Meta, formerly Facebook, has revealed the next generation of its smart glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban, addressing some of the limitations of the previous model. Unlike the original Ray-Ban Stories, these smart glasses can livestream video to Facebook and Instagram. The glasses come in the classic Wayfarer design and a new Headliner style, both featuring two round modules on the sides of the frames. One side houses a 12-megapixel camera for photos and 1080p video recording, while the other side contains an LED light that indicates when recording is active.
One notable feature is a fail-safe mechanism that prevents surreptitious recording. If someone attempts to cover the LED light with black tape, the system will detect it and display a message, disabling photo and video functions in that state. The glasses also feature open-ear speakers, allowing users to listen to music and take calls. However, they do not support passive cancellation, which can make them less effective in noisy environments.
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses offer over 150 design combinations, including frame color, style, and lens options, such as sunglasses, clear, prescription, transitions, and polarized lenses. They are available for pre-order in several markets, with prices starting at $299 for standard lenses, $329 for polarized, and $379 for transitions. Prescription lenses are available at varying prices, depending on the prescription.
