In a significant rebranding move, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has officially dropped the name “Stories” from its smart glasses lineup, now simply referring to them as “smart glasses.”
The latest addition to this revamped series, unveiled at Meta’s Connect launch event, is the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, set to be available for preorder immediately and hitting the market on October 17th, with prices starting at $299.
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses come equipped with two primary functions, marking an evolution in wearable technology. First and foremost, they aim to replace traditional headphones by offering a personal audio system similar to Amazon’s Echo Frames and the Bose Tempo series, ensuring a private listening experience. The new generation boasts an improved microphone system with five microphones, including one located in the nose bridge, promising enhanced call quality and voice commands.
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Secondly, the glasses function as a camera, featuring small camera lenses on each right temple. These cameras can capture 12-megapixel photos and 1080p videos, a significant upgrade from their predecessors. With 32GB of internal storage, users can store approximately 500 photos and 100 30-second videos, all of which sync through the Meta View app. The app also facilitates seamless sharing across Meta’s various platforms.
In a remarkable addition, users can initiate live streams to Facebook or Instagram with a few taps on the glasses’ stem while recording, indicated by a pulsing white light around the lens.
Powering these smart glasses is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor, featuring “on-glass AI” in a compact package. The glasses boast a battery life of four to six hours during active use, with the included case capable of providing an additional eight charges.
Meta’s rebranded smart glasses offer a convergence of audio and visual capabilities, positioning them as versatile and user-friendly devices for everyday use.
