Since the end of 2023, I have used Meta Ray-Bans daily: to listen to the radio on the road, take photos or videos without taking out my phone or, more recently, ask questions to artificial intelligence Meta AI. Are we holding the future major category of tech products?
According to Ray-Ban, the connected glasses resulting from its partnership with Meta are very successful. The company claims that it is the best seller in its own stores, which is a rather good sign when previous connected glasses had all flopped.
Since the end of 2023, I have worn Ray-Ban Metas daily. I fell for this product to take photos and videos on vacation… before totally giving in and wearing them all the time, sometimes instead of my real glasses.
In a video shot in London, with my colleague Alfred Tertrais, I tell you about my experience with the Meta Ray-Ban. The product is strangely very pleasant on a daily basis (despite several faults) and looks even more promising in the future, thanks to the emergence of Meta AI which is not yet available in the European Union:
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Has Meta found the future big high-tech category?
Before the Meta Ray-Ban, there were the Ray-Ban Stories. Glasses also tested by me, which received a very poor rating of 3 out of 10. It must be said that with their bulky design, the poor quality of their camera and their overheating problems, the Ray-Ban Stories had more often tends to irritate rather than amaze.
With the Ray-Ban Meta, everything gets better. The product is available in several models, supports different types of glasses (we recommend transparent glasses, to continue to use them indoors) and all the technical part is better. Photos and videos are more beautiful, the microphones are exceptional for making calls and the AI, gradually implemented, allows you to chat with a personal assistant capable of seeing what you see.
Since the end of 2023, I have worn my Meta Ray-Ban glasses every day when leaving the house.
I put on the radio or a podcast on the way to work, on a scooter or by bike. I sometimes ask the voice assistant (Hey Meta) to turn down the sound, take a video (if a motorist is behaving disturbingly) or answer a question that crosses my mind. The possibility of touching the branch for three seconds to start a music playlist is also practical, when the subject mentioned on the radio does not interest me. Finally, I also often make calls outside, using the glasses as a hands-free kit. The sound is suspiciously good, with mics superior to the AirPods Pro.
When I go on the road, I use the Meta Ray-Ban to take photos or videos without a smartphone. An unexpected use is that of the selfie at sea or in a swimming pool, by extending my arm with the glasses. It's easier to carry glasses in the water than a smartphone.
Gradually, in particular thanks to Meta AI (which does not yet speak French, but which works in France with a VPN), the glasses are completely replacing my AirPods. I believe more than ever in this category of products, which has the potential to inspire other major brands like Samsung, Google or Apple, to also launch into the connected glasses sector.
The verdict
We liked
- Designed by Ray-Ban
- Camera quality
- The potential of AI in glasses
- Lots of different models and glasses
We liked less
- On-board speakers are not very good
- Meta AI does not speak French
- The glasses are still not waterproof
- It is better to take transparent glasses
While waiting for real augmented reality glasses, those that will allow you to check the time, read a message or watch a film, the Meta Ray-Ban are the first connected glasses that are truly useful in everyday life. They are capable of taking real photos and videos, with a quality high enough to take place in a photo album. They can also be used as a hands-free kit to listen to music, a podcast or make calls. In short, Meta's glasses have finally found a use, particularly on vacation. Ray-Ban brings credibility to Meta, while offering quality lenses.
Little by little, Meta Ray-Bans are becoming more than glasses, notably thanks to AI. The possibility of asking a voice assistant to translate what you are watching is exciting, even if the service does not yet speak French.
The first generation of Meta smart glasses was bad, the second is better in every way. Ray-Ban Metas are one of those rare life-changing products.
