Why Meta's Ray-Ban Smart Glasses are my favorite tech purchase this year

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During CES 2024, I went to Sunglasses Hut to try on a pair of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses to feed my curious mind. I didn't expect to purchase a pair, but I did, and five months later, these glasses are my favorite purchase of 2024 so far. The best part is, the device has only improved with time.

I've tried smart glasses in the past, but they have all been bulky and uncomfortable to wear for more than five minutes. The glasses always feel like I'm wearing a gadget on my face. The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are different, though -- these are sunglasses first and smart glasses second. The tech takes a backseat, not only in the design of the glasses but also in the design of the charging case, which looks like a regular sunglasses case.

Also: I've tested a lot of tech - the Meta Ray-Bans were the biggest surprise

When you look at Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, they look and feel like sunglasses instead of a gadget. That subtlety is a standout feature for me. I bought the Headliner variant of the glasses for $329, which suits my style, and I haven't carried my sunglasses since. You can get the Ray-Bans with transmission lenses for indoor wear, but that option is only available in Wayfarer style, which starts at $299.

1. Brilliant design and even better functionality

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I couldn't have been happier that I bought these Ray-Bans before traveling to Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles for two specific reasons: video and sound.

Recording your experiences on theme park rides is difficult, especially rollercoasters. I got great footage while using the Ray-Bans to record the outdoor Harry Potter ride. Outdoor shots have excellent stabilization for such a small form factor, so my walking shots around the theme park looked amazing, too.

Also: How these $400 XR glasses cured my Apple Vision Pro FOMO

The footage might not be as good as from a GoPro device, but I got good point-of-view shots without attaching another camera to my body or cap. I didn't count my smart glasses as an "extra device" because I would have been wearing sunglasses outdoors anyway. After all, I wore my "normal" sunglasses at Universal Studios Singapore last year.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses samples (left to right): outdoors in daylight, evening, and indoors Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses sample shots (left to right): inside a train in low light, a selfie in the morning, and a shot in bright daylight Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

I was also impressed by the quality of the lowlight video footage. I recorded the Sorting Hat in Hogwarts, and the footage looked like something taken on a $400 smartphone.

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses also double as earbuds. These aren't in-ear buds, so sound leaks will happen, but that's not a problem if there's already plenty of ambient noise around you. In noisy areas, I had to turn the volume to 100%, and still needed more. 90% of the time, however, I didn't feel that I needed louder volume.

The sound quality on the Ray-Bans isn't what you'd get in expensive standalone earbuds, but it still takes your theme park experience to the next level because the music feels like ambient sound that's part of the environment. You can trigger Spotify or Apple Music by tapping and holding the touchpad on the right arm of the glasses.

Also: Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses just got another useful feature for free (and a new style)

With standalone earbuds, you also get mics -- and these Ray-Bans are no different. They house multiple microphones, and the quality is surprisingly good. I've received many calls on these smart glasses and callers said they didn't notice much difference in sound quality from my usual earbuds (the OnePlus Buds 3).

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses last for about two hours when used heavily. My usage included continuous music, a couple of calls, and a lot of camera footage. I've also worn the glasses continuously for five hours with 10% battery, as I wasn't listening to much music and only using the camera moderately. The official figure from Meta quotes four hours of battery life, which includes "capturing and syncing 100 videos or up to 500 photos." I'm glad the Ray-Bans still work as sunglasses with zero charge.

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

Another important factor to consider when buying companion devices, such as a smartwatch or a smart ring for your phone, is how they charge, because you'll be charging them often. It's a hassle when these devices require proprietary charging. Thankfully, that's not an issue on the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses because the charging case requires the same wire as your phone -- a Type-C cable.

As for privacy, these glasses include a white LED light on the opposite side of the camera, which triggers when you're recording a video or taking a photo. In public, it doesn't attract attention, but if you're recording someone directly, they'll be aware.

2. This is the perfect AI form factor

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Unlike recently launched AI-enabled gadgets, including Rabbit's R1 and Humane's Ai Pin, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses aren't AI-first. These glasses have stayed with me because, instead of trying to replace my phone, they are a great companion device.

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses also now include the Meta AI assistant, which was rolled out last month. I haven't tried the assistant on my device yet, but I've asked the glasses to place calls and music with the "Hey Meta" trigger, which works flawlessly.

Also: Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses can identify landmarks now and tell you about them

I think these Ray-Bans are the perfect form factor for an AI device. The speakers are near your ears, and that positioning creates more intimate feedback than announcing something on a speaker attached to your body or through a device held in your palm.

There is room for improvement

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I haven't been irritated by a bug in the glasses, but I have been annoyed when the camera records in a 3:4 aspect ratio instead of 9:16. This switch wouldn't have been a problem if there was a way to change the ratio in the settings, but there's no way to set the aspect ratio from the Meta View app. The glasses are meant to record at 9:16, so it isn't clear why the output on the app is 3:4.

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses don't record actual point-of-view video from the line of your eyes but from a slightly right-angled view. For those of you who are used to mounting an Insta360 Go 3 or a GoPro on your head, and expect these smart glasses to capture a similar angle, you'll be surprised. I thought I'd get used to the right-angled view, but my footage often has a lot of space to my left side.

Also: Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses get hands-free Apple Music integration and more

While the glasses recharge quickly, I'd like better battery life on Meta's next-generation Ray-Bans. I use my glasses for playing music on my commute. This usage drains half the battery by the time I reach the event where I want to record a video. Also, if you're getting these glasses with transition lenses to wear for most of the day, you won't be able to.

Despite these flaws, I use my Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses daily and consider them one of my best investments in a while.