Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses Review

Smart glasses have long been a solution in search of a problem, often sacrificing style for clumsy tech. The new Meta Ray-Ban glasses, however, elegantly challenge that narrative by embedding surprisingly capable AI into an iconic design. They represent a significant step toward a future where our digital and physical worlds merge seamlessly.

The second generation of the Meta Ray-Ban collaboration is less an iteration and more a reinvention. Where the first-generation “Stories” felt like a camera clumsily attached to a pair of sunglasses, these new smart glasses feel like a cohesive, thoughtful product. Aesthetically, they are nearly indistinguishable from classic Ray-Ban Wayfarers or the newer Headliner style. They are lightweight, comfortable for extended wear, and available with prescription, polarized, or transition lenses. The integration is subtle: a slightly thicker temple arm houses the battery and processors, a tiny camera sits on one corner, and an external-facing LED illuminates to let others know you’re recording, a crucial nod to privacy. The included charging case is a bit bulky but feels premium, providing up to eight additional charges.

Performance is where these glasses truly begin to justify their existence. The centerpiece is a new 12MP ultrawide camera, a significant upgrade that captures crisp, vibrant photos and 1080p video. Capturing content from a true first-person perspective is a unique experience, perfect for creators, parents, or anyone who wants to live in the moment without fumbling for a phone. A tap on the temple arm snaps a photo, while a longer press starts a video. The primary limitation, however, is a frustratingly short 60-second cap on video clips, which feels arbitrary and limits their storytelling potential.

Audio performance is surprisingly robust for a device without earbuds. The open-ear speakers direct sound toward your ears with impressive clarity, making them excellent for taking calls or listening to podcasts while maintaining full situational awareness. The five-microphone array is exceptional, capturing your voice clearly even in moderately noisy environments. For music, the audio is serviceable but lacks the bass and richness of dedicated headphones, and at higher volumes, significant sound leakage means anyone nearby will hear your playlist.

The true magic, and the reason for the “Display” in the name, isn’t a visual screen but the new “Hey Meta” AI assistant. This is the product’s killer app, offering a glimpse into the future of ambient computing. By analyzing what the camera sees, the AI can identify landmarks, translate foreign text in real-time, or even suggest a recipe based on the ingredients you’re looking at. While this multimodal AI is still in its early-access phase and can be occasionally slow or inaccurate, its potential is immense. It transforms the glasses from a simple capture device into a contextual assistant that can augment your reality with audible information.

Ultimately, the Meta Ray-Ban glasses are a brilliantly designed product for a very specific audience. They are not a replacement for your phone or your headphones but a new kind of device altogether. For tech enthusiasts, early adopters, and content creators who value the convenience of a hands-free camera and are excited by the promise of wearable AI, these glasses are a compelling, polished, and genuinely useful gadget. For everyone else, they remain a fascinating luxury—a beautifully crafted window into a future that is rapidly approaching but hasn’t quite arrived for the mainstream just yet.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon