A 12MP camera, open-ear speakers, and an AI assistant are hidden inside the iconic Wayfarer design… These glasses are here to change how we perceive the world. But are we ready? The small white LED light in the upper right corner of my glasses starts blinking, as if to say, “I’m recording.” Now I’m recording the world exactly as I see it, in first-person shooter (POV). This is the core promise of Ray-Ban Meta: documenting the moment as I live it.
The Remote on Your Face
This isn’t a phone. It’s an extension of your face. I pause the podcast I’m listening to while walking down the street with a light touch of the touchpad on the temple. I swipe back to increase the volume. A single tap is all it takes to quickly access Spotify.
But the real magic is in the physical button. The “Capture Button” on the right side is the fastest way to freeze a moment. A single press transforms it into a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle photo. Holding the button down starts the video.
Imagine doing this while playing with your dog at the park, both hands occupied. The technology, instead of intervening between you and the experience, simply moves out of the way.
But as I learned, this “shoot what you see” experience isn’t perfect. My first attempts were… awkward. I realized the hard way that where my eyes were looking wasn’t where the camera was recording.
Here’s the technical truth: the Ray-Ban Meta’s camera is on the right. So, to get a perfectly symmetrical shot of the cup in front of me, I had to instinctively turn my head slightly to the left. This deviation is noticeable for objects closer than about 1.5 meters (5 feet). Distant scenes are fine.
As the manual suggests, closing your left eye helps you understand what the camera is seeing and helps you frame the image correctly. Yes, I was that weird person who used to walk around the street with one eye closed for a while.
Also, don’t turn your head too quickly. No one wants to watch a jerky, nauseating POV video. The glasses promise to bring the viewer into the moment with you, so smooth, cinematic movements are essential.
The glasses don’t just record; they also ‘listen’ and ‘speak.’ New custom speakers deliver audio directly to your ears with surprisingly good bass and high volume. This isn’t an in-ear experience; it doesn’t block out outside noise. It’s an ‘open-ear’ audio experience. You listen to podcasts without losing touch with the world, or you hear car horns while cycling.
The most surreal moment came when a WhatsApp call came in. I answered the call with just a voice command and spoke to the person through my glasses.
And then there’s Meta AI. You’re at a restaurant abroad, and the menu is… incomprehensible. The glasses promise instant translation. “Hey Meta, what does this mean?” This is the critical threshold that transforms the glasses from a simple camera into an intelligent assistant.
Ray-Ban Meta democratizes the definition of ‘content creator.’ Now everyone is a POV director. The glasses give the viewer exclusive access to the moment, along with you.
The guide suggests creative ways to create transitions like “glasses slide” or “mirror selfies.” But the real potential comes in moments where both hands are in the frame: playing a musical instrument, preparing a complex meal, or simply waving at someone.
What about the battery? On paper, they last up to 4 hours with moderate use (taking and syncing about 100 videos or 500 photos). This goes up to 5 hours if you listen to full audio. That’s not enough for an all-day adventure, but it’s ideal for those crucial moments.
Thankfully, the stylish leather charging case gives the glasses a full charge in 75 minutes. A 22-minute quick charge even brings them back to 50%.
At the end of the day, when I removed the Ray-Ban Meta from my face, I realized it continued to frame the world as “recordable moments.” This isn’t just a wearable camera. It’s a filter that changes our perception.
