Innovative Collaboration: The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glass is a result of a groundbreaking partnership between Meta and Ray-Ban, offering a harmonious blend of style and advanced technology, announced at Meta Connect.
First-Person Livestream Capability: Unique to this smart glass is its ability to conduct first-person livestreams directly to Facebook or Instagram, allowing users to share real-time experiences seamlessly without the need for additional devices like phones or selfie sticks.
Privacy Features: Addressing prevalent privacy concerns, the smart glasses are equipped with pulsating white lights to indicate when recording is in progress, a feature aimed at preventing unauthorized and unnoticed recordings.
Advanced Technical Specifications: The smart glass operates on a Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor and is equipped with 32GB of internal storage, five microphones for enhanced audio clarity, and exclusive user-only audio features. It is also connected to the Meta View App for additional control, and the AI inclusion ensures optimized battery longevity.
Availability and Pricing: Set to be available in the U.S. on October 17, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glass is priced at $299, presenting users with an opportunity to experience the convergence of innovative technology and stylish design.
Meta and Ray-Ban unveil innovative smart glasses
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glass can livestream, take calls, and play music
At a glance
Life is about to get much more intrusive with the new Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glass, a product formed from a partnership between Meta and Ray-Ban.
The smart glasses product is still very much alive. Amazon and Bose have their own versions, as well as Snap. You may even remember, the MB TechLab had a bit of fun with Snap’s Spectacles a couple of years ago.
Announced recently at Meta Connect, Mark Zuckerberg introduced the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. It has 32GB internal storage, and you can capture about 100 30-second video clips and over 500 photos. It has five microphones, so you can engage in conversation more clearly. And it’s got audio features, designed only for you to hear.
Nothing really groundbreaking has been announced so far, from other products we’ve heard from. But this time, Meta and Ray-Ban’s glasses now allow livestreams on Facebook or Instagram. So now you wouldn’t have to awkwardly walk around holding your phone in a selfie-stick up. Based on the description, we’ll be getting first person livestreams, and so this means it’s more about seeing something funny in the street and being the first to broadcast it to the world.
In an attempt to protect privacy, the smart glass will have two pulsating white lights. That’s something positive, I suppose, in a way. Some products won’t alert people in the room when their glasses are recording, effectively making them some kind of spy glass. But Meta’s little lights could still be easy to miss. We’ll have to look into it more. Nonetheless, if you see someone wearing sunglasses, staring at you, and there’s a bit of lights blinking or pulsating, there might be a chance it’s a smart glass and you’re being recorded.
Meta has also confirmed in their blog post that you can make calls using the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glass, which is cool, for hands-free conversations.
Meta says the battery should last anywhere between four to six hours. The charging case will be able to charge it up to eight times. So, six times eight, so approximately up to 48 hours? Meta's own blog post though says 36.
All of this is connected to the Meta View App, so you still have some outside control from the glasses. It’s not a device you can fully use alone.
Under the hood, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glass uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor, which includes an AI to help prolong battery life.
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glass will be available in the US on October 17 for $299.