Ray Ban Meta Smart Glasses: Cool Gadget or Pricey Gimmick?

So, I had my first go at the new Ray Ban Meta smart glasses yesterday at the John Lewis tech department and they were actually really good! I walked in expecting the product to be some other gimmicky device that I don’t need. I came out considering whether or not I should blow my weekend-away money on them.

My mate Dave’s had it for months, in fact. Always banging on about taking photos with a wink or asking his glasses about the weather. I thought he’d lost the plot, to tell you the truth. But after 15 minutes with these new Gen 2 ones? I get it now.

They even look like real Ray-Bans. None of that chunky, “It’s obviously tech on my face” nonsense. Just normal Wayfarers that happen to be absolutely stuffed with clever bits and bobs.

What’s Actually New (And Why It Matters)

The biggest change? Battery life has doubled to eight hours. The old ones died faster than my phone after a big night out. These new ones last a proper full day, which is crucial because nobody wants their glasses going dead halfway through a weekend.

The camera’s had a right good upgrade too. 3K video now, not just regular HD. I even took a short video of the shopping centre and it was looking sharp enough for YouTube. The camera on my iPhone is still better, but for something built into sunglasses? Pretty impressive.

But here’s the thing: mental bit; they’ve added real-time translation. Speak to someone in French, and your glasses will translate it in real time via the earphones. Tried it on this French sales assistant, and it worked. Not pristine, but good enough that I could comment on the weather and ask for a coffee shop.

The AI Bit That Actually Works

The AI assistant from Meta lives in these glasses now, and it’s not rubbish like most voice assistants. You can point to something and say, “What is that building? or “How much does this cost?” and it’ll tell you. I pointed at an expensive watch in the window of a shop, and it recognised which model and how much it cost.

The Ray Ban Meta smart glasses can also read text out loud, which is dead handy if you’re walking around and need to check messages without getting your phone out.Privacy nightmare? Maybe. Useful? Definitely.

Hands-free photos are, personally, my jam. Say no more than “Hey Meta, take a photo,” and Bob’s your uncle. Great for when you’re holding shopping bags or your hands are full of pints. There’s no need to ask strangers to take your group photo.

The Display Version That Costs a Small Fortune

Now, if you’ve got £799 burning a hole in your pocket, there’s this new Display version that’s properly space-age. It has a tiny screen and can show you information in your field of vision. Walking directions, messages, and weather all hover in front of your eyes as though you were inside a science-fiction movie.

I’ve tried it out briefly, and it’s seriously impressive. Very minority report. Eight hundred quid for glasses, though? That’s mortgage payment territory. The plain Gen 2 ones at £379 are already too expensive for most of us.

The Display version comes with this Neural Band thing you wear on your wrist. You can control the glasses by writing letters in the air with your finger. Sounds barmy, looks even more barmy, but the proof is in the pudding. Still not sure I’d have the nerve to be caught doing air-writing on the tube, though.

Real World Experience (The Good and Bad)

Wore the demo pair for approx. ten minutes around the shop. They’re comfortable enough and are approximately the same weight as ordinary Ray-Bans. Those speakers are clever little things that shoot sound directly into your ears without preventing outside noise. I was able to hear my music very clearly but still picked up everything that the shop assistant said.

The camera is fantastic in excellent lighting. Indoors or evening? Not so much. But for daytime excursions, holiday snaps or brief videos for Instagram stories, they’re just right.

Voice commands usually work fine, too. I found myself repeating myself a few times in the noisy shopping centre, but that’s normal. In a quiet room, they pick up everything perfectly.

Battery charging is simple; just plop them into the case, like wireless earbuds. Using Case gives you another day’s worth of juice, so you’re looking at two days total if you’re sensible about usage.

The Privacy Elephant in the Room

Let’s be honest; these things record video and audio constantly when you’re using them. There’s a tiny LED that lights up when recording, but it’s not exactly obvious to others. There have been some very heated debates online about whether they should be banned in pubs and restaurants.

The glasses themselves don’t store much data. Everything gets processed on Meta’s servers, which means your conversations and videos are going through Facebook’s systems. Make of that what you will.

I asked the sales bloke about this and he just shrugged. “Most people are already carrying phones that record everything anyway.” Fair point, but it still feels a bit different when it’s on your face.

Who Actually Needs These?

Content creators will love them. Hands-free recording for vlogs, instant photo sharing, and live streaming capabilities – you have got everything there. Much easier than fumbling with phone cameras and selfie sticks.

Cyclists and runners might find them useful too. Music, navigation, taking calls – all without touching your phone or stopping. The bone conduction speakers mean you can still hear traffic, which is crucial for safety.

Tech enthusiasts who want to feel like they’re living in the future? Obviously. But at £379, they’re not exactly impulse purchases for most people.

My Honest Take

The Ray Ban Meta smart glasses are genuinely clever bits of kit. They are not perfect, not cheap, but definitely impressive. If you’re someone who takes loads of photos, loves tech gadgets, or just wants to feel a bit more James Bond, they’re worth considering.

Would I buy them with my own money? Probably not at full price. But if they came down to £250-300 in six months? Yeah, I reckon I would.

They’re not going to replace your phone anytime soon. But as a fancy accessory that happens to be quite useful? They’ve nailed it. Just don’t expect miracles, and definitely don’t expect everyone around you to be comfortable with your face-computer.

The future’s arrived, and it looks like a pair of sunglasses. Mental, really.