enough so I often found myself with the steering wheel cut off and I have to move my head too much to see everything. But the overall effect is beautiful. Here you can't use videos for long-form YouTube content but for Stories, Reel and TikTok content I'm using them a lot
What do we do with privacy?
If you are worried about privacy, know that on the opposite side from the camera there is an LED that indicates to the whole world that we are recording. If you try to cover it up the Ray-Nan Metas won't work. The flashing LED is not always the solution as many people – legitimately – may not know of the existence of these glasses. It would always be a good idea to verbally warn the people around you that you are recording.
Battery issue, it doesn't last very long, a couple of hours and then you'll have to give up the smart features. To avoid using up battery you can always turn off the tech part to use them like a normal pair of glasses or put them in their case to recharge them.
The case is truly a beautiful technological adaptation because at first glance it looks like a traditional Ray-Ban case (with an iconic and recognizable design) and instead it has 2 internal charging pins and a Type-C input to be recharged via cable. The problem arises if you find yourself on an extremely sunny day like me in Singapore, you would like to record everything but you have run out of battery and you don't want to lose your sight due to the sun. Among other things, I got the version with polarized lenses and they are really very protective against the most aggressive sun (they cost €30 more just for the record).
The audio during calls and video recording is truly top, thanks to the 5 microphones that stud the frame. As for “open ear” listening it is ok in some situations, otherwise they provide little privacy.
As long as you are alone on the street while walking, cycling or in the park and want to listen to a podcast while taking a walk they are there, in fact they are excellent: you are not isolated, you remain alert and present about what is happening around you and you don't have to wear two devices, thus leaving the headphones at home. So far ok. But in the car, on the subway, on the train, there is little privacy and you seriously risk annoying someone. For example, I would come and tear up your rocket like the old ladies.
Let's talk about practicality: the weight is not that much more than the classic version, we're talking about a few grams. Now: keeping them on as sunglasses I didn't notice the difference, but as eyeglasses to keep on all day are they just as comfortable? I don't know the answer to this question, but in the meantime I'll leave you wondering if you're thinking about purchasing a prescription glasses version.
For the rest, the app is well made, it allows you to update them, manage the downloaded images and some functions such as the duration of the videos and the customization of voice commands.
The last nice function, but I don't know how much it is used, is that of being able to do livestreaming on Instagram directly with the glasses camera and being able to switch from the smartphone camera to the glasses camera with a simple tap on the screen. Very cute, but I don't know how popular.
Opinions and final considerations
Final conclusions. For me, who does this job, they were truly a turning point: they are practical, they allow you to create content that is different from the usual while keeping your hands free and without always taking out your smartphone (there are streets even in Milan where it is better to walk around with your smartphone tightly packed… if you don't like thrills and still want to have a smartphone)
The battery isn't very high-performance but the space inside the glasses is what it is, the engineers had to do a meticulous job to fit everything in without excessively increasing the overall dimensions. It's still something you put in your face and if it's not done properly it could end up being annoying.
The cost is important, but it is a niche product, truly top. I don't think it meets everyone's needs: I think 80% of the population really wouldn't know what to do with a pair of glasses like that, they are really very specific in terms of use. So meditate well before…