Meta Ray-Ban Optics
pros and cons
- Lighter frame.
- Adjustable nose pieces.
- Thinner frame style.
- Meant for prescription eyeglass wearers.
- Nosepieces are still molded.
- The most expensive glasses Meta offers.
on Google.
Back in March, EssilorLuxotica, the parent company of Ray-Ban, unveiled a new version of its smart glasses for Meta called the Meta Ray-Ban Blayzer Optics.
The naming of Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses is confusing, but there are two designs of the prescription Optics models: the Blayzer Optics, with a round lens.
Also: Ray-Ban Meta vs. Optics: Why glasses wearers should consider the new model
I recently got my hands on the second-gen Meta Ray-Ban Blayzer Optics, and I’ve been wearing them for about six weeks. Although I have glasses of my own, I’m not a full-time wearer, as I tend to use them off and on. For my review unit, I had Essilor use the prescription in my reading glasses.
These glasses feature shorter lenses than previous models, but still have a similar chunky frame. Overall, as a bigger guy with high cheekbones, I prefer this look to other styles, but the frame outlines are still a tad chunky for my taste.
Also: I wore Google’s Android XR glasses again – and my limit-testing should scare Meta and Apple
The interchangeable nosepieces are not what I was hoping for. The Meta Ray-Ban Optics glasses come with three sets of nosepieces — the preinstalled ‘Universal’ set, plus high- and low-bridge sets. The glasses also come with a guitar pick-shaped spudger to help you remove the nosepieces (but I used my fingernail).
The secondary action button on the Ray-Ban Meta Optics glasses gives you a third option.
Adam Doud/ZDNET
The glasses have the same 12-megapixel camera, capable of taking photos and capturing 3K Ultra HD video. Battery life is rated at around eight hours of audio playback. That capability is significantly reduced when you start capturing photos and video, by the way. The glasses charge similarly to other Meta Ray-Ban glasses, but via a slightly thinner case.
Putting Meta AI to the test
To test the glasses’ built-in AI capabilities, I headed to my local library and asked Meta AI to translate some book covers. I also asked the AI to add events to my calendar. In one particularly impressive display, I looked at a board with eight posters and told the glasses to add the middle event on the bottom-right poster to my calendar (see below), which the AI successfully did.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Unfortunately, I don’t think the improvements in the Meta Ray-Ban Optics, which have much of the same second-gen hardware and are nearly $100 cheaper.
Source : ZDNet