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Meta and EssilorLuxottica, the renowned owner of Ray-Ban, have renewed their partnership, ensuring a decade-long collaboration in developing innovative smart eyewear. Since their initial collaboration in 2019, the companies have produced two generations of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, with plans to continue pushing the boundaries of smart eyewear technology.
The initial outcome of the partnership was the Ray-Ban Stories, which debuted in late 2021. Priced at $300, these smart glasses were designed with a sleek aesthetic that blended well with traditional Ray-Ban styles. Despite the promising concept, Ray-Ban Stories faced criticism for its privacy concerns, particularly regarding data sharing and audio transcriptions. The audio quality was decent but fell short of expectations in terms of the camera’s performance, especially in low-light conditions.
In 2023, the partnership produced an enhanced version: the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. This new iteration received a favorable review, scoring 85, and featured notable improvements over its predecessor. The updated design includes slimmer frames and enhanced functionalities such as hands-free photo messaging and Instagram livestreaming. The glasses come equipped with a 12MP ultra-wide camera, superior microphones, and improved sound quality, particularly at higher volumes. Additionally, the charging case now resembles a classic Ray-Ban pouch, adding a touch of familiarity to the modern technology.
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses initially included an AI assistant, but Meta has since integrated its Multimodal AI. This advanced toolset enables the assistant to process photos, videos, text, and audio in real time, providing users with capabilities such as identifying objects, translating road signs, and recognizing landmarks. The glasses are available starting at $300 and come with new frame designs.