ray ban facebook review

Ray-Ban Stories review: Facebook on your face

Android Central Verdict

Bottom line: Ray-Ban Stories delivers those trademark good looks with a few added smarts. They've got open ear audio with Bluetooth phone call support and music playback, hands-free picture and video taking, tons of frame shape, size, and color options, and even quality Luxxotica lenses for any scenario you need.

Proper glasses design and weight

Lots of styles, colors, and lenses

Separate app and privacy policy from Facebook

Good quality photos and videos

Surprisingly rich photo and video editing experience

Open-ear audio that actually works

No water or dust resistance

Facebook account required

Limiting battery life

Some audio quirks

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• Price and availability
• The good looks you were hoping for
• Still limited by early tech
• A question of privacy
• The competition
• Should you buy?

There's a high likelihood that when you think of glasses, you think of Ray-Ban. The brand is as iconic as they come, and Ray-Ban is banking on its name and trademark styles to help ease your decision between these shades and the competition. Despite the Facebook involvement in development, you won't find Facebook branding anywhere on these glasses. You won't even use the Facebook or Instagram apps to grab pictures or videos taken with the glasses — a testament to how much work was put into assuaging fears of Facebook's attachment to the product.

While that's certainly a win for privacy concerns, it also represents a major missed opportunity to fully integrate these smart glasses with the Facebook ecosystem. After all, they're called Ray-Ban Stories. These glasses have cameras on them that can record video and take pictures, so what makes more sense than integrating them directly into the Stories' functionality within Instagram?

Ray-Ban Stories is the resulting product of years of work to make a pair of glasses smart without looking like a piece of wearable tech. They look like a pair of Ray-Bans, only weigh 5g more than a pair of Ray-Bans, and they feel like a pair of Ray-Bans from the moment you take them out of the branded charging case.

A pair of smart specs is a very different product from something like the best smart watch , and that's OK. If nothing, the fact that it's a very different product and serves its own purposes only further solidifies the idea that this is a product that you buy in addition to another type of smart wearable.

It's probably not the metaverse that you imagined when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg teased it this summer , but Ray-Ban and Facebook's first pair of connected smart glasses represents a great vision of a product that you'll feel naked without once you start wearing them — assuming that the Facebook integration doesn't keep you from grabbing a pair in the first place. We'll take a look at all those things and more in our Ray-Ban Stories review.

Ray-Ban Stories: Price and availability

Ray-Ban Stories are available from September 9, 2021, at Rayban.com and other choice retailers. Since the glasses can be customized to fit your personal style, going through Ray-Ban's website is likely the best choice for most people interested in buying a pair.

Ray-Ban Stories are priced starting at $299 for the baseline frames. Additional lens selections can be made for an increased price: Polarized lenses starting at $329, transitions lenses starting at $379, and varied prices for prescription lenses. Ray-Ban Stories are also available in three main styles, including Wayfarer and Wayfarer L, Round, and Meteor. Shiny Black, Matte Black, Shiny Blue, Shiny Olive, and Shiny Brown colors can be chosen for each style. Additionally, six lens types are available in G-15 green, photochromatic G-15 green, dark grey, polar dark blue, brown gradient, and clear.

All pairs of Ray-Ban Stories come with a protective charging case, a USB Type-C charging cable, a soft carrying case, and a set of manuals.

It's easy to compare Ray-Ban Stories to the smattering of options available on the market. They're more feature-filled than Razer Anzu or Amazon Echo Frames , despite only being around 20% more expensive. They're also 20% less expensive than the most direct competition — that's Snap Spectacles 3 — while also offering a near-identical feature set and looking more like a toned-down pair of Ray-Bans than Snap's more outrageous styling.

It's about way more than just style

Ray-Ban Stories: The good looks you were hoping for

When Ray-Ban decided to partner with Facebook to make either company's first pair of smart glasses, it's clear that Ray-Ban wasn't willing to concede its trademark looks just to put some electronics inside the frames. The result is a pair of glasses that looks every bit Ray-Ban and only a little bit early-generation wearable tech.

For this review, Facebook provided me with a pair of shiny black Ray-Ban Stories in Wayfarer style, outfitted with G-15 Green lenses. That means they're only good for wearing outdoors, as sunglasses are largely useless indoors if you're not an '80s pop singer. If I were to order my own pair, I'd certainly opt for ones with transitions lenses so I could wear them more often.

This is a pair of glasses that looks every bit Ray-Ban and only a little bit early-generation wearable tech.

The ability to choose between so many styles, colors, and even lens types really helps Ray-Ban Stories stand apart from the pack. That, and the fact that these truly look and feel like a relatively normal pair of glasses helps increase the possibility that you'll actually want to wear these daily. In fact, at only 5g heavier than a normal pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers, I quickly swapped out my regular pair of sunglasses with these and never thought twice about their comfort or looks.

Ray-Ban Stories has almost everything you would expect to have on a pair of smart glasses in 2021, sans a Google Glass-esque screen for AR applications. Speakers are embedded in the temple tips, a 3 microphone array ensures quality voice recording with noise cancellation, and a brilliantly designed charging case keeps your glasses charged without any fuss or messing about with pins or awkward connectors.

The glasses charge while in the special case, which acts as a power bank for up to 3 charges.

This pair of smart glasses connect to your phone via Bluetooth and a brand new app called Facebook View. While downloading an entirely separate app just to manage your smart glasses is irritating and feels like a missed opportunity for better integration, it helps Facebook create a more granular privacy policy than its own apps would allow — something I'll cover in a later section.

The Bluetooth connection is then used to transfer any photos and videos taken from Stories' two front cameras — either manually or automatically — and can be used to share directly from the app or transfer to your phone's internal storage. Because it's a separate app, sharing is as simple as you would expect from your phone's own camera, let alone a peripheral connected device. You can also quickly create quick collages and video snippets to share on social media by selecting a few clips and hitting the share button.

Photo and video quality, overall, is quite good. Day or night, these glasses do a great job capturing square Instagram-style photos with a wide enough angle to take the scene in without being too wide to cause edge distortion. Better yet, since there are two cameras on the front of Ray-Ban Stories, photos and videos are captured with depth that you won't notice until you open up the View app and press the flashback or collage buttons.

Photos and videos taken with Ray-Ban Stories have a surprising depth that you'll notice when editing within the app.

Photos and videos can be edited in all the ways that you would expect, including lighting and color adjustments, cropping photos, and trimming videos, but the real surprise comes in the automated flashback and collage modes. Collage does exactly what you would expect — that's to combine up to 10 videos into a quick 15 or 30-second montage reel — including the ability to reorder clips, change their length in the montage, and even choose from around two dozen songs (or no music) to add to the collage.

But while collage did exactly what I expected of such a feature, flashback went above and beyond my expectations to make plain old photos feel quite special. The magic happens somewhere between the two cameras on the glasses and the Facebook View software, as flashbacks use the depth data from these cameras to fashion together a moving image.

Right now, there are only three different effects that can be used, but the results are stunning perspectives that can really help add some special magic to a normal photo. They're designed to impress your friends and followers on social media, and there's little doubt that's exactly what will happen.

Some examples of the flashback and collage effects in Facebook View.

The audio quality and volume were both quite good yet private enough that no one in the car noticed.

Ray-Ban Stories is powered on by a small switch located on the inside of the left temple, a great place that ensures you don't accidentally turn it on, but also in a location that was inconspicuous enough for me to forget to turn them off. The two cameras on the top outer corners of each lens blend in nicely with the black frames but have a recording LED that ensures everyone around you understands that photos or videos are being taken.

During the week that I was able to use Ray-Ban Stories for the review, I was able to take them on a 4-hour road trip to an outdoor concert and put them to the test. Playing music through the speakers on glasses in the car was effortless, working exactly as you would expect a Bluetooth speaker would. Impressively, the audio quality and volume were both quite good and yet private enough that no one in the car bothered to notice I had my own soundtrack playing. The volume even holds up when walking around outside in the city.

At one point, I passed them to my father, who was surprised when he put them on his head and suddenly heard the music playing. The audible "wow" from him was enough to tell me that my extremely positive first impressions weren't unfounded. Likewise, listening to music with these open-ear headphones is a lot like using the speakers on an Oculus Quest 2; it's easy enough to hear everything that's going on and even carry on a conversation, all while not interrupting your enjoyment of what's playing over the speakers.

As you might expect from a product like this, Ray-Ban Stories can be used to take hands-free phone calls. Call quality was phenomenal, and even while making phone calls in between concert setlists, the person on the other end had no trouble hearing me at all. Similarly, I had no trouble hearing anything on the phone call and carrying out a full conversation as I walked around.

Taking hands-free phone calls with these glasses is as good as you would have hoped.

Surprisingly, too, was the fact that the lenses didn't fog up easily even though I was wearing a mask on a hot day in humid Charlotte, North Carolina.

As you go about your day or, better yet, while you're actively doing things, Ray-Ban Stories makes it effortless to capture moments that would otherwise require much more effort and fumbling around. A button on the top of the right temple arm can be pressed once to start recording a 30-second video and tapped again to stop the recording at any time. Pressing and holding the button until you hear a shutter takes a photo instead.

Alternatively, you can use the keyword "Hey, Facebook," followed by a command like take a picture or video. This keyword can be disabled if desired and will increase battery life nominally. This is not a full-fledged virtual assistant in the vein of Alexa or Google Assistant, despite the name Facebook Assistant.

Use of this button is hard-wired to the recording LEDs on the front. The status LED on the inside of the right end piece illuminates to let you know a photo is being taken and stays illuminated for the duration of any video recording. That makes it easy to know exactly when recording is happening without ever having to look outside of your peripheral vision.

Ray-Ban Stories makes it effortless to capture moments that would otherwise require much more effort and fumbling around with a phone.

As you put your Ray-Ban Stories away — either for the day or just for a temporary period of disuse — cleverly placed charging pins found in the right hinge, click magnetically into the case and charge the glasses. The charging case is charged via a USB Type-C port and can recharge the glasses three times in total before needing a top-up itself.

Having the glasses be protected and charged in this case is such a brilliant touch, and it makes perfect sense given what the product is. You would never spend $300 on a pair of glasses without also having a protective case. Including this case as part of the product solves several issues without messing with the muscle memory already built into folks who are used to wearing any kind of glasses.

Still dreaming of the future

Ray-Ban Stories: Still limited by early tech

There's no doubt that some reading this review expected a pair of full-fledged AR glasses from Facebook. After all, Facebook has been adding AR features left and right to the Quest 2 lately, and we've been expecting a dedicated pair of AR glasses from the company for some years now. Alas, as a Facebook representative told me, the tech just isn't quite mature enough yet to deliver a consumer-grade product they could be proud of.

This isn't the pair of AR glasses we were waiting for.

Now, just because it's not a proper pair of AR glasses doesn't diminish the fact that these are probably some of the best glasses you'll ever buy. They're incredibly comfortable, serve several purposes, and can even replace your headphones in many circumstances. Just don't go expecting the world going in.

Part of the problem is battery life. At around 6 hours of rated use, it's clear that glasses of this size and weight aren't ready for a full-featured AR experience. During the concert I talked about, the battery lasted all of maybe 2 hours before I had to put them in the case, simply because I was taking pictures and video constantly during that time.

Facebook's 6-hour rating is based on more conservative daily use, including an hour of listening to music, various phone calls, and a few pictures and videos. It only takes 30 minutes of charging in the case to refill 50% of the battery, so you won't need to leave them in long to get going again.

Second, is the lack of any kind of water or dust resistance. As we saw with foldable phones, it's hard to call a modern device mainstream if it can't handle the wear and tear of daily use. With no water or dust resistance rating, you'd better hope you don't get caught in an epic downpour or drop these glasses on a sandy beach. That, alone, makes it hard to recommend these for some folks.

In my time with the device, I only ran into a few little hardware-related quirks worth mentioning. That button on the top of the right temple is in the exact spot where I grab the glasses to adjust or remove, leading to several videos or pictures taken accidentally.

Battery life can be limiting during heavy use.

Similarly, I despise capacitive touch or swipe sections on wearable devices like earbuds. It's pretty easy to accidentally touch the outside of the right temple and pause or play music, although not nearly as easy to accidentally do on a pair of earbuds. Swiping forward or backward to change the volume was a great gesture that I had no trouble with, so it's not all bad.

You'll also find that audio quality takes a strange dive after about 50% volume. It's not that the speakers are bad by any means. They're plenty loud — even outdoors, surprisingly for this type of product — but they seem to prioritize treble at louder volumes, much at the expense of lows and mids. Essentially, you won't head anything in that range when jacking the volume up. Probably not a real issue in normal circumstances but worth noting, nonetheless.

Facebook and private don't always mix

Ray-Ban Stories: A question of privacy

During the initial discussion about Ray-Ban Stories, Facebook went to great lengths to assure us that this product was designed with a privacy-forward mindset from every angle. Recording LEDs are hard-wired to the camera, and either a button-press or voice command must be issued to take a photo or video. Even the dedicated app, Facebook View, cannot capture media, and there's no live streaming or automatic posting capabilities of these glasses.

You'll need a Facebook account to link these to your smartphone.

Essentially, they're entirely dependent on your phone and manual input from you for media to ever leave the glasses' internal storage.

Initially, this seemed to be a huge missed opportunity. Why not integrate it into the Instagram or Facebook apps and call it a day? It would be easier for users and makes a lot of sense for the product. After all, Ray-Ban Stories shares a namesake with what has become Instagram's most popular feature. You'll even need a Facebook account to use Facebook View, which will certainly turn off some customers.

But after using it for a while, I've decided I'm actually happy that Ray-Ban Stories uses a separate app. The Facebook app is already crazy confusing and too full of menus, settings, and other nonsense. Instagram has become increasingly complex over the years. Sharing is intentional and has to be done manually, encouraging users to not only edit their photos or videos before sharing but also to review them for anything inopportune or inappropriate. Media can be automatically imported into your phone's gallery, but it still has to be manually shared from there.

A separate app allows Facebook to create a separate privacy policy that's much stricter than its social networks.

Separating the apps keeps media siloed in more than one way but, most importantly, for privacy purposes.

As our own Jerry Hildenbrand puts it, "With Facebook powering it, if you're wearing them, you're invading my privacy." Facebook specifically outlines this scenario in the privacy guide for the glasses, which tells you to turn them off if someone in the room requests.

But further than that, by decoupling the use of these glasses from Facebook's social networks, it means they can create a brand new privacy policy that's much stricter, doesn't use visual data for ads, and doesn't have any kind of facial recognition capabilities whatsoever. Once you share your photos and videos out into the world, that, of course, changes. So long as that media stays on the glasses or within the Facebook View app, however, things are more private than anything Facebook has ever made.

Facebook wasn't willing to comment on integrating Ray-Ban Stories into its other existing apps in the future, but, given that they went out of their way to create a separate app experience, it's not likely such integration will happen any time soon, if ever.

Ray-Ban Stories: Competition

Snap's Spectacles 3 is the most direct competition Facebook and Ray-Ban face. They were the first of their kind and are now on generation 3 — hence the name — and even do some things better. Spectacles improve over Ray-Bans by offering 60FPS video recording and the ability to add some incredibly interesting AR filters within Snapchat. You can even export them and share them elsewhere, just like Ray-Ban Stories, but Spectacles 3 are more expensive and have a decidedly unique style to them. Whether that style fits your own might be the biggest tie-breaker when deciding between the two.

Beyond Spectacles 3, Ray-Ban doesn't face too much actual competition. Razer Anzu, pictured above on the dashing Derrek Lee, are a bit more gamer-centric in focus, don't have cameras, and are more awkward to charge. They also have worse audio quality and volume than Ray-Ban Stories, but the interchangeable lenses add a nice flair to the package.

Amazon's Echo Frames can also be considered a competitor, but only in the area of audio playback. Echo Frames have some pretty nifty features like auto volume that'll keep you from having to touch your glasses constantly to adjust things. Other than that, though, Echo Frames are mainly designed as a way to use your favorite virtual assistant hands-free. The bright side is that they're less expensive than Ray-Ban Stories and still look very slick.

Ray-Ban Stories: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

• You want smart glasses that don't look like them
• Open ear audio is a compelling earbuds replacement
• Taking hands-free photos or videos of moments is appealing

You shouldn't buy this if ...

• You wanted a pair of AR glasses
• You don't have (or want) a Facebook account
• You don't want to spend a lot of money on a pair of glasses

There's no denying the similarities between Ray-Ban Stories and Snap Spectacles. On paper and in practice, they're practically the same product. But the nuanced differences between these two are, ultimately, what sets them apart and what makes Ray-Ban Stories the better product for most people. These look and feel like a normal pair of Ray-Ban glasses, and the extras they provide are worth the money over a traditional set of frames, especially if you're going to wear them all day.

The missed opportunity here isn't that Facebook didn't integrate this with the existing Instagram or Facebook accounts. Rather, it's that there are so few effects in the collage and flashback modes. That, combined with the fact that Snap is significantly ahead of Facebook when it comes to AR content, means you'll likely be choosing between the best-looking pair and the pair with the best features.

Ray-Ban Stories

Bottom line: Ray-Ban Stories are designed to look and feel like a normal pair of Ray-Ban glasses, but provide you with an experience you didn't expect. Hands-free picture and video taking, open ear Bluetooth music playback, and an app that makes sharing easy all combine to create one fantastic product.

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The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses actually make the future look cool

While meta hasn’t reinvented the category, it’s nailed the execution. but culturally, is the timing right for smart glasses.

By Victoria Song , a senior reporter focusing on wearables, health tech, and more with 11 years of experience. Before coming to The Verge, she worked for Gizmodo and PC Magazine.

Photography by Amelia Holowaty Krales

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I’m a smart glasses skeptic. Not because the technology is impossible but because I’ve tested several pairs and even dove deep into the category for a two-part mini-documentary a while back. So when I say I was impressed by the $299 Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, it’s not just that mine came with rose-colored lenses.

To be clear, nothing about the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses is revolutionary. The Google Glass Explorer Edition first introduced us to modern-day smart glasses in 2013. Several other companies, big and small, have since jumped on the bandwagon, including Snap , Bose , Razer , Epson , Amazon , and the now-defunct Focals by North . Most were underwhelming, with potato cameras, washed-out displays, useless voice assistants, and middling mics. I had a hard time imagining the average person liking them enough to own a pair.

I know multiple people who have already bought these.

I get why. These glasses look good. They officially come in 150 style variations across two frame styles, seven colors, and multiple lens options (including color, prescription, and transitions). The camera has been upgraded from 5MP to 12MP. Photo resolution has improved to 3024 x 4032 pixels, while videos are now 1080p at 30 frames per second. There are now five mics instead of one, so you sound better on calls. The speaker quality has also improved. It’s louder, with more bass, less audio leakage, and spatial audio support. They stuffed some AI in there, and you can now livestream to Facebook or Instagram. These are significant updates.

It’d be one thing if Meta failed to deliver, but like I said: I’m impressed. But that, in turn, has raised a lot of questions that I don’t have answers for. All I can say is whatever you think of Meta, these are a turning point for smart glasses.

Glasses fit for Bond (Or Eggsy)

I’ve only seen a handful of Bond flicks, but even I know two things about Agent 007. James Bond looks good, always , and the spy gadgets Q gives him are discreet. The Meta glasses are both and, in many ways, feel like they belong in a spy movie.

The thing about smart glasses is that you’ll never wear a pair if they make you look like a low-rent Warby Parker model. Aside from the original Bose Frames, I’ve never really liked the way I’ve looked in smart glasses so far. That’s why it matters that these are Ray-Bans and come in more styles than typical smart glasses. While Wayfarers are considered to be universally flattering, rounder frames look better on me. Most smart glasses come in tortoiseshell or black, and I’m tired of both, so I was happy that I could pick a round, transparent blue frame with pink lenses. They’re more my style, and while I wish the colors were more noticeable in darker lighting, I dug the extra pop of color in sunlight. I wore these in various scenarios: dolled up for a wedding, clad in functional but hideous running gear, bumming it in sweatpants, and rocking leather jackets. You name it — it goes with everything.

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On top of looking good, no one will know you’re wearing tech on your face unless you walk around saying “Hey Meta” at the top of your lungs. Nobody knew I was listening to EXO’s EXIST album on my commute. You can hear some faint audio leakage when you’re at full volume, but that’s only necessary when trying to block out the squeaky rails of the New York City subway system. Your fellow commuters likely won’t notice because they’ve got AirPods in or the ambient noise is louder. More troubling, no one batted an eye whenever I took photos and videos in public or private areas.

All this made me feel like Eggsy from Kingsman: The Golden Circle — another high-tech spy film. There’s a scene where Eggsy takes a call through the glasses during an important dinner. To everyone else, he looked like a dapper gent with some snazzy frames about to eat some fancy food. But because of his glasses, Eggsy was able to hear (and see) things they couldn’t. My experience wasn’t exactly the same. (I had no imminent bombs to defuse.) But the point is I spent a lot of time wearing these in public doing and listening to things that people looking straight at me weren’t aware of. It doesn’t get more incognito than that.

That comes with pros and cons. I’ll get to privacy in a bit, but if you’re worried about looking like a total jabroni, like this pic of me wearing the Bose Frames Tempo , fear not.

In the name of content creation

I have my priorities straight. As soon as I unboxed and paired these glasses, the first thing I did was take a photo and a video of my cats Petey and Pablo. I uploaded them to The Verge ’s Slack and sent the video to my spouse and friends. My tech-savvy co-workers found the quality to be surprisingly good for smart glasses. My friends and family thought it was something I took on my phone. Several times during this review process, our own video team remarked that the quality was better than they’d expected.

That’s wild.

If you’re into photography, you’ll be able to suss that the quality doesn’t match up to the latest and greatest phones. But it’s good enough to match a phone from a few years ago and, therefore, shareable on social media and in the group chat. That’s a Big Deal.

To take photos or videos, you can use the “Hey Meta” command or use the capture button on the top of the right arm. You press once for photos and long-press to start recording video. There are also accompanying audio cues and an LED in your right peripheral vision.

I’m not a camera expert, so I asked our resident camera expert Becca Farsace to weigh in. One thing Becca pointed out was the stabilization on the camera is surprisingly good. While there’s some wobbliness, it doesn’t look like garbage, especially when viewed on a phone. Low-light performance was also better than I anticipated. When you move from light to dark environments, you don’t really notice a massive drop in video quality. Color reproduction and details are also solid in good lighting.

I appreciated taking phone-free, hands-free videos in my day-to-day life. I now have so many videos of Petey and Pablo being adorable that would have been difficult to capture otherwise because both my cats get weird when they see my phone come out. They either refuse to look at the camera, leave, or — in Petey’s case — try to eat the camera. It’s also easier to film and interact with my cats when I have both hands free. Case in point, I have enjoyed partaking in the cat-twirling meme — even if it was quite the feat lifting a 19-pound Pablo.

Even if you aren’t obsessed with your pets, I can see this being a more discreet alternative for a GoPro. It’d be easy to film cooking instructions, parts of running or cycling routes, a scenic drive, or even capturing slice-of-life candids of your kids before they grow up too fast.

That said, there are quirks. What you see isn’t what the camera sees because it’s not actually in your eyeball. It’s in front of the left hinge. You have to remember that when framing your shots, or everything will be mildly off-center. This is also how I learned I often tilt my head like a confused puppy. Many times, I went back to photos and videos I’d shot to find they featured unintentional Dutch angles and wisps (or full chunks) of my bangs. Becca had issues with her hat popping up in shots as well.

Also, there’s a one- to two-second delay when taking photos. While walking, a lot of my landscape photos came out blurry if I didn’t stand completely still. It’d be easier if there was a way to preview images via your phone, but there isn’t unless you’re livestreaming.

Speaking of which, livestreaming was hard to test organically, mainly because none of my Instagram followers expect me to livestream. What I can say is that a glasses icon pops up automatically on the livestream screen in Facebook or Instagram. (Though, let’s be real — most content creators aren’t livestreaming to Facebook.) You can either tap the icon or double-click the capture button to seamlessly switch views between your phone camera and glasses. There’s a teeny lag between what you see versus what gets livestreamed, but nothing egregious.

Livestreaming is an example where Meta sort of shot itself in the foot as far as content creation goes. I have no doubt some streamers would love this if they could use this on TikTok or Twitch. But they can’t. Instead, they’re corralled into Meta’s services. It makes sense — Big Tech loves protecting its walled gardens — but from a broader adoption perspective, this is silly. It’s one of the reasons Snap’s Spectacles never took off. Meta’s mostly lucky that Instagram is still popular with influencers.

It’s also easy to import photos and videos from the glasses to your phone, even if you’re on the go. The glasses have their own local Wi-Fi network, and your phone just needs to connect to it with the Meta View app open. It can be a little slow if you have a lot of footage, but even then, it’s not too bad. For example, yesterday, I imported 143 videos and photos. It took a few tries to establish a stable connection, but altogether, it only took about five minutes. It’s a lot faster — maybe two or three minutes — if you’re sending 15 or fewer photos or videos.

One potential con is that videos max out at one minute. Meta says that’s to optimize storage and importing, which is a fair tradeoff in my book. These are clearly meant for social content, especially since all photos and videos are vertical, and there’s no landscape option. Generally, you’re not watching more than a minute-long clip on Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts anyway.

Another thing for content creators to consider is battery life. If you use these lightly, you can get five, maybe six hours on a single charge. If you’re taking a ton of video and photos, that’s going to dwindle to three or four hours. Using the glasses as headphones in my 70-minute commute drained the battery by about 18 to 20 percent. I doubt this will trouble casual users, seeing as these are still a functional pair of glasses if the battery’s dead. But power users — folks who want to get through a whole day of meetings while using these as headphone replacements — may find this annoying.

There are a few mitigating factors. The charging case is a lot slimmer than the previous version, and it is easy to stash in a fanny pack, purse, and backpack. It charges via USB-C, and there’s a new indicator LED button that turns orange while charging and green when everything is full. (This is both for the case itself when it’s empty and for the glasses when they’re in there.) Charging is quick, too. The other day, I went from 15 percent battery after three hours of heavy use to 100 percent in less than an hour. I’ve also had these for a whole week, and aside from the initial charge, I haven’t had to plug in the case whatsoever. You do end up charging the frames multiple times a day because where else are you going to put them when they’re not in use if not the case?

Headphone replacement?

The nice thing about these glasses is you don’t have to use the camera at all. They’re also a viable replacement for your headphones. Unlike the camera, the audio features works like any other Bluetooth headset in terms of what apps you can use, though there is one built-in Spotify integration you can enable.

You control the audio with a gesture control area on the right arm, just under the capture button. There’s a library of gestures in the app, but the most basic ones are tapping once to pause / play audio and sliding forward and back to control volume. Tapping twice will play the next track, while three taps will let you go back a track. If you enable Spotify Tap, you can tap and hold to play your automatic recommendations based on your favorites. On the left arm, right on the hinge, there’s also a small toggle that lets you cut the Bluetooth connection and power to the camera.

Audio quality for music and podcasts is on par with other smart glasses. Like other open-ear headphones, they’re not the best at reproducing thumping bass, but they are better than any ambient mode at helping you maintain situational awareness. Noise-canceling headphones, however, are much more effective at blocking out the world.

Calls are another story. These glasses trump the majority of smart glasses I’ve tested. I’ve taken a few calls from my spouse while on the go in loud environments. I had no trouble hearing them, and they had zero issues hearing me (provided I had good cell service). That’s likely because there are now five mics, one of which is in the nose pad. It made me sound clear in all my videos — almost like I was the main character in a first-person video game.

The lenses you pick can impact whether you want to use these as headphone alternatives. Because Meta sent me a pair of sunglasses, it was tough to see how well these would fare in my usual workday. My greatest regret was not getting these with clear lenses or transitions because sunglasses are limiting. I’m not trying to be one of those people who wears sunglasses indoors. I tried for the sake of this review, but it hurt my eyes after an hour or two. The Transition lenses cost $80 more and are the best option if you want to use these in as many scenarios as possible. As for prescriptions, you can order them directly from Ray-Ban or a participating LensCrafters if you fall in the -6 to +4 range. If you’ve got worse vision, like me, you may want to use them with contact lenses. Otherwise, you could take them to a local optician, but that would void the warranty.

The other neat thing is spatial audio. When you watch videos, you can hear where people were when it was recorded. Alex Cranz, managing editor of The Verge , crept behind me while I was recording at the office to say, “Victoria sucks.” When I replayed it, I could hear her trolling me from behind. Is it something you’ll make use of often? Probably not, but it’s fun nevertheless.

But is it really smart?

Not really. At least, not in the way you’ve probably envisioned smart glasses from sci-fi movies.

For example, the Meta AI and voice assistant? It’s nothing like Peter Parker issuing commands to EDITH via the smart aviators he got from Tony Stark in Spider-Man: Far From Home . While the Meta assistant sounds very natural, it can’t do a whole lot of stuff yet, and it takes a hot second to process commands. The most I used it for was taking photos and videos hands-free, listening to texts as they came in, as well as sending messages. But even here, the Meta assistant got tripped up because my spouse apparently has multiple entries in my contact list. While you can send normal texts, most of my contacts aren’t on Messenger or WhatsApp, and these don’t natively share to non-Meta apps. I imagine this will be more useful to you if these are apps you use frequently.

While AI features on the glasses are in beta, I can’t say that I was ever itching to use a ChatGPT-esque bot in the ways Meta suggested (i.e., writing raps and poems, generating excuses to get out of parties, etc.) However, down the road, audio AI bots could be a useful form of augmented reality. The first version of the Bose Frames tried to make audio augmented reality apps a thing but crashed and burned when third-party developers didn’t glom onto the idea. Meta’s approach is a bit different. In a future feature drop, you’ll be able to ask the AI to identify objects in your surroundings via the camera. That’s a cool idea, and I’ll be eager to see how it works if and when it arrives.

But all said and done, I’m glad Meta didn’t bother attempting a smart display. The tech isn't there yet. When I tried Google Glass Enterprise Edition, Epson Moverio glasses, and Focals by North, trying to focus on the information overlays was hard on my eyes. That’s because these tend to rely on projection tech, which can get easily washed out by bright ambient light. And navigating screens usually requires some kind of physical control. It’s clunky, kills battery life, and introduces the problem of developing third-party app ecosystems.

Privacy: am I the glasshole?

It’s hard to think of smart glasses without remembering that time when a pair of Google Glass got ripped off a person’s face. How subsequently, the people wearing Glass were dubbed glassholes, and how some public spaces banned the device entirely.

But we live in a different era now. People are wearing Quest 3 headsets to coffee shops . Every time I open TikTok, I see normal people and content creators alike vlogging their lives. When I walk outside, people are having very private conversations out loud on FaceTime or through their AirPods. For better or worse, the smartphone has made us all very comfortable with the idea that there are cameras everywhere.

The problem is we don’t have the same social cues for smart glasses as we do phones. If you hold your phone up in a certain way, people know it means you’re recording. If you hold your finger up to the temple of your glasses, you could be adjusting the fit. To address that, Meta added an LED capture light to the original Ray-Ban Stories. Most people didn’t think it was enough. This time around, Meta has made it so you can’t disable the LED light, and it has a pulsing pattern that’s supposed to be more noticeable. When I polled my co-workers, friends, and family, it was a mixed bag. Some said it was easily seen indoors. Others disagreed. Most agreed that while you can see the light outdoors, it’s also easy to ignore or mistake for light reflecting off the lenses.

I took pictures and filmed many times in public, and no one ever noticed. Take from that what you will.

Meta has privacy guidelines and etiquette tips when you set the glasses up and a link to its privacy page in the app. It boils down to don’t be a glasshole . That’s nice, but glassholes are going to use this device however they please. The rest of us have to figure out how to not be a glasshole on the fly.

For example, these glasses are perfect for an outdoor wedding. I just so happened to be invited to one this past weekend. But while it’s normal to take photos and record wedding footage on your phone, would that apply to content taken on smart glasses? It felt wrong to make any unilateral decision, so I asked my friend for permission.

While it was weird to explain, she gave me her blessing. I got to protect my eyes from the sun, discreetly record the ceremony for the couple, keep my phone in my bag, and stay present in the moment. Afterward, my friend was happy to have that footage since there wasn’t a videographer. At the same time, you won’t find those photos or videos in this review because this was a private ceremony. I’m glad that was a conversation I had beforehand, but would anyone in 2023 feel compelled to do this with phones? I can’t count the times I’ve seen people take photos of weddings and post them directly to their own personal feeds.

Am I the glasshole for filming my commute to test these glasses?

This applies to so many scenarios. If I take concert footage, am I the glasshole ? What if I’m house hunting and want to remember what a property looked like later? Do I alert the real estate agent? What if I’m wearing these as headphones, enter a public restroom, and somebody freaks out because they notice I’m wearing smart glasses? Am I the glasshole for filming my commute to test these glasses? Or is asking permission from my fellow commuters potentially opening me up to physical harm? Is wearing what’s essentially a face-mounted bodycam an invasion of privacy, or is it a safety tool? A co-worker told me they bought a pair of these glasses partly because if someone tries to murder them while walking the dog, they can grab footage of their potential assailant.

I have no real answers here. If everyone had a pair of these tomorrow, would I start to treat people wearing Wayfarers differently? A part of me wishes that I’d be the wary privacy stalwart. But the depressing reality is I already live like everything in my life is surveilled . What do a few hundred extra smart glasses cameras matter?

A turning point

I’ll say it again. Meta isn’t reinventing smart glasses. What it’s done is nail the execution. Culturally, I also think the timing is ripe. We’re more desensitized than ever to surveillance, and a lot of us are trying to look less at phone screens. If smartwatches can field notifications, then maybe smart glasses can replace the camera and take calls in scenarios where phones aren’t ideal.

Are good execution and timing enough? At heart, I remain a smart glasses skeptic. To me, this device appeals most to gadget nerds and content creators rather than the average Joe. But even if these flop, it’s set a new bar for what smart glasses can and should be able to do. Again, I’ve tried a ton of smart glasses, and until now, I’ve never had a pair that looks good, is priced reasonably, has multiple use cases, and delivers what it says it will.

I have no answers for my bigger questions. I won’t have them until smart glasses are a thing — if they’re ever a thing. But in the meantime, I’ll settle for taking more cat videos.

Agree to Continue: Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses

Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.

To use the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, you’ll need a Meta account and the Meta View app downloaded onto your phone. A Meta account works across platforms like Meta, Instagram, and Quest and comes with its own Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Should you decide to integrate with services like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Spotify, you also agree to those terms and privacy policies. You may also be asked to give permissions related to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, location services, and voice data. If you choose to get a pair of prescription lenses, you may also be asked to share that information with Ray-Ban and/or Lenscrafters.

The smart glasses also come with supplemental terms of service and privacy policies / notices, including:

• Supplemental Meta Platforms Technologies Terms of Service
• Supplemental Meta Platforms Technologies Privacy Policy
• Supplemental Facebook View Privacy Policy
• Supplemental Facebook View Terms of Service
• United States Regional Privacy Notice
• Health and Safety Information
• Voice Controls Privacy Notice
• Meta View Third Party Notices

Final Tally: Two mandatory agreements, eight supplemental agreements and notices, and several optional agreements.

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Ray-Ban Stories review

Are ray-ban stories the ultimate wearable camera we take these facebook-developed sunglasses out for a spin.

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Ray-Ban Stories are hard to fault. They offer capable, if basic, image and video capture capabilities as well as built-in audio that’ll have you humming a happy tune as you walk the streets around your home. They also look great, thanks to the Ray-Ban collaboration, and the option to pack in prescription lenses overcomes a common problem for those with vision problems – namely, you can’t easily wear smart glasses over your regular glasses.

Built-in 5MP cameras

Stylish sunglass design

Wide choice of frame and color options

Available with prescription lenses

More expensive than regular sunglasses

Privacy issues may worry some

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

The Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses are just the start for Meta (previously Facebook), whose ambitions in the world of augmented and mixed reality are well known. The Ray-Ban Stories may not be AR glasses in the truest sense, instead offering built-in audio, dual-lens camera recording, and a sleek Ray-Ban frame available in a medley of shapes and colors – with more ambitious AR features likely coming in future models.

There’s more than a touch of the Snap Spectacles about them (sorry Snap), but the fashion credibility granted by this Ray-Ban collaboration could mean we see a lot more Stories out on the go. 

Some may balk at the idea of having a Meta-made camera on their face at all times, and any users need to be wary of privacy concerns – though we can’t fault these glasses when it comes to the quality or usability of the hardware.

Ray-Ban Stories: specifications

Pricing: $299 / £299 / AU$449 Battery: 3 hours Memory: 4GB flash storage Speakers: x2 speaker open air Camera: Dual 5MP cameras Photo resolution: 2592x1944 pixels Video resolution: 1184x1184 pixels at 30 frames per second Dimensions in mm: 41.2 (height), 50 (width), 22 (bridge width), 150 (temple length)

Key features

At first glance, the Ray-Ban Stories are like any aviators you might find sold by the lifestyle brand. Look closer, though, and you’ll see a full suite of modern smart features that elevate them above and beyond your average pair of sunglasses.

First, the camera. There are two 5MP lenses, built into opposing ends of the glasses to get a sense of depth in your images. They’re not stunning quality compared to the cameras packed into some modern smartphones, but the ease of taking photos on the go is the real draw here. Photos are captured at 2592x1944 pixel resolution, whereas more taxing video capture drops to 1184x1184 pixels (30 frames per second) instead.

There is a color indicator on the front of the glasses, which lights up when camera recording is in use. That’s a handy feature when it comes to letting those around you know you’re recording, but it’s important to respect the privacy of others at the same time, given these smart glasses aren’t ubiquitous or readily-recognizable hardware just yet.

Next, the speakers. There are two open-air drivers that are placed near where your ears will be, allowing you to listen to music without having to stick headphones in, on, or over your ears.

Design and usability

The Ray-Ban Stories are, unsurprisingly, a bit heavier than standard glasses, given the technology that needs to be packed into the Stories’ frame: speakers, camera lenses, and a rechargeable battery.

However, they’re still relatively light, and fine to wear for long periods of time. When not in use, they function like any pair of Ray-Ban glasses, whether that’s solely as a fashion accessory or something more urgent, with options for prescription lenses, transition lenses, or straightforward sunglasses to protect your eyes in sunny weather. The 20 combinations of lenses, colors and styles (Wayfarer, Wayfarer Large, Round, and Meteor) mean there’s plenty to differentiate yourself, too.

The charging case for the Stories is, again, just a bulkier version of a standard spectacles case, with a built-in battery that charges via a USB-C port, and which offers a total three hours of usage – so don’t expect these smart glasses to keep recording into the long hours.

These glasses connect via Bluetooth to a smartphone, and you’ll need Android 8.1 – or iOS 13 on an iPhone 6S and above – at a minimum. The required Facebook View app is pretty bare for the company behind Facebook and Instagram , with hardly any image editing capabilities, to the point where we wouldn’t really bother using them. It’s far simpler to share those images directly with a social media app, which will have better in-app editing software.

Performance

Walking around our neighborhood with the Ray-Ban Stories on a summer’s day offers no immediate problems. 

Taking photos or videos is as simple as pressing a button, though the Stories’ touch slider can be easily activated by accident when taking the glasses on and off – you know, with your hands? So expect the odd blurred photo in your phone’s image library, which the Stories will connect to over Bluetooth to maintain a steady stream of content as you go about your day.

Image capture is largely a breeze, though, while blur reduction during video recording is impressive, ensuring movement stays at a smooth 30 frames per second – a good thing, too, as the Stories would be destined for the dustbin otherwise.

The built-in audio can have some distortion, and doesn’t pack in a huge amount of detail – likely a mix of average driver detail and sound being lost to the air. But it feels like an appropriate tradeoff given how pleasurable it is to walk around with hands-free, and ears-free audio, keeping you aware of your surroundings.

Ray-Ban Stories: Verdict

We’d hope to see an improved app experience down the line, given the bare launch software, though issues are easily sidestepped by doing the bulk of image or video editing in other apps on your phone.

One important thing to consider, though, isn’t just the quality of the glasses, but privacy around the device. They could, in the wrong hands, act as discreet surveillance, and the indicator and startup sound activated during recording will be less noticeable in busy or loud environments. 

Privacy concerns run both ways too. The Facebook View app is, for some reason, permanently active on your phone, even after closing it; the company says it’s to monitor necessary Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and battery life data, though it’s worth asking whether you’re comfortable with that state of affairs.

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Henry is a freelance technology journalist. Before going freelance, he spent more than three years on TechRadar reporting on TVs, projectors and smart speakers as the website's Home Cinema Editor – and has been interviewed live on both BBC World News and Channel News Asia, discussing the future of transport and 4K resolution televisions respectively. As a graduate of English Literature and theater enthusiast, he'll usually be found forcing Shakespeare puns into his technology articles, which he thinks is what the Bard would have wanted. 

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Ray-Ban Stories Smart Sunglasses Review: All-Seeing Eyes

By Mike Epstein

Updated on Oct 29, 2021 12:36 PM EDT

13 minute read

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If you’ve ever wondered whether you really care about digital privacy, try wearing a Facebook camera on your face. Ray-Ban Stories , a design collaboration between Facebook and Ray-Ban parent company EssilorLuxottica, are smart sunglasses with speakers and cameras, which can serve as a casual substitute for your headphones or a phone camera. They take fun, casual first-person photos and 30 second video clips with quick tap of a button or vocal command. Aside from some battery life issues, they’re a fun, casual gadget: It can’t replace your phone’s camera or a great pair of Bluetooth headphones , but if your expectations for sound and visual quality are in check, it’s a neat little toy.

But Facebook’s presence looms large over the Stories and how you use them. The social media giant doesn’t use the glasses to funnel you onto its platform, but you do need a Facebook account to use them, and Facebook collects data from the glasses. Depending on your point of view, you can interpret this as a reluctant acceptance that photographers don’t take photos exclusively for Facebook or Instagram… Or an insidious attempt to get more data from its users by giving them ways to interact with Facebook outside the app.

That dynamic will almost certainly color (or shade) the experience, making an item that’s supposed to be effortless and care-free into a philosophical puzzle box. Once you get past that, if you get past it, Stories do start to feel like what they’re intended to be–a well-made tech trifle.

Facebook for your face

What are smart glasses.

The phrase “smart glasses” means a lot of different things right now. To many people it seems like the phrase still evokes AR-enabled glasses that allow you to access the internet without looking at a screen a la Google Glass . In practice, I’ve seen the phrase attached to devices like Razer’s Anzu glasses and Bose Frames , which are basically just sunglasses with speakers in them. Ray-Ban Stories falls somewhere in the middle, most closely aligned with the once-viral Snapchat Spectacles. 

In this case, the word “smart” translates to a convenient quick shot camera and personal audio. The Stories have two 5-megapixel cameras, one on each side of the frame, which allow you to take photos and short video clips, up to 30 seconds. Like the Razer and Bose glasses, they also have “micro” speakers in the temples, which line up right in front of your ears, through which you can listen to music and take phone calls. There’s more to it, which we’ll get into, but the Stories have a fairly narrow, convenience-first mandate. Effectively, they exist to offload some key features from your phone into a less distracting form factor.

Do they look like normal sunglasses?

Ray-Ban Stories look and feel almost identical to a normal pair of sunglasses. For the sake of style, my smartened pair of black Wayfarers look just like my classic pair of black Wayfarers. The only differences people may notice are the circular camera lenses in the corners of the frames, which replace the Wayfarers’ distinctive studs.

It’s worth pointing out that, while we were sent this one style, Ray-Bans makes Stories versions of three of its frames, Wayfarer , Round , and Meteor , each of which costs $299, and comes in multiple colors. Ray-Ban also offers more expensive versions with specialty lenses, including polarized, transitions, and prescription options.

How do Ray-Ban Stories work?

On closer inspection, there are a few other differences, which primarily affect the wearer. Like other smart glasses, the temples – the sides of the glasses that rest on your ears – are larger and thicker than a normal pair of glasses. (For people with big heads, like me, they can feel tight the first few times you put them on, but that subsides over time). They’re bigger to accommodate all the tech inside, like the speakers, which you can see if you look closely at the back of the stems, where they curve to fit your ears.

The temples are also thicker because they house gesture-based touch controls. You can play or pause music by tapping the side of the frame, raise/lower volume by sliding your finger along them, or answer your phone by double-tapping the side of the frame when you have someone calling. The touch controls aren’t perfect–you need to hit a fairly specific spot on your temple to activate them–but they’re far less finicky than similar controls on other glasses.

You have two choices for operating the camera. First, there’s a button on top of the right temple, which you can tap to start a video or hold to take a photo. The button is both perfectly and problematically placed, because it’s exactly where I put my finger when I go to adjust or remove my glasses. When I go to record, it feels very natural to raise my hand and press the button. When I go to put the glasses on or take them off, though, there’s a reasonable chance that I’ll accidentally start recording a video. (Pro tip: If you’re listening to a podcast, and it stops playing, you may be recording a video!)

What is the “Facebook Assistant”?

You can also take photos and record video clips using vocal commands through Facebook Assistant by saying “Hey Facebook,” then a command. The “Facebook Assistant” feels somewhat forced here: It is only used to record photos and videos and feels like an attempt to prevent people from completely forgetting that this is, in part, a Facebook device. 

Walking around in my suburban home town, New York City, and an apple orchard in upstate New York, the only time anyone noticed or cared that I was recording photos was when I said, “hey Facebook.” I’d say it was because I drew their attention to the fact that I was taking a photo, but in a couple of cases I said, “I’m going to take a photo” out loud before using the wake word. Something about the word “Facebook” makes people prick up and pay attention.

Their concern isn’t entirely unwarranted, either. Facebook records and collects audio recordings every time you use Facebook Assistant. You can, however, tell Facebook View not to send the recordings and delete the local files, though. Other people have less to worry about from this particular aspect of Stories: The three microphone array focuses primarily on the user’s voice. Some ambient noise comes through, but it isn’t exactly enough to turn you into an inadvertent spy. The fact that it gives people pause, though, is reason enough to be mindful of where and how you use it.

Speaking of which, let’s talk about privacy

Though Facebook Assistant listening in isn’t something to worry about, Ray-Ban Stories has a lot of people concerned about privacy. Once the purview of spy stories like James Bond and Mission Impossible, glasses with cameras on them are inherently discrete. That makes them look stylish, but it also means that the people around you when you take photos and video may not be aware that they’re being recorded.

Ray-Ban Stories have some measures to ensure that you cannot record people secretly. When you take a photo or record footage, a bright white LED light turns on next to the camera lens on the subject’s left. As many people (and multiple European privacy watchdogs ) have pointed out, you can theoretically cover that light, making it possible to record in relative secrecy. More importantly, in my own testing, I found that you can very easily take photos without people noticing. People rarely noticed the light that I was taking a picture with them in, unless I was staring directly at them or getting close to line up a shot.

Facebook and EssilorLuxottica have released privacy guidelines for how to use Ray-Ban Stories, making it clear that they should not be used to infringe on privacy or otherwise offend, though it is ultimately left up to the user to be a responsible photographer. As the MIT Technology Review points out, that kind of trust is naive at best, and insidious at worst.

In my mind, the issues around ethics and public photography are, frankly, not any different here than they are with any personal camera. There is a larger conversation to be had about smart cameras and privacy, but Ray-Ban Stories are a minor point in that debate until they achieve wide adoption compared to smart doorbell cameras, drones, and surveillance equipment that is more popular, more invasive , and more consequential . That said, people don’t like to “discover” they’re being recorded, so you need to be more careful about who and where and what you shoot when using Ray-Ban Stories. As such, I wouldn’t recommend buying them for kids, especially teens.

What’s it like taking photos?

Shooting photos and videos with Facebook Stories feels very different from taking photos with your phone or a DSLR camera. The glasses are meant for taking quick snapshots of what you’re looking at. There’s no viewfinder or way to preview your shots, so you need to “frame” your shots with your head and keep in mind that the camera’s field of view is different from yours. What the camera sees and what you see aren’t identical, though, so it does take a little practice to take good photos.

Also, it’s important to keep in mind that the 5MP cameras on Stories are far less precise than the camera in your pocket, especially if you have an iPhone, Google Pixel, or Samsung Galaxy phone. The photos look sharp, but don’t have the same incredible detail of modern phone cameras, and are very susceptible to color balance issues from indoor lighting.It is not a tool for artistic or technical photography, it’s a means of catching something when you want a photo, but don’t want to spend time “taking a photo.” 

With time and effort, you can get better at taking photos with the Stories, of course. In general, I found that I had to get much closer than I usually would, even with a standard camera, and keep in mind that the camera will not include anything in my peripheral vision. After a week of fairly determined trial and error, I found that I could compose a solid photo without thinking about it too much. Again, though, expectations are a big factor here. Stories can absolutely handle taking commemorative photos of a person next to a sign or in front of a thing. They’re great if you just want a photo of a person in the moment. But if you care about anything more than getting your friends and family in the center of the photo, Stories (and, frankly, all smart glasses) will disappoint.

Tell me more about the Facebook View app

Facebook View is the simple dedicated app for downloading, storing, and editing photos and videos from Ray-Ban Stories. When you take photos and videos using the glasses, the image and video files are stored in its internal storage. To get them on your phone so you can see and share them, you have to use the transfer button in View, which creates a private network to send over the data. The drive isn’t huge, it can store up to 50 30-second video clips or upwards of 500 photos, but that’s more than enough room to handle a day’s worth of photos and videos without a transfer.

Technically, that’s all you have to do in View. You can set the app so it automatically copies all of your photos and videos to your phone’s photo library. That said, you can’t transfer the data without the app or avoid sending your photos there, so Facebook has access to everything you take with Ray-Ban Stories, whether you post it or not. However, the company says it will not access the actual photos and videos without your permission, or use the data obtained from Stories for personalized ads.

If you choose, you can use the app like a secondary camera roll. You can edit photos, create video “montages” by splicing together multiple clips, and add animated effects to static photos. Montages and “flashback photos,” as Facebook calls them, are interesting alternatives to the usual visual effects in photos and other apps, though they require a certain amount of effort that runs counter to the casual nature of the device. If I wanted to record video clips and make a montage, I’d rather use my phone.

Is there a way to cut Facebook out of the process? Can’t I just use my Photos app?

You have to be logged into Facebook View with a Facebook account to use Ray-Ban Stories’ cameras. When you take photos and videos using Ray-Ban Stories, the image and video files are stored in onboard storage in the glasses. Facebook View’s transfer button, which creates a private network, is the only way to transfer your photos. To use Facebook View, you must have a Facebook account.

Technically you can use the audio functionality of Ray-Ban Stories without Facebook View. The speakers and microphone connect to your phone via Bluetooth, not the app, so you can pair the glasses using your phone’s Bluetooth settings. Stories teaches you how to pair the glasses through the app, though, so you’d be hard-pressed to do it without connecting to Facebook at least once. (And, frankly, if you’re going to go to these lengths to avoid Facebook, you should just buy a different pair of smart glasses).

Ultimately, the best way to use Ray-Ban Stories without connecting to Facebook is to turn them off and wear them as simple sunglasses.

What’s it like listening to music?

Despite the fact that I can be a snob about audio quality, I genuinely love the experience of listening to music with smart glasses. The little speakers give you a decent personal listening experience without putting anything on or in your ears that generally doesn’t seem to bother strangers when you use them in public. There is something freeing about just walking around, listening to whatever you’re listening to, without isolating yourself from the world with headphones.

From a quality perspective, I would describe Ray-Ban Stories as “fine.” Listening to podcasts and on call, voices are clean and clear. With music, I found that music that was supposed to be playing softly or in the background was often inaudible, so you aren’t getting the full experience. 

This is doubly true when you factor in that you should not be listening to Stories at full volume: Aside from the fact that they can disturb nearby people at full blast, I found the pounding of the speakers directly into your ears is more likely to give me a headache. 

How do you pair Ray-Ban Stories?

If you look inside the glasses, behind the lenses, you will find a small power switch near the left hinge. You can pair the glasses via Bluetooth by holding the power switch in the on position until a small light on the inside of the right frame starts flashing, then releasing it. To fully pair the glasses, you will need to follow and complete the process in the app.

How do Ray-Ban Stories charge? How long does the battery last?

According to Ray-Ban, Facebook Stories lasts through up to six hours of “moderate” use. That bore out in my camera testing, but when I used them instead of headphones on a day-long work trip, they only managed about four hours of near-continuous audio use. It’s not a lot of time, especially if you use them in place of headphones, but I only found it to be a problem when I was out of the house all day. 

There is a silver lining, though. You charge the glasses through a hard-shell sunglasses case, which also serves as a wireless charging dock and an extended battery. When fully charged, the case can store enough juice to recharge the glasses three times over. That doesn’t fully make up for the short battery life, as you’ll need to take them off to charge, but it gives you the option to stretch the glasses’ power out over the span of a day if you remember to keep the case handy.

Final thoughts on Ray-Ban Stories

A lot of times when i review “fun” tech, it can be difficult to account for the casual nature with which these devices are meant to be used. Ray-Ban Stories cannot compete with your camera or your headphones, so any technical breakdown of their capabilities has to come with a lot of caveats. At the same time, it is completely unreasonable to compare them to gear that’s made for a more specific purpose. Ray-Ban Stories are plain ol’ casual fun. They work well when that’s the purpose. That means they cannot replace other devices. They can only do their own thing. I think they handle the audio side of things as well as the other smart glasses that I’ve tried, though the battery life feels somewhat weak, even by smart glasses standards.

The cameras, and the privacy concerns that come with them, are another story. Let’s not sugarcoat it: Ray-Ban Stories would be a better product if they weren’t directly tied to Facebook, or any other content platform. Even indirectly, it raises privacy concerns about who can see what photos and videos you’ve taken. Then there are the privacy concerns of the people around you, and the troubled water around when it is and isn’t appropriate to a camera people may not be aware of.

Despite all that, I do think it is possible to enjoy Ray-Ban Stories easily and responsibly. Its limited use-case as a camera steers you toward content that you’d likely share: Photos of friends and family, and landscapes, and other quick, storable memories. If the erosion of digital privacy doesn’t already scare you, I find it hard to say that this should be the thing to make you change your mind.

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Ray-Ban Stories review: What a spectacle

These smart glasses can take photos and video.

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Ray-Ban Stories are a pair of Facebook-powered smart glasses that can play music and take photos and video, but doesn’t excel at any of them.

Can capture photos and video

Several styles to choose from

Cameras not obvious enough

Limited voice commands

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Photo resolution: 2592 x 1944 Video resolution: 1184 x 1184 @30fps Storage: 4GB Battery life: up to 3 hours Speakers: 2 Microphones: 3 Wireless: Bluetooth, 802.11ac Weight: 48 grams (1.7 ounces)

What do you get when you combine one of the biggest eyewear brands with one of the biggest social media sites? Ray-Ban Stories. 

The Ray-Ban Stories are part of a nascent but growing category of smart glasses, which look like regular eyewear, but have tiny speakers and microphones embedded in them. At their most basic, like the Bose Frames , these smart glasses can stream music via Bluetooth from your phone and place and answer calls; more advanced models, such as the Amazon Echo Frames , can connect to a smart assistant like Alexa . 

The Ray-Ban Stories take things a step further: These smart glasses are also outfitted with a small camera (like Snap's Spectacles ) that can take photos and videos up to 60 seconds, so you can capture moments on the fly. But should you drop $300 on these smart glasses? Continue reading our Ray-Ban Stories review to find out.

Ray-Ban Stories review: Price and availability

The Ray-Ban stories start at $299, and come in three styles: the traditional Wayfarer shades, the more circular Round, and Meteor (somewhere in the middle). Each of these has multiple color, size, and fit options, as well as tints for the glasses themselves. 

I tested the matte black Wayfarer version with transition lenses, though at the time of this writing, that model was sold out. You can also get prescription lenses fitted to the Ray-Ban Stories, though that costs extra.

Ray-Ban Stories review: Design and comfort

Outwardly, the Ray-Ban Stories look like any other pair of non-smart sunglasses. The only giveaway that something might be different is the two small circles in each corner; these are the camera’s 5MP cameras. They’re not as obvious as those on the Snap Spectacles, but they’re still noticeable.

A small LED next to the right camera lights up when you’re recording, so that others know you’re capturing their image. Similarly, a small LED on the upper right inside of the glasses also turns on when you’re recording, so that you know the camera’s on.

The right arm has a small button on the top; press it quickly, and the Stories will snap a photo. Press and hold, and it will record a video. Along the side of the right arm is a touch-sensitive strip that can be used to increase and decrease the volume, as well as start and stop whatever’s playing. As with other smart glasses I tested, I wish this touch-sensitive area were marked in some way with a raised edge, or something else to know that you’re in the right spot.

And a fully charged Stories will capture and sync up to 30 videos, or up to 500 photos. You can then sync the glasses with the View app (Android, iOS), so you can download the images.

The Ray-Ban Stories come with a large-ish case — it’s a bit more bulgy than your standard eyeglass case — but it has a built-in battery that will recharge the Stories while they’re docked inside. A small LED on the front of the case shows the charging status, and a USB-C port on the back lets you juice up the case itself. Even though the case is bulkier than others, I did like that it can be recharged with a generic USB-C cord, rather than a proprietary cable, like the Amazon Echo Frames — whose charger I have misplaced.

I don’t think the Stories are horrible, but I preferred the look of Amazon’s Echo Frames. Of course, this is highly personal — in general, I’ve leaned more towards glasses that are closer to an aviator-style design.

I wore the Stories for a few weeks, with them on my face for an hour or so at a time, and never had any discomfort.

Ray-Ban Stories review: Audio quality

Like most smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Stories have a pair of tiny speakers that direct sound towards your ears. Like most smart glasses, audio was passable at best. To state the obvious, it’s nowhere near what you’ll get from some of the best earbuds . Bass is practically nonexistent, and you lose a lot of definition, too. And, since they don’t block any surrounding noise, a large truck rolling by will quickly overwhelm anything coming out of the glasses.

The vocals and cymbals in OK Go’s “Here It Goes Again” felt smushed together, and, when I increased the volume to near max, everything was incredibly distorted. The guitars in Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love” sounded pretty good, but again, degraded the louder the volume of the Stories. 

Bruce Springsteen’s “Rosalita” was disappointing, too. While the Boss’ voice was clear, but like the song’s titular character, I waited in vain for Clarence Clemons’ bellowing tenor sax to kick in.

Because of their lack of definition, I found the Stories were best for listening to podcasts, or if I wanted some noise to fill the void. If I was sitting at my desk doing work, I much preferred the Ray-Bans to wearing headphones for listening to music; it was as if I had a speaker playing tunes in the background, and nothing in my ears. 

Another issue with smart glasses’ speakers, though, is that others can hear what you’re playing, especially in a quiet room. In our home office, my wife — who sits about 12 feet away — could hear what I was playing. However, in my company’s office, which has much higher ceilings and more ambient noise, co-workers an equal distance away had a harder time hearing the music.

I found that the voice commands could be a bit particular, depending on the music app you’re using. As I was listening to a podcast using the Apple Podcast app, I said “Hey Facebook, pause,” but received a response that nothing was playing. However, when I said “Hey Facebook, stop,” it successfully paused the podcast. 

Ray-Ban Stories review: Camera and video quality

On each side of the Stories is a 5MP camera for “stereoscopic photo depth,” according to the company (no, this doesn’t mean it can take 3D photos). It can also record videos up to 60 seconds long, at a resolution of 1184 x 1184 and at up to 30 frames per second. 

Now that we’re treated to such good quality photos from even some of the best smartphones under $300 , the images taken from the Stories are average, at best. 

Under ideal conditions — a still, and well-lit subject — photos look pretty good. Pictures I took of the windows at Macy’s in New York were rich with color, and were suitably sharp. However, the majority of the photos I took had something wrong with them — a section was washed out, or blurry, or overexposed. Sometimes it was all three, as was the case with an image of a stream near me; the sky was completely white as was the bridge in the foreground, and the trees in the background were mottled. 

On a sunny day, the video I recorded — walking in New York — also looked great. Despite my being in motion, it wasn’t shaky at all, and the glasses did a good job of adjusting exposure when I looked up at the sky. Colors, such as the blue of a transit bus and the red in a Macy’s window, were also very saturated. 

The biggest issue, of course, is that the Stories can take photos and video without others knowing. Yes, there’s a small LED, but because the lenses aren’t as prominent as those on the Snap Spectacles, it’s not as obvious to others that you may or may not be recording them. Of all the people I asked who saw me wearing the Stories, none realized that the glasses had built-in cameras.

Ray-Ban Stories review: Voice commands

The Stories have a few voice commands which let you control your music, send a message via Facebook Messenger or Whatsapp and take photos and video. They’re nowhere near as comprehensive as the Echo Frames, which have all the power of Alexa behind them, and let you do everything from play music to control smart home devices. (Here are 10 of the coolest things Alexa can do , if you’re curious.)

It feels a little funny to say “Hey Facebook, take a picture,” but here we are. The Ray-Bans picked up my voice well, and responded quickly to my commands to take photos and videos. However, I was left wanting a bit more.

Ray-Ban Stories review: View app

Rather than linking directly with the Facebook app, the Ray-Ban Stories connect to the View app (Android and iOS), through which you can download media from the glasses, change settings, and more. For example, if you link your Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp accounts, you can place calls and send and receive messages through the Stories.

The app also lets you choose from seven different assistant voices, which vary not just in pitch, but also in tone — as in warm, matter-of-fact, musical, and bright. 

If you have Spotify , you can link your account in the app, so you can start playing music with just a tap; if you tap and hold, it will play something new based on your listening history. It’s a neat little discovery tool, especially while you’re on the go. 

The app also has an extensive privacy settings section, where you can manage how your data is used. Given Facebook’s previous troubles with user privacy, it’s somewhat encouraging to see this. 

For the most part — such as playing music — the Stories are connected to your phone via Bluetooth, but will switch to Wi-Fi to transfer photos and videos. After downloading your photos and videos to the View app, you can edit them with some basic tools (there’s no filters, for example), create a montage, and then share them with the social media network of your choice.

Ray-Ban Stories review: Battery life

Ray-Ban says the Stories’ built-in battery will last for up to three hours. That’s a little more than half the Bose Frames (5.5 hours), and an hour less than the Amazon Echo Frames. In practice, you’ll likely get less; after 40 minutes of listening to podcasts with the glasses at full volume, the Stories’ battery had drained by 30 percent. If you were to extrapolate that number, you’d get a little over two hours before you needed to recharge the specs. Fortunately, the Stories’ case provides up to three additional charges.

If you remove the glasses from your face and close the arms, the Stories go into a sleep/standby mode and disconnect from your phone. Opening the arms back will wake up the Stories, which will then re-pair with your phone.

Ray-Ban Stories review: Bottom line

The Ray-Ban Stories are proof that we’re still in the very early stages of smart glasses; the glasses, like the category, show promise but also plenty of areas where they need work. Like other smart glasses I’ve tried, the audio from the Ray-Ban Stories is a long way from being as good as some of the best wireless earbuds , but it’s nice for when you want a little background noise. Likewise, it’s neat that you can take pictures and video, but you might be disappointed with the results, especially compared to the best camera phones . But, you have to start somewhere, right?

If you are planning on purchasing a set of smart glasses with a camera like the Ray-Ban Stories or Snap Spectacles, I would encourage you to think about how you use them. More than one person did not realize that the glasses I was wearing had cameras in them; my wife thought it was downright creepy. If you’re using them in a public space, you’re not necessarily entitled to the same protections as if you were in your home. However, if someone is pointing a camera or a smartphone at you, it’s much more obvious that they could be recording you than someone who’s merely looking in your direction and who happens to be wearing glasses. 

Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he’s not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he’s probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight — or chagrin — of his family.

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Facebook’s New Camera Glasses Are Dangerously Easy to Use

Facebook is notorious for borrowing ideas from other tech companies, then taking advantage of its massive global platform and its expertise in building sticky apps to bring those ideas into the mainstream. Some of Facebook’s most egregious lifts have been from Snap , née Snapchat, whose 24-hour disappearing stories and technically sophisticated augmented-reality filters later showed up as copycat features inside Instagram. And like Snap, Facebook has in recent years declared itself to be a camera company, with Mark Zuckerberg proclaiming on a 2016 earnings call that he believed “a camera will be the main way we share.”

Facebook’s latest foray into “ Wait, haven’t I seen this before? ” is a pair of photo- and video-capturing sunglasses, à la Snap Spectacles . They’re called Ray-Ban Stories, with Ray-Ban appearing first and Facebook second in most of the product branding. Even though this is a product collaboration between two globally recognizable brands, these are Facebook glasses. This is Facebook’s first piece of wearable tech designed for casual use—not just specialized VR applications, which is what Oculus is for—and the sunglasses are designed for completely frictionless media capture of the world around you. They go on sale today for $299.

It’s the “effortless” part that will raise eyebrows behind the plastic frames. Facebook has made a pair of smart glasses—even if they’re not true AR glasses—that people might actually want to wear. (Giaia Rener, Ray-Ban's global brand director, even describes them as "the first smart glasses you're going to want to wear.") If the ultimate goal of wearable-tech makers has been to develop something at the intersection of comfort, invisibility, and invisible data capture, then Facebook seems to have accomplished this.

Cameras are everywhere now; a person doesn’t even need to pull out their phone to digitally memorialize a moment. The question is whether Facebook should own even more of those moments.

The new Ray-Bans come in both tinted and clear-lensed versions.

Where Snap’s design team has leaned into the Burning Man aesthetic for its Spectacles, Facebook and Ray-Ban went normcore. If you ignore the fact that they have cameras and wireless connectivity, Ray-Ban Stories are just a pair of Wayfarers. WIRED received two review pairs. We weighed one of the pairs, which measured 49.3 grams—just shy of the stated 49.6 grams cited in the specs, and around 5 grams more than the original Wayfarers they're modeled after. Crucially, that extra weight is distributed well, and both of us (Peter and Lauren) remarked that it was easy to forget you were wearing tech-laden shades.

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Most smart glasses have unusually large temples to accommodate all the necessary sensors and chips and batteries. The arms on the Ray-Ban Stories glasses are slightly wider than a normal pair, but they don’t look geeky. (They also don’t have a waveguide, or a microprojector for display optics, since they’re not powering AR overlays). Packed into the arms are a power button, a capture button, a three-microphone array, two tiny speakers, and a touch panel. On the front of the specs are two 5-megapixel cameras, as well as a barely-there LED indicator light that lets people know the wearer is recording.

A sample video (provided by Facebook) captured with the Ray-Ban camera glasses.

Capturing media is easy. You long-press the button to take a photo, and a shutter sound comes through the built-in speakers to indicate a photo has in fact been snapped. Press quickly on the same button and the glasses start recording a 30-second video. You can also walk around saying “Hey, Facebook” and speaking your capture commands if you have no shame whatsoever. The videos are crisp and stable (even if they're square); the photos, which are only captured after a maddening half-second shutter lag, measure 2,592 by 1,944 pixels, with plenty of room for editing. All images and clips export into Facebook's View app using the glasses themselves as a temporary Wi-Fi hot spot for faster sharing. At this point, you can edit and share photos and videos directly to Facebook or Instagram, or usher them out of the walled garden by adding them to your photo roll.

The glasses' nicest surprise might be the tiny speakers embedded in the rear of each temple. These not only provide audible cues for media capture, but let you stream music from your phone into your ears. Playing music through the glasses tends to eat up the battery, though. Ray-Ban and Facebook claim a battery life of six hours of "moderate" usage, which they define as an hour of audio, 30 minutes of calls, 10 photos and 10 videos captured and imported, and with the glasses' "Hey Facebook" wake word activated. After one three-hour session using the glasses to take sporadic photos and video, Peter's battery was still at 70 percent. Lauren noticed, when she accidentally had music streaming to her glasses, that battery life drained more quickly.

Naturally, the way you charge your Facebook Ray-Bans is very similar to the charging mechanism for Snap’s Spectacles: You charge the case, with the glasses nestled inside.

The camera lenses and indicator light on the Ray-Bans are easy to miss.

Snap first launched sunglasses with an integrated video camera in September 2016. Over five years, the company has released iterative updates to the Spectacles, which haven’t sold particularly well. But then, this spring, Snap made a leap by revealing actual augmented-reality glasses . Sure, they’re limited to developers, and they have poor battery life, but they offer a true volumetric AR experience. Facebook, meanwhile, has been working on these Ray-Bans since at least 2019 , and it almost certainly will take a swing at AR glasses in the future. But in terms of both commercial availability and advanced features, the new Facebook Ray-Bans are years behind Snap’s glasses.

Facebook’s slowness may have been intentional; Andrew Bosworth, who runs the company’s Reality Labs, has said multiple times that the company doesn’t want to “surprise” people as it introduces new technologies. This has been in response to Facebook’s move-fast-and-break-things mantra, its questionable data-collection practices, and its cascade of somewhat impotent privacy settings.

But if Facebook doesn’t want to surprise people, it might have built a much more obvious indicator light into its latest product. During a dinner with friends last weekend, Peter wore the Ray-Ban Stories the whole time—and it wasn't until he pointed out the tiny sensors embedded at the temples that friends noticed. Once they did, though, Facebook's biggest issue didn't take long to surface: "So, you've been recording the whole time?" one friend asked, only half joking. Similarly, Lauren recorded (then deleted) a conversation with an editor while fumbling with the glasses. The editor never noticed.

By Louise Matsakis

Also, while the models we were given to test were sunglasses with tinted lenses, Facebook is offering 20 different configurations with three Ray-Ban frame shapes (Wayfarer, Round, and Meteor), including clear-lensed versions. So while our dark-lensed Ray-Bans were more at home outdoors—in public places, where photographing others without their consent is generally allowed—buyers could choose a pair of glasses that could be worn night and day, indoors and out.

All of which brings up a serious question: How are people not going to use this technology to create sensitive, violent, or otherwise controversial content? We're not saying people won't use the glasses to save memories of family reunions or a day at the beach—we're just saying they also happen to be wearing the best sex-tape camera in the history of the world, one that records without the now-accepted social cue of holding a phone up in front of your face.

The other questions all stem from that presupposition, and are both less rhetorical and much thornier. Are Facebook and Instagram prepared to handle the influx of said content? What happens if the person creating said content is doing so without the express consent of anyone else in the images and clips? And above it all are the questions that arise with any piece of connected hardware coming from Menlo Park: How much of your data does Facebook get when you capture video on these glasses and share it through the stand-alone Facebook View app?

You can turn the glasses off, which cuts power to the camera and microphone. The glasses monitor your battery status, your Facebook login, and your wireless connection; those are the only nonnegotiables. Anything else the glasses and View app can do—sharing how long you spend recording videos, the number of clips and images you've captured, using Facebook Assistant for voice control, and storing those transcripts—is an opt-in setting, communicated during the app setup process. Similarly, the company says that anything you capture is encrypted on the glasses. It has even put out a one-sheet outlining its privacy policies for Ray-Ban Stories, and it built what it calls a "privacy microsite" for people visiting Ray-Ban's website.

As for content moderation, Facebook spokespeople say that the same rules apply for the glasses as they do for any other content creation tool. They point out that using Ray-Ban Stories or Facebook View requires agreeing to abide by Facebook's Community Standards , which includes a robust subsection devoted to "Objectionable Content"—and that Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger all use "a combination of automated technology, human review, and reporting tools" to identify and remove anything that violates those standards.

To hear Facebook talk about it, it sounds so easy. Maybe too easy.

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Facebook's Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses are just an overpriced influencer toy

• They look like Ray-Bans
• Camera shots look fine
• Marginal editing tools
• Video time limit is way too short
• Creep factor
• Terrible audio quality

Facebook's hardware efforts over the years have been, to put it bluntly, weak. Sure, the company's enjoying the recent runaway success of its unchallenged Oculus Quest 2 VR headset (from a brand it acquired for billions ), but there are still skeletons littered in its product past. Remember its mediocre Portal video calling device? Or how about that time it partnered with HTC for the disastrous Facebook Phone ? Facebook, it would seem, keeps losing the plot with hardware and as its latest stab at consumer goods proves, the evidence just keeps piling up.

Meet the Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, the most recent, and likely ill-fated hardware endeavor from Mark Zuckerberg's misinformation empire . Yes, Facebook actually partnered with Ray-Ban to make a pair of tech-infused glasses with the goal of enabling the same camera-on-your-face habits as Google Glass without making you look like the world's biggest dork. They cost $300, pair with a brand new smartphone app called Facebook View, and are available for purchase now.

However, unlike Google Glass with its small screen and internet connectivity, there's no promise of a futuristic, wearable computer here. Facebook's newest bit of hardware comes with such a comically limited and shoddily executed feature set for the price that it's hard to take it seriously as a product at all. This is just an expensive toy for influencers seemingly designed to make Facebook look "cool" again, built for a world where "Stories" are now widely known as ephemeral and easily forgotten snippets of our social media lives.

At least Ray-Ban did its job

Before I get into all the things I think are silly and pointless about the Ray-Ban Stories, I will give credit where it's due: Ray-Ban did the work here.

To put it simply, the Ray-Ban Stories glasses are pretty much just Ray-Ban frames with dual 5MP cameras built-in (one on each side where the sunglass lenses meet the stem), as well as speakers sitting near each ear. Theoretically, that latter feature means you can enjoy music or podcasts, or make phone calls with the onboard microphone. That microphone also enables the use of Facebook Assistant so you can issue voice commands for snapping photos, if you so desire.

A portion of the outer side of each stem is also touch sensitive, so you can tap it to control music playback (one to pause, two to skip ahead, etc.), or swipe forward or back along the stem to adjust volume. The last hardware features to note are a camera button on the top side of the right stem, a small LED next to the right camera lens (to signal active use), and a power switch on the inside of the left stem.

While the glasses look a little hefty at first, they're actually pretty lightweight and I didn't have any noteworthy comfort problems beyond my personal distaste for eyewear in general. (I wore glasses for years and hated it so much I eventually had lasers blasted into my eyes so I wouldn't have to do it anymore. It's great, you should check it out!)

The Stories smart glasses are available in three styles that should be familiar if you've ever shopped for regular Ray-Bans: Wayfarer , Round , and Meteor . You can also get the frames in a handful of different colors, like shiny or matte black, blue, olive, or brown. Last but obviously not least, there are green, grey, blue, and brown sunglass lens types as well as a clear one for when you're not trying to block out the sun. And yes, prescription lenses are supported here, too, though Facebook noted that pricing will vary when you choose that option at the point of purchase.

These Stories smart glasses look good simply because...they look just like normal Ray-Bans. It's by far the smartest decision Facebook made when developing this product, as Ray-Ban brings a level of aesthetic respectability that something like Google Glass could never offer. Even if you raise the standard of comparison a bit by bringing in the considerably less embarrassing Snap Spectacles , which are Snapchat-centric smart glasses with bonus AR effects, Ray-Ban Stories still blow those out of the water. Snap's ocular tech toy looks like a cheesy prop from a bad 1950s sci-fi TV show, while Facebook's looks more like a grown-up pair of, well, sunglasses.

Ray-Ban also made a fairly stylish, leather charging case for the Stories glasses. There's nothing fancy going on here, as it's got the typical oval shape you'd expect from a glasses case, with a Ray-Ban logo on top and a USB-C port for charging on the back. It's a good deal bulkier than a regular glasses case but it should still fit in your bag. No complaints there.

Alright, enough of that. Let's get to the bad stuff.

Just pull out your phone instead

Let's revisit my earlier point about how Stories are just Ray-Bans with cameras built-in. I'm bringing it up again because that's the chief selling point and the main reason why they cost $300, rather than the $200 or so it would cost to get a nice, regular pair of Ray-Bans. Spoiler alert: Those in-frame cameras don't really do anything special that the smartphone in your hand can't already do better. What's more, phones give you a more exact viewfinder for framing shots thanks to a large, visible screen — you can't beat that. Not without a heads-up display, anyway.

In fact, you need to use a phone to make the Stories function at all, as they hinge on the new Facebook View app, which is available on Android and iOS. Oh and yes, you will need an active Facebook account to set up the glasses.

The View app itself isn't much to write home about. It's mainly a gallery of your photo and video captures with basic editing tools as well as a share button that, at least on iOS, brings up the generic OS-wide sharing interface for beaming things to iMessage contacts, recently used apps, etc. There's also an option to automatically send all captures to the phone's photo gallery, which is nice. When the app detects a new capture, it doesn't show up right away. Instead, a button appears on the bottom right corner of the app's home screen that will deposit all outstanding captures at once. This only takes 10 to 15 seconds.

You can add some goofy shake or zoom effects to photos that take advantage of the dual cameras' depth and produce short montages out of videos, but other than that, the editing suite is entirely too slight. For as absurd as the Snap Spectacles are, at least you can add AR effects to videos captured with those glasses. In all, there just isn't a single outstanding camera feature in the Ray-Ban Stories View app.

At least taking photos is easy and they do look decent. Long pressing the camera button or saying "Hey Facebook, take a photo" will both do the trick. All the photos I took with these glasses came out looking vibrant and sharp enough, and the dual-camera arrangement means you get a nice amount of depth. There's definitely a distinctive look to these shots that's slightly more akin to what the human eye sees than what a regular smartphone camera would see. I don't think it's inherently better , mind you, but I can't knock its uniqueness.

It's just that you get so much more out of the average phone camera. Even recent mid-level phones like the Pixel 4a (12.2MP, $350) or iPhone SE (12MP, $400) have two-digit megapixel counts in their main rear lenses, and that's not to mention other basic features the Ray-Ban Stories camera array lacks, like any kind of flash mechanism or night mode. That's right: You're SOL (pardon my French) if you use these in low light. Again, a reminder that these glasses cost $300 .

Before you protest — yes, people do wear sunglasses at night and indoors. Famous, influential people like Vogue editor Anna Wintour and Kanye West often wear sunglasses in the dark, which we know is very cool . Facebook clearly made its Stories sunglasses by default because, well, sunglasses are cool and Facebook would more than likely love to be seen as cool, which it currently is not. What's definitely not cool is a $300 camera strapped to your face that can't do low light shots of any kind. It's just silly, like so many of Facebook's other hardware decisions.

I also found it a little tough to compose shots because again, instead of a viewfinder, you just have your eyes to rely on. So occasionally the subjects of my shots would be off-center when that wasn't my intention. Cropping can easily fix this, but still, I had to point it out.

I suppose there is some value to P.O.V. videos that you can't easily produce with a phone, but there's a very serious limitation at play here that makes Ray-Ban Stories stories nearly useless. You're going to want to sit down for this one: Videos that you record with a short press of the camera button can be a maximum of 30 seconds long. I get that the point is to make short, shareable content, but 30 seconds is way too stringent of a time limit. You know a good way to make short videos? By editing them down from longer ones. It's how every piece of filmed entertainment in history was made (and also all of those TikToks).

Hold onto your AirPods

By far the most inexcusably meaningless feature Facebook included with the Ray-Ban Stories is the ability to listen to music or podcasts via Bluetooth. Like I said, once the glasses are paired to a phone, they act like any other Bluetooth audio device, transmitting phone audio through speakers in the smart glasses' stems.

Frankly, the audio quality through these speakers is so tinny and weak that it negates any usefulness they might have. I tried listening to Outkast's gorgeous, perfect album ATLiens in honor of its 25th anniversary and the bass was so nonexistent that I felt like I had personally disrespected Big Boi and Andre 3000. This might be a matter of me having bad hearing, but I also had to turn the volume up quite a bit to hear the music enough to actually enjoy it.

This presents another issue, which is that these obviously aren't earbuds and thus the sound is much more audible to people near you than a dedicated in or on-ear Bluetooth audio device would allow. I took the glasses off, set them on my bed, and walked seven or eight feet away with the volume slightly above halfway, and I could still hear some noise, even if I couldn't precisely discern it. It's the kind of thing that would definitely annoy someone sitting next to you on a park bench or in a subway car.

That's also the reason why I wouldn't ever bother to make a phone call in public with the Ray-Ban Stories. My business needs to stay my business.

Honestly, don't even bother

Beyond its myriad failed hardware efforts, there are a lot of reasons not to like or trust Facebook as an institution. At any point in the last five years, it could've compromised your personal information , convinced your loved ones to eat horse paste , or pestered you with posts you don't want to see from people you weren't even friends with in high school. Even if you can ignore all of that ickiness, the Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses fail plenty on their own merits like other Facebook products that've come before them.

The photos look nice, but so do photos from the phone you already have. Videos are just too short. You can't do some of the fun things like add AR effects to said photos or videos like you could on older, similar products such as the Snap Spectacles. Listening to music is a nightmare. And taking photos with a pair of sunglasses — even one that lights up to let bystanders know you're doing so — still makes me feel like a creep. On top of all that, they cost $300. Facebook, that's several swings and several misses.

Andre and Big Boi, if you're reading this, please know that I'm sorry.

Topics Facebook

Forget Your Smartphone, Ray-Ban Stories Helps You Capture Your Favorite Concert Moments

By Sage Anderson

Sage Anderson

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Ray-Ban glasses have had an enduring pop culture and fashion legacy since the Fifties, from Tom Cruise’s classic Aviators on-screen in Top Gun,  to shading musical artists across the decades. They’re a classic style staple, but now, more than 80 years after they were launched, the glasses have begun their second life as smart companions.

Ray-Ban is continuing to pioneer new collaborations with unexpected brands like Meta, releasing their first pair of smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Stories , late last year. Equipped with dual HD cameras , microphones, and discreet open-ear speakers, they bring 21st-century tech in timeless Ray-Ban style.

Buy Ray-Ban Stories $299+

How Do the Ray-Ban Stories Work?

As far as smart glasses go, the Ray-Ban Stories are as sleek as they come. Despite the promises of many smart spectacles of the past, the Ray-Ban Stories have the ability to take photos and videos on the fly in a way that feels both accessible and fashionable. They also have built-in microphones and open-ear speakers, letting you make calls and listen to music without headphones.

That’s these glasses should be at the top of your festival packing list this summer concert season. Because isn’t it both awkward and uncomfortable to hold up a smartphone for an artist’s entire set to record those precious performances?

There are plenty of ways to use the Ray-Ban Stories glasses, from capturing sports to documenting family get-togethers to upgrading your commute, but we immediately thought of concerts as one of the best uses for the Ray-Ban Stories glasses.

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So whether you want the best first-person pics possible from your favorite performance or you’re just looking to beat those pesky festival camera restrictions, read on for tips and hacks on how to use the Ray-Ban Stories to get the best concert footage possible.

Why Ray-Ban Stories Are Great for Concerts

Unlike some ultra-compact cameras, the Ray-Ban Stories’ video and photo quality is up to snuff for capturing concerts. The glasses have dual 5-megapixel cameras that can capture up to 2592 x 1984-pixel images and 1184 x 1184 videos at 30 fps. Even if it takes a couple of tries to get that perfect shot, the Ray-Ban Stories have plenty of storage packed into one compact frame.

The sleek frames solve a few problems that concert-goers often encounter when it comes to capturing their experience. Firstly, there’s the ease of use provided by the Ray-Ban Stories. You don’t have to hold your phone or remember to take it out when something happens on stage, and you don’t need to constantly watch the performance through your phone’s screen for framing. With the Ray-Ban Stories, what you see is what you capture. Also, touch controls on the side of the frames let you quickly take a photo or video when something important happens — no fumbling to get your phone out of your pocket or bag.

Secondly, there’s the connectivity you get with Ray-Ban Stories. As a collaboration with Meta, all pictures and videos are immediately available on the dedicated Facebook View app. Here, you can quickly view, edit, and share your content while you’re still at the festival, instead of waiting to get home to transfer files from your camera to your laptop and then to your phone for sharing.

The discrete open-ear speakers and three built-in microphones also come in very handy for festivals, allowing us to make hands-free calls while roaming the grounds. This is super convenient when it comes time for the (always difficult) task of re-grouping with friends.

Where to Buy Ray-Ban Stories Online

Looking to pick up some Ray-Ban Stories before your next music festival ? Head to Ray-Ban.com .

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The frames are available in three different shapes, including the classic Wayfarer , the Meteor , and the Round . All frames can be ordered in different colorways too, including sunglasses and clear lens glasses. Pricing starts at $299 at varies based on lens style.

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Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses review: the wearable AI future isn't here yet

Interesting smart glasses, but not yet for everyone.

TechRadar Verdict

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are a decent successor to the Ray-Ban Stories, but while their design is impeccable, the camera and audio quality leave something to be desired, and the AI experience is currently rudimentary outside of the US.

Lightweight, fashionable design

Handy voice assistant

Fun for video capture

12MP camera trumped by most smartphones

Weak bass performance

Wearable camera may be unsettling for others

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

• Price and availability
• Should I buy?

Also consider

How we test.

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are a stylish piece of tech that offer a fair amount of utility, and a general improvement on the original Ray-Ban Stories . Unfortunately, the jack-of-all-trades approach that Meta and Ray-Ban have taken hasn't paid off – no feature feels quite polished enough right now, making the smart specs a tough gadget to recommend to most.

Design wise they're very difficult to fault. The build quality feels high, there are over 150 styles to choose from so you're sure to find a pair that suits your needs, and the charging case is the perfect blend of fashion and function.

Unfortunately, for all of their design successes, I feel the smart glasses leave a lot to be desired in other areas.

The 12MP camera is generally a letdown for photos, though the video content it captures is decent – it’s a fun, easy way to capture experiences while still feeling present in the moment rather than at a distance behind a camera. It's just a shame that the glasses are a little too locked into Meta's ecosystem; I’m sure influencers would greatly appreciate the ability to livestream to platforms beyond Facebook and Instagram, but alas that’s not currently possible.

The audio is fine but not great. Mid-range and high tones have good clarity, but the speakers are noticeably weak in the bass department (even compared to reasonably priced air-conduction headphones). This leaves many tracks feeling a little empty, and the glasses suck the life from songs heavy on bassier tones.

And while the AI features seem decent so far, they haven't fully rolled out to all regions yet. Meta's conversational AI is still in beta – and only available in the US – and the ability to use the camera to answer questions about your environment hasn't yet been switched on anywhere (and there's no telling when it will be).

We plan to revisit these smart specs in the future, when some software updates have rolled out. For now, we feel you might be better off with your phone, some air-conduction headphones, and a pair of dumb Ray-Ban Wayfarers – the latter two of which you can probably pick up for just less than the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses' asking price of $299 / £299 / AU$449.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: Price and availability

If you want to pick up a regular pair of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses in the US, UK or Australia they’ll set you back $299 / £299 / AU$449. If you want them to come with Transitions or Polarized lenses this will cost you a little more, at $379 / £379 / AU$539 and $329 / £329 / AU$489 respectively.

Those prices are around twice as much as you should expect to pay for a pair of regular (dumb) Ray-Ban Wayfarers, and the same as what the Ray-Ban Stories cost (the brand's first smart glasses collaboration with Meta).

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: Design

• Sleek stylish design
• Over 150 customization options to choose from
• Four-hour battery life between charges

Design-wise the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are nearly perfect – they ooze style, they’re comfortable to wear, and they honor what you would expect from glasses that boast Ray-Ban branding.

For a start, I love how customizable they are. When you order a pair you can choose from three frame styles: Wayfarer, Wayfarer Large, or the brand-new Headliner style that’s been created specially for this collaboration; five frame colors: matte black, glossy black, transparent black, transparent blue, or transparent orange; and a massive variety of lenses, from clear to shaded to prescription to polarized. All in all there are over 150 different combinations of frames and lenses, so you should be able to find a look that suits you perfectly. 

No matter which combination you choose, the glasses have an IPX4 water resistance rating and boast 32GB of storage, which is enough for roughly 500 photos and 100 30-second videos. You’ll also get a pair of specs that feel just as easy to wear as a regular pair of glasses. The Wayfarers weigh just 48. 6g / 1.71oz (or 50.8g / 1.79oz for the Large frames) and the Headliner frame weighs 49.2g / 1.74oz.

This includes the weight of the frames and lenses, as well as the speaker hidden in each arm , the camera that’s next to the left lens and a light that’s in a corresponding position next to the right lens, five microphones, an internal battery, and the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chipset that runs the whole show. Meta and Ray-Ban have managed to cram in a surprising amount without making the specs look or feel bulky at all. 

I also simply adore the charging case. Instead of the disappointingly bland black case the Ray-Ban Stories came in, these new smart glasses adopt one that looks practically identical to a classic Ray-Ban case, save for a USB-C port on the bottom, a hidden button on the back, and a subtle LED status light on the front clasp.

Beyond looking cool, the case can provide the glasses with an additional 32 hours of use, on top of the four hours of charge the glasses promise to deliver on their own. It only takes 75 minutes for the case to charge the glasses from 0% to full, or you can get to 50% in 22 minutes, which isn’t too shabby.

The only gripe I have is that I wish the smart glasses came with multiple lenses – at least two – that you could easily swap between. Ideally, you’d have one pair that’s shaded for outdoor adventures in the sun, and another that’s clear, for wearing the glasses indoors or when shades aren’t appropriate. 

The pair I’ve been testing have typical black shades, and while they’re undoubtedly cool, I’m writing this review in October, and in the UK where I’m based it’s not really sunglasses weather, from either a style perspective or a practical one. If I could instead use clear lenses I’d have one less reason to keep the glasses in their case rather than wearing them on my face when I go out – perhaps this design choice is intended to encourage you to pick up the Transitions lenses, which go from clear to shaded when you head out into the sun.

• Design score: 5/5  

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: Specs

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: Camera

• 12MP isn't enough for good crisp looking pictures
• Video recordings are decent and the glasses allow you to get involved
• Live streaming through glasses is locked to Meta platforms

As I expected when I saw that the camera boasted only 12 megapixels, the photo quality leaves something to be desired. While there’s a slight convenience to being able to take a picture without pulling your phone out, 95% of the time the upgrade to a far crisper 50MP camera (the minimum for practically every mid-range or better smartphone nowadays) is worth the extra few seconds it takes.

Further adding to the camera’s woes is that framing a picture is tricky because, unlike with your phone or a traditional camera, you can’t see where everything is placed in the shot. If you’re just trying to snap a quick pic and don’t care too much about the composition then you should be fine, but I frequently found that I could take several snaps with the specs and still not get the shot I wanted. 

I should also mention that wearers of hats might want to take them off before taking pictures; I kept my baseball hat on initially when taking test snaps, and found that its bill was poking into every single one, so I had to take it off and reshoot.

When it comes to video, the glasses’ quality is more acceptable. The 1080p video recording looks fine on a phone screen, and there’s a huge advantage over recording with your phone, in that you can take a more active part in the action you’re capturing.

And based on my tests you can get fairly involved – if you’re actively shaking your head or getting bumped about then there will be some shake to the video, but in general, I found that the footage looked fairly stable for a camera worn on my face.

The microphones are also pretty good. While they can pick up a fair amount of noise at times, people’s voices and music playing nearby come through clearly. Plus, if you listen to the video through the glasses, the speakers will mimic the direction of the recorded audio for a more immersive experience.

The only slight downside is that recordings are limited to a maximum of one minute; – you can also set shorter time limits of 30 or 45s – and when the limit is reached the recording will cut off. This is fine if you want to share the clip on a platform like Instagram Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts, but will be frustrating for people looking to capture longer recordings.

The only way around this restriction is to livestream from the glasses, on which there’s no time limit. This is a fun feature for content creators to explore, although I feel the glasses suffer a little from their live-streaming capabilities being locked into the Meta ecosystem. I understand why Meta wants to keep its innovative tech exclusive to its platforms, but this means that creators who have a following on TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, and elsewhere won’t be incentivized to give its smart glasses a whirl.

While you’re capturing a video or snapping a picture a bright light on the right side of the glasses will automatically illuminate to let people around you know that they’re being recorded.

• Camera score: 3.5/5

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: Audio

• Good clarity for mid-range and high tones; lacking in the bass department
• Open-ear design lets you enjoy music and be aware of your surroundings
• Some audio leakage so your music isn't completely private

Considering that the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are, ultimately, a pair of glasses I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some aspects of their audio abilities. That said, they’re far from perfect, and I think nearly everyone would get more out of a pair of air-conduction headphones like the JBL Soundgear Sense .

When testing the smart specs I noticed that they were great for enjoying audio content that consists of mostly mid-range and high tones. This was particularly noticeable with songs like Vampire ; Olivia Rodrigo’s soprano singing came through with great clarity, even at higher volumes. 

I also appreciated the spatial audio provided by these specs; I felt immersed in the soundscape they created. Plus, the open-ear nature of the glasses’ speakers means I can listen to music or a podcast without being cut off from the world, although this design does lead to some audio leakage.

Meta and Ray-Ban's use of directional speakers means your music shouldn't be too annoying to anyone nearby, but if someone is close to you they will be able to hear what you're listening to if you're playing it at a moderate or louder volume

Bass lovers (like me) should avoid these glasses like the plague, though – at least for their audio.

To get a feel for the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses’ bass performance I flicked on Glass Animals’ Tokyo Drifting . There’s a powerful thump that drives the track throughout, and with a capable audio gadget the bass drop at the two-minute mark – and the subsequent controlled explosion of noise – that takes us into Denzel Curry’s rap section can’t help but make you feel like a contender to be the next world heavyweight champion. 

However, listening to the track on these smart glasses, there’s very little oomph to the track, or any other bass-heavy tune for that matter, leaving songs that normally keep me pumped during workouts feeling limp.

Even if you aren’t a bass-head obsessed with booming beats like those in Tokyo Drifting , the lack of those underlying deep tones means many tunes (such as the aforementioned Vampire ) feel a little emptier – incomplete in a way. When I swapped over to more capable headphones, the music felt whole again, and more enjoyable to listen to.

And I’m not comparing these spectacles to something like the Sony WH-1000XM4 from the top of our best headphones list. ‘Capable audio gadget’ includes the JBL Soundgear Sense headphones, which have a list price of £129.99 (around $165 / AU$255). Not only is their audio quality better, but these air-conduction headphones offer the same sense of awareness as the open-ear design of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses – so you’re getting an improved performance, with no compromises (at least in terms of audio).

To end this section on a positive note, I do quite like the feature whereby music or podcasts automatically pause when you take the glasses off and resume when you put them back on. It’s a simple and not wholly unique feature, but I appreciate it nonetheless.

• Audio score: 3/5 

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: AI

• Limited capabilities at launch outside of the US
• AI generally good at responding to requests accurately
• Texting through Messenger is stressful

Lastly, there are the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses’ AI capabilities. Unfortunately, while AI was the main focus of Meta’s presentation when it launched the glasses at Meta Connect 2023 , the current state of the AI I tested on the specs isn’t yet all that advanced.

During my testing, I was limited to just a few simple controls – I could instruct the AI to take photos, shoot videos, and call or message people from my phone contacts, Messenger or WhatsApp .

Most of the time the AI understood exactly what I wanted to do – even when I was outside on a slightly windy day, and when there was some background noise. However, I found that sending messages on Messenger – which includes my hundreds of Facebook friends as contacts – was too stressful, as the glasses weren’t always certain who I wanted to talk to. I never actually sent a message to the wrong person thankfully (so I didn’t have to explain to someone I haven’t spoken to since high school that my smart glasses texted them, not me), but when the glasses kept offering to message the wrong people, I stopped asking them to use the app.

If I was based in the US I would have been able to test out Meta’s conversational AI, which is still in beta but seems impressive. This feature basically gives you access to a voice-based version of ChatGPT or Bing Chat that you can converse with through the glasses. According to the press release I’ve been sent, you can ask the AI for advice on gifts, find answers to your burning questions, or ask for a good caption for a picture you’ve taken using the specs, among other things.

I also wasn’t able to test out the most impressive feature Meta announced for the glasses – their ability to scan what you can see and answer questions about the scene or object you’re looking at, like a wearable Google Lens. This feature isn’t available yet, but it should be coming at some point in the future via an update. 

Because of these missing features, I’m overall a little disappointed by the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses’ AI capabilities. That said, I do plan to return to this review in the future, once more features have been made available in the UK, as my lukewarm initial reaction might change when more exciting features have rolled out.

• AI Score: 3/5 

Should I buy the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses?

Buy them if...

You love stylish tech The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are immaculately designed, and are super-stylish wearable tech.

You want a conversational AI assistant with you everywhere you go While the features haven’t rolled out everywhere yet, the conversational AI seems neat. Once it’s more widely available, and out of beta, it could be a compelling reason to pick these specs up.

You’re a Facebook or Instagram celebrity If you have a following on Meta’s social media platforms, the glasses offer some fun features, like the ability to livestream from the glasses, that you and your followers will appreciate.

Don’t buy them if...

You want top-notch audio The audio quality is fine, but you can get great air-conduction headphones for less that offer significantly better quality sound.

You want a great camera Video-wise the glasses are fine, but when it comes to stills the 12MP snapper doesn’t deliver a high enough quality to replace the phone in your pocket.

You’re paranoid about wearable cameras While Meta has incorporated many privacy and security measures into these specs, it can be a bit weird to consider you’re always wearing a camera that can see what you see. If you want ultimate privacy, this won’t be the gadget for you.

GoPro Hero 11 Black If you want to record video from a first-person perspective then you might want to pick up one of the best action cameras , like the GoPro Hero 11 Black. Some action cams, including GoPro’s, are a little pricey, but they offer fantastic durability and superior image quality.

Read our GoPro Hero 11 Black review

JBL Soundgear Sense As mentioned in the Audio section of this review, the JBL Soundgear Sense air-conduction headphones offer better audio quality than these smart glasses, in a similar, non-isolating design. You won’t get AI controls or a wearable camera, but these headphones are more affordable.

Read our thoughts on the JBL Soundgear Sense

Xreal Air Glasses This alternative breed of smart glasses won’t be for everyone – especially not at $400 (they’re currently only available in the US). But the portable screen is neat, and it might help make people around you feel more comfortable, as you aren’t walking around with a camera on your face.

Read our Xreal Air review

To test the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses I wore them as often as possible, and for long stretches, to get a sense of how comfortable they are to wear and to see if Meta’s battery claims match what I experienced in normal use. To test the camera, I took a lot of pictures and videos (a few of which you can see in this review) to see how the quality compared to that of images taken with my Google Pixel 6 smartphone.

When it came to putting the speakers through their paces I made sure to put the glasses through the same suite of tests I use for headphone reviews. I listened to a wide range of tracks from a variety of genres – as well as podcasts and audio from video content – and then described my findings using a few choice tracks that I felt best highlighted the successes or shortcomings of the glasses. I made sure to also play those same tracks on a few pairs of headphones I have lying around – such as my JBL Soundgear Sense and Bose 700s – to see how the glasses stack up against more traditional audio gadgets.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed October 2023

Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.

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Ray-Ban Stories review

Expert's Rating

• Stylish Ray-Ban design
• Solid camera performance
• Handy features
• Poor low-light performance
• Audio lacks bass
• Tiny recording LED

Our Verdict

Ray-Ban Stories won’t replace your camera or headphones, but they’re a great first step into the world of smart glasses; combining audio and camera tech into a single pair of stylish frames. They’re expensive and not for everyone, but the convenience (and the brand) will no doubt tempt some. 

Ray-Ban Stories are the result of a collaboration between the luxury sunglasses brand and social media giant Facebook, fusing that signature Ray-Ban look and feel with smart features, including dual cameras, headphone-free music playback and access to Facebook’s branded virtual assistant.

The question is, are they worth the £299/US$299 price tag, or is the tech yet to mature? I’ve been donning the Ray-Ban Stories for the past few weeks and here’s what I think. 

Design and features

• Look and feel like regular Ray-Bans
• Embedded 5Mp cameras and micro-speakers
• LED recording light isn’t obvious enough

Ray-Ban Stories are, essentially, a pair of Ray-Bans with slightly thicker arms than you might be used to and that’s pretty impressive considering the tech packed into the frames.

These smart glasses sport all the hallmarks of a pair of Ray-Bans, including the Ray-Ban signature and initialling on the arms and lenses, and it’s available in three distinct Ray-Ban designs too; Wayfarer, Round and Meteor. Combined with six colour options, as well as the option to select either clear or transition lenses (the latter at an additional £80/US$80), you can essentially style Ray-Ban Stories to your tastes and needs. 

Those who need glasses on a daily basis can opt to get prescription lenses fitted, but this has to be done via Ray-Ban, and it’ll cost you an additional £219/US$209 on top of the already-expensive £299/US$299 base price for the Stories. 

Where you’ll begin to notice differences in design is when it comes to the smarts, with Ray-Ban Stories sporting two 5Mp cameras on the left and right edges, along with a single button on the top of the right arm used for activating the camera. When you’re taking a photo or video, you’ll see a small white LED on the inside of the frames, just on the periphery of your vision, and there’s a second next to the camera to indicate recording status to those nearby too. 

Look more closely at those thick arms and you’ll likely notice micro speakers embedded into the bottom which play music, as well as various chimes indicating different actions, without the need for earbuds or headphones. 

You can control volume and playback via a series of taps and swipes via a touch-sensitive surface on the right arm of the Stories. The sensitivity of swipes to adjust volume can take some getting used to, but it’s a handy feature to have when listening to music on the go.

I just wish there was a sensor that detects when the glasses have been taken off and disables the touch panel; I’ve already lost count of the number of times I’ve accidentally started playing music, or adjusted the volume when the Stories have been in my hands and not on my face. 

Though practically unnoticeable, there’s also a three-microphone array that lets you take calls via the Stories and allows you to perform certain actions  – like taking a photo or recording a video – via Facebook Assistant. With a simple ‘Hey Facebook’ wake word, the Stories will chime and begin listening for your request.

The glasses pick up on the phrase most of the time, though it does struggle in loud environments, and it’ll action your request impressively quickly, even without an active internet connection.

There are only a handful of camera-related actions available right now, and it’s only available in English but that could expand in future. The only disappointment is that you can’t also access your phone’s virtual assistant via Ray-Ban Stories.

Ray-Ban Stories come in a leather-clad, Ray-Ban-branded hard carry case, that doubles up as a charging case, holding additional charges to keep the glasses powered for extended amounts of time; there’s also a soft pouch to store them in too. 

The tech inside Ray-Ban Stories – the dual 5Mp camera setup, in particular – is subtle and only really noticeable if you’re actively looking it. While that’ll be appreciated by those that want connected glasses that don’t look like wearable tech, this approach clearly raises privacy concerns.

Ray-Ban Stories feature a single white LED on the front – next to the lens – to indicate that you’re taking a photo or recording a video, but it’s easily missed, especially in bright environments. It relies on people understanding what the light means beforehand for a start and it’s so small that it’s easy to cover up if you were so inclined.

I’d prefer something more akin to Snapchat Spectacles, with a flashing LED ring that circles the camera when recording, making it unquestionably obvious that the camera is active. It’d not only make me feel more comfortable wearing them in public areas, but it’d help give those around me peace of mind that I’m not sneakily recording them.

Camera performance

• Impressive photo and video capture in ideal conditions
• Decent electronic image stabilisation
• Quality decreases rapidly in dark conditions

Taking pictures and recording videos using Ray-Ban Stories is easy, though the slightly counterintuitive setup might take a bit of getting used to. Pressing the capture button on the right arm begins a 30-second video, while pressing and holding the button for a second or so will trigger a photo. Many would assume it’d be the other way around but it’s something you get used to within a few days of use.

You’ve also got the option to activate the camera using the Facebook Assistant. Just say “Hey Facebook, take a picture” or “Hey Facebook, record a video” and it’ll action that request almost immediately. 

Before I delve any deeper, it’s worth noting that you shouldn’t expect the same quality of images as a high-end smartphone or digital camera. The dual cameras are only 5Mp, offering photo capture at a maximum 2592 x 1944, with a 105-degree field of view and video capture caps out at a square 1184 x 1184, at 30fps. There isn’t a way to adjust exposure settings or anything else either; it’s all handled on the fly by the glasses.  

With that being said, the camera performance on offer from Ray-Ban Stories is actually quite impressive. 

In ideal conditions (outdoor, in well-lit environments) the Stories take impressively sharp, crisp photos, with well-balanced colour and plenty of detail, for close enough objects, anyway. That’s where the limitation of the 5Mp sensors come into play, with far-away objects – like a city skyline – becoming difficult to make out, especially once zoomed in. Still, it’s good enough for posting on the likes of Facebook and Instagram; arguably the main environments the specs were designed for. 

Video is equally impressive in well-lit conditions – with decent exposure and colour balance – though there is a bit of a reduction in overall detail compared to still photos, likely due to the reduced resolution on offer. The electronic image stabilisation works hard too, steadying the shudder from steps as you walk, producing something relatively smooth and stable at out the other side. 

It has to be said that low-light performance isn’t quite as impressive, with noticeable levels of noise (especially in videos) but that’s to be expected with such small cameras. We’re only now getting to the point where smartphone cameras take decent night photos and we’ve had camera phones for 15+ years. 

So, how do you get the videos and photos captured on Ray-Ban Stories from the glasses and onto social media? It’s all handled by the dedicated Facebook View app for iOS and Android. Completely separate from the main Facebook app, Facebook View allows you to import recent captures via Wi-Fi Direct. You’ll get a preview thumbnail of all your new shots quickly but depending on how much there is to transfer, the process can take a few minutes.

From there, you can edit your content  – including cool parallax-esque effects made possible from the dual-camera setup – and save it to your phone’s photo library or simply upload it directly to social media. It’s worth pointing out that the content stays locally on your smartphone, with no data sent to Facebook’s servers in the process. 

Audio performance

• Pleasant audio experienced focused on mids and highs
• Could use more bass
• Sound leakage issues at high volume

The concept of smart glasses that play audio streamed from your smartphone isn’t new. There are already connected specs like Bose Frames and Fauna Audio Glasses , that focus on audio playback, though Ray-Ban Stories are one of few pairs of smart glasses that combine audio and camera tech into a single package.

And while these smart glasses suffer from many of the same issues as others in the same product category, the Stories actually sound pretty impressive. 

They sport stereo speakers set into the arms, designed to direct music downwards towards your ears; allowing you to listen to your favourite tunes or podcasts while still remaining fully aware of your environment. That means you can bop your head to a bit of Billie Eilish while chatting to a mate, or simply stay aware of your surroundings while getting directions when riding a bike. 

It’s an interesting experience hearing music without the need for headphones, especially if music is already playing on the Stories when you put them on. Going from no sound to the sound of music within a split second is quite impressive, especially without the traditional feel of headphones over your head or buds in your ears. The downside, of course, is that the outside world can be distracting at times, particularly on a busy city street during rush hour. 

It should go without saying that you’re not going to get the same audio quality as if you were donning the AirPods Max or Sony WH-1000XM4 but sound quality is more than enough for a casual listening experience. It’s crisp and surprisingly detailed in the mids and highs, though the severe lack of bass means it’s better suited to acoustic tracks and vocals than bass-heavy Dubstep tracks.

That’s not necessarily an issue specific to the Stories though; it’s a complaint of most audio glasses available right now. 

Another issue prevalent on most smart glasses is sound leakage – a given considering the micro-speaker nature of Ray-Ban Stories and co – though it’ll depend on your volume output. When at around 50% volume, you can listen to music or podcasts without those around you picking up on the sound but the open-ear nature of the glasses means you’ll often want to crank the volume up beyond the halfway point.

It’s when you do this that the sound leakage becomes apparent, especially at 100%, at which point output is clearly audible to everyone nearby. This essentially means you can’t use Ray-Ban Stories in quiet, enclosed spaces, without risk of annoying those around you. This shouldn’t be so much of a problem in larger outdoor spaces.  

Using the speakers in combination with the built-in mics, you can also use Ray-Ban Stories to take calls. With a double-tap of the right arm, you can answer calls via these smart specs, though I wouldn’t recommend it for anything longer than a brief chat.

The built-in microphones pick up a lot of environmental noise, which quickly becomes a problem in louder environments, not to mention incoming audio can intermittently cut out too. The latter is a particular surprise, considering there’s no such stutter when playing music, and it became so frustrating in testing that I simply gave up answering calls via the glasses, reverting back to either AirPods or holding the phone up to my ear.

So while the concept is great, the execution isn’t quite there yet. 

Battery life and charging

• Facebook’s six-hour battery life claim is optimistic
• Charges via charging case which holds an additional 2-3 charges

When it comes to battery life, Facebook claims that Ray-Ban Stories can last around six hours before needing a top-up via the carry case – which doubles as its charger. That’s not six hours of continuous use though; rather, that six hours is a combination of taking the occasional photo or video, and listening to music intermittently.

If you were to constantly record or listen to music, that quoted longevity can drop down quite substantially – the glasses dropped by around 50% after 90 minutes of music playback in my experience  – and the annoying part is that there’s no quick way to check current battery life. It’s only available in the top-right of the Facebook View app.  

The hard case features a contact charging point on the left, which when aligned with the contact charging point on the glasses, will begin charging. There are built-in magnets in both the case and glasses that make this process almost foolproof, and the flashing LED on the glasses lets you know once they’re being charged.

Facebook claims that the case has enough juice for three full charges of the glasses, but that’s a bit optimistic in my experience, with the LED on the front of the case flashing red (to indicate a dead battery) after two charges. The case charges fairly quickly via USB-C though, with a discreet port on the rear to receive charge. 

Here’s the hard part to swallow; Ray-Ban Stories start at £299/US$299, the price jumps up to £379/US$379 if you want transition lenses and a whopping £519/US$509 if you need prescription lenses.

That’s undoubtedly expensive for a tech product that won’t effectively replace your headphones or camera, but given the fact that Ray-Ban sunglasses come at a premium anyway, half the price is likely down to the branding. If you like Ray-Bans in general and want to experience the extra functionality of connected glasses like these, then Stories might be a great addition to your collection, but they’re certainly not for everyone.

If you are tempted, you can buy the Ray-Ban Stories via the Ray-Ban Store in the UK and the US right now, along with retailers including John Lewis and Sunglass Hut in the UK, and Best Buy in the US. 

Ray-Ban Stories aren’t the perfect smart glasses but given that we’re so early into the development of connected specs in general, that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s one of the first to combine audio and camera functionality into a single pair of glasses, making them among the most capable connected eyewear available right now, and I imagine that progression will only continue over the next few years. 

Stories look like a pair of traditional Ray-Bans – rather than some experimental tech crossover product – with a lightweight form factor and comfortable feel on the face. The dual 5Mp cameras take great photos and videos – given the hardware on offer – and although there’s a lack of bass on the audio front, these are still great for listening to podcasts or acoustic-focused tunes on the go, without the need for headphones. 

The quality on offer isn’t quite good enough to ditch your dedicated camera and headphones, but if you like the idea of having easy access to those features, and you like sunglasses with that iconic Ray-Ban style, the Stories are a great step into the world of smart glasses. 

Ray-Ban Stories: Specs

• Available in three designs with six colour options
• Dual 5Mp cameras
• 5Mp image capture & 1184 x 1184@30fps video
• 2x micro speakers
• 3x microphones
• Facebook Assistant
• Touch controls
• Wi-Fi 802.11 ac
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Compatible with iOS and Android

Author: Lewis Painter , Senior Staff Writer

Lewis Painter is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor. Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You'll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.

Recent stories by Lewis Painter:

• Huawei Watch GT 3 review
• Where to buy the Dyson Zone
• The Best VR headsets in 2023

Android Police

Ray-ban meta smart glasses review: built for social creators.

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Have you ever wished you could document your life without needing to strap a GoPro to your chest or hold your phone up? For the past year, I've searched for a solution to capture my travels without being actively involved.

I've tried action cameras — only for most of the footage to be shaky and unusable from a yacht trip — as well as many different phones, and eventually, you face the same issue with all of them: you're more focused on the screen or capturing the experience, rather than enjoying the experience at the moment. The Ray-Ban Meta solves this by being an incredibly sleek and discreet way to capture your viewpoint. This is how Ray-Ban and Meta have built a nearly perfect product for social creators.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are a fantastic way to share a hands-free POV with others in a way that a phone or a GoPro can't. The camera is excellent in many conditions, and I enjoyed them so much that I'll be buying a second pair to use them day or night.

• Excellent camera in good lighting
• Quality mics and speakers
• Range of styles, plus prescription options
• Iconic Ray-Ban design and build quality
• Footage syncs to your phone for easy sharing
• Camera can be blurry in low light
• Video recording limited to 60 seconds
• Can't livestream to TikTok
• Expensive with addition of prescription lenses
• Aspect ratio is unsuitable for horizontal video

Price and availability

The Ray-Ban Meta starts from $299 in the US for various styles and color choices (more on that below). Prescription lenses are available, as are non-prescription transition lenses that transition between clear glasses and sunglasses depending on the ambient or direct light hitting them. You can buy them from Ray-Ban, Sunglass Hut, and Best Buy.

Design and hardware

An iconic look.

The Ray-Ban Meta is ostensibly a pair of sunglasses virtually indistinguishable from a regular pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, except for the camera in the left corner. The right corner features an LED that pulses when capturing a photo or video, but it's easy to miss, even for seasoned tech journalists who have and use the product.

I've got several pairs of Ray-Ban aviator glasses, and the Ray-Ban Meta features all the same hallmarks of Ray-Ban sunglasses, including the iconic logo on the arm and the corner of the lenses. The only difference is the build, with the plastic arm housing the electronics and feeling cheaper than my Aviators. In partnering with Ray-Ban, Meta has delivered a product that fits its core purpose as a pair of sunglasses. Compared to the Bose Frames — which don't quite work as a pair of stylish sunglasses — the Ray-Ban Meta can easily pass as a regular pair of sunglasses when the battery has been depleted.

Unlike the Bose Frames, Google Glass, and other attempts at smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Meta crucially comes in various styles, sizes, and colors. The core styles are Wayfarer and Headliner, which resemble other Ray-Ban styles. Each of these comes in seven different options: three are polarized (Blue Shiny Jeans frames with Dusty Red lenses, Black frames with brown lenses, and Black frames with Green lenses), two are sunglasses that aren't polarized (Brown frames with blue lenses and Black frames with black lenses) and two have clear lenses, one of which has a blue-violet light filter. There are also three frame sizes so you can find the perfect fit. The Ray-Ban Meta offers quite literally something for everyone.

A touch control pad on the right arm lets you change the volume from the built-in Open Air speakers. I've found the speakers loud enough in most environments and incredibly useful in big cities where you don't want to close your ears to the surrounding environment. Near the hinge between the arm and the face of the glasses is a single button that will be your most used: by default, you press once to take a photo and press and hold to start or stop recording a video, although you can reverse this behavior in the app.

A Qualcomm processor, 4K camera with video stabilization, embedded battery, and a charger built into a sunglasses case that looks stylish and is effective at charging. With no direct competition, it would have been easy for Meta to cut corners, yet the Ray-Ban Meta hardware ticks every box.

The processor is fast, and the voice control responds quickly, although it is somewhat limited in its feature set. The case is one of my favorite features as, unlike devices such as the Focals by North, you dock the Ray-Ban Meta into the case with a very reassuring click, and the little LED on the front lights up to let you know the glasses are charging.

The speakers feel like other open-air audio solutions and have been a joy to use, although if you have the Ray-Ban Meta perched on your head, you'll find that they're still connected to your phone.

Battery life

Ample storage, okay battery life.

The 154mAh battery lasts about five or six hours of active use, which drops to around three hours when capturing content. They are rated as offering up to six hours of active use and four hours of live streaming, and while it doesn't deliver this fully, I think the battery life is more than acceptable. The case can provide eight full charges and is fairly quick to charge the glasses, while the case itself takes around 3.5 hours to charge using a USB-C cable.

32GB of storage should let you capture around 500 photos and 50 one-minute-long videos. I'm yet to run out of memory, as the Ray-Ban Meta will connect to your phone (via the Meta View app) and import all the content to your phone's memory. This means you'll want to ensure you have a larger phone storage, especially if you plan on creating a lot of content.

The camera can struggle in low light

The Ray-Ban Stories offered a barely passable 5MP camera, while the Ray-Ban Meta has a much better camera that captures in social-friendly formats: 3024 x 4032 px photos and 1080px + video. This is paired with a five-mic system that is very good and captures excellent audio, even when capturing a voice across a table and distinguishing it from other conversations happening around you.

In excellent lighting conditions, this is a camera that won't fail you. It can capture phenomenal photos and videos from a perspective you wouldn't otherwise capture. For travel vloggers, it's a fantastic way to be present while also capturing your experience, and even for tech journalists, it offers an opportunity to capture unboxings and other content for products that you may need two hands for but need to record.

In lower light, it becomes more questionable. The stabilization lacks a little, especially when taking photos, and if you're capturing a photo while moving, there's a decent chance it'll have some motion blur. With a phone, this is easy to rectify immediately, whereas with the Ray-Ban Meta, you won't discover this until you import the media into the app. You'll have to accept this trade-off for all the other benefits the Ray-Ban Meta offers.

Creating content is the primary use case of the Ray-Ban Meta. The ultra-wide 12MP camera is surprisingly good, so good that the Ray-Ban Meta will become my go-to glasses for tradeshows like CES or travel vlogging. The immersive audio recording is excellent, and the glasses offer a significantly improved experience over the Ray-Ban Stories. The live-streaming integration with Facebook and Instagram means that these are the glasses you'll want to use to create social content. There are trade-offs, but the benefits far outweigh them.

App and software

'hey meta' isn't exactly essential.

The Meta View app bridges the connection between your phone and the Ray-Ban Meta. You'll use the app to set up and pair your glasses during the initial setup and import content from the glasses to the app. The app is where you'll also change the various settings, which are quite limited on the content side.

There are only two options for changing content capture settings: the default behavior of the content capture button and the video recording length (15, 30, or 60 seconds). The app offers little else, and it would have been nice to see options to change the aspect ratio. This can easily be changed with a future update, but it also makes sense why Meta wouldn't offer this; it would be far too easy to crop to a certain aspect ratio only to crop out content and disappoint the user.

The app allows you to import content automatically when the glasses are in their case. Alternatively, you can manually import content whenever you open the app. Either way, your phone will join the Wi-Fi network broadcast by the Ray-Ban Meta and import them fairly quickly.

Rather than wait for a high-quality video to import fully, it quickly imports at a lower resolution and then replaces it with a full-resolution video. This is great if you want to review the content you've captured quickly.

One feature you may or may not use is the Meta AI conversational assistant. Activated through the "Hey Meta" command, it lets you quickly take a photo or start recording a video with your voice. This AI is also available in WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and the Meta Quest 3. It's a custom model that is fairly capable, but I have barely used it.

The hot word activation has been fairly good in most scenarios, but I'd rather press a button to take a picture, and I haven't felt the need to call it for its other features. I can see why it would be useful, such as taking photos of a beautiful sunset while your hands are busy, but I haven't used it much.

Safety and security

Travel might be tricky.

The hardware and software experience of the Ray-Ban Meta is excellent overall. Still, there will inevitably be users who attempt to capture photos and videos of someone without their permission.

Meta and Ray-Ban have taken a step towards this by solving the obvious: whenever you capture photos or videos, the LED pulses to make it obvious. If you try to cover the LED, the glasses won't take a photo or video (or will stop transferring content in the app), but you can start the video and then cover the LED, and it'll continue recording.

These are little steps that both companies have taken, but regulation will ultimately determine and require them to do more. In the US, you can record someone's likeness in public with no problems, as there's no reasonable expectation of privacy in a public space. In most other countries, this is different.

I travel to the Middle East often, and in some countries, they'll take your drone away in airport customs. The Ray-Ban Meta are not well known right now, but as they become more common, I'm worried they may become banned in some countries. Similarly, capturing content in public may result in the police confiscating and destroying your glasses, especially in tourist spots like Dubai, where you'll be stopped from filming inside a mall using your phone.

Then there's the elephant in the room: for every technological advancement, people will use it in nefarious ways. As the Ray-Ban Meta are virtually indistinguishable from regular sunglasses, they present a very real privacy threat. They are far less obvious than filming with a phone or traditional camera.

These challenges must be overcome for glasses like the Ray-Ban Meta to be commonly accepted. I think Ray-Ban and Meta may have to use AI to prevent the capture of certain content capture (for example, to block the creation of child sexual abuse material, or CSAM for short) — whether by choice or regulation — but I also think it'll be possible for them to solve these existential problems.

Competition

The Ray-Ban Meta doesn't have any direct competition in terms of smart glasses. It is far better than its predecessor – the Ray-Ban Stories – and the Snapchat Spectacles, which launched this nascent category.

If you want to capture Point-of-View content, you could use a phone or a GoPro, but neither offers the convenient hands-free nature of the Ray-Ban Meta. Each has its own benefits, but as the Meta is also an excellent pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, there's little reason not to buy it if it appeals to you.

Should you buy them?

We live in an era where most people want to share their lives in the moment: the Ray-Ban Meta is made for this generation. If you're a content creator or want to capture memories from your eye's perspective, the Ray-Ban Meta are the smart glasses you'll want to buy.

Yes, the Ray-Ban Meta does have some challenges. No tech product is perfect, but these glasses feel more polished and capable than I imagined they would be. I expected a niche product that I would inevitably return. Instead, I've enjoyed them so much that I will buy a second pair, opting for prescription clear lenses. This means that I'll be able to record day or night.

I can't wait for CES in January, where I plan to film most of my social content on the Ray-Ban Meta. I would have laughed if you had told me this before I started using them. That's how impressed I've been, and this feels like the product that Meta has been building up to.

Nirave is a creator and Chief Analyst at Mint Insights, focusing on health, productivity, and technology. He has reviewed technology for 18 years and shares insights, testing analysis, and more at MintInsights.com and on Twitter , Instagram , Threads , and YouTube .

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are a fantastic way to share a hands-free POV to social, in a way that a phone or a GoPro can't. The camera is excellent in many conditions and I enjoyed them so much, I'll be buying a second pair so I can use them day or night.

• Smartwatches & Wearables

Facebook's Ray-Ban Stories Somehow Make Both Ray-Bans and Spying Less Cool

Facebook's new smart glasses allow you to capture the world around you while simultaneously looking like a creep..

It seems like it would be considerably difficult to tarnish the cool-factor of Ray-Ban—one of the most canonically hip sunglasses brands of all time, best known for its signature Wayfarer frames—but, impressively, Meta (the company formerly known as Facebook) has managed to do it just by association.

Related Content

Related products.

After a protracted hype campaign and rounds and rounds of rumors , Meta’s smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Stories , are here. Locked and loaded with built-in cameras and speakers, the spectacles are on par with other spy goggles on the market right now—they bear a particularly uncanny resemblance to Snap’s Spectacles—and come in three distinctive lens shapes: Round, Meteor and the classic Wayfarer.

By now, everybody knows that the Ray-Ban Stories are basically just Meta’s soft launch for some kind of augmented reality wearable, which we’ll undoubtedly be seeing at some point later on down the line. But unlike whatever those things will eventually be, the Stories aren’t AR-capable—they’re kind of a more subtle GoPro.

There are more or less two types of people in this world: Those horrified by the insidiousness potential of commercially available, covert spy glasses made by Facebook to collect video, and those who might be excited about finally having a way to get hands-free recordings of all their daily activities. This second group—the influencer class, if you will—is the one most likely to shell out $299 for the glasses, which allow you to shoot short video clips of up to 30 seconds, snap photos with the dual 5-megapixel camera lenses embedded in the frames, and take calls and play music through tiny speakers, all of which we’ll get into in greater depth below.

What If Ray-Bans...but Also a Camera

In its quest to create a line of fun, accessible smart glasses that combine the functionality of earbuds, a phone and a camera with a cool accessory, let’s face it: Meta scored big by netting Ray-Ban. The glasses themselves—which, in addition to being offered in three different shapes can also be customized with different colors and lenses, and can be made prescription—are really good-looking, just like regular Ray-Bans are. I got the Round frames in blue to review, which is the shape that bears a particularly strong resemblance to the Snap Spectacles (with almost the exact same functionality, the two products have more than just aesthetics in common).

Despite being ever so slightly tighter and heavier than your average pair of sunglasses might be, the Stories wear very normally, and a couple of times I caught myself forgetting that things on my face had the capacity to record entirely. The USB-C charging case accompanying the frames is also pretty sleek, and I’ll admit that I was impressed by how snugly the frames nestle in there. The case took about an hour to charge my pair up, which translated to roughly three hours of battery life.

I’ll give it to the Ray-Ban Stories: For a pair of smart glasses that has a few good little tricks up its sleeve, the touch-based controls are all pretty discrete, with nothing weird sticking out anywhere to suggest to the untrained eye that this might be more than an average pair of sunglasses. The dual cameras blend in pretty seamlessly on the front of the frames, making them difficult to spot (more on this later), and a tiny switch on the left arm’s hinge powers the glasses up. Speakers on each arm are situated on the bottom of the frames, sitting just to the front of where your ears wind up when you’re wearing them.

Once the glasses are powered on, a button on top of the right temple gives you the option to tap to snap photos or hold to record up to 30 seconds of video. On the same arm, a swipe bar allows you to slide the volume up or down, and double tapping the same area will let you answer and end phone calls. If you want to ignore a call, tapping and holding the same area will do that—although it seems easy to inadvertently double tap to accidentally answer if you’re not being super diligent.

I’m normally someone who gets really finicky about tiny, delicate controls like these—you can also find some sort of issue with a touch bar, in my opinion—but I have no complaints about the buttons on the Stories. The glasses are well-made: Taking photos gets easier every time, the volume controls work the way they should, and it’s easy to power them on and off—and to tell which mode is which.

The Ease of Hands-Free Recording From Your Face

In terms of the actual media captured by the Stories, the photo and video quality is fine, but it’s nothing to write home about. The 5-megapixel cameras get the job done well enough, but you’ll probably get a more satisfying photo if you make like we did in the olden days and whip out ye olde iPhone (an iPhone 12 or 13 will definitely take higher-quality photos).

Photo composition is admittedly a bit tricky, which is sort of counterintuitive; in a way, this is what it would be like to use your literal eyes to snap a photo. But somehow, in practice, it just feels more complicated than using a camera, since there’s no real way to frame the shot. Obviously, there’s also no way to account for light or movement like you could on a DSLR. The Stories work best when you’re snapping something stationary—something that doesn’t necessarily have to be the most artfully composed, color balanced photo you take this year.

The silliest Stories feature is the “Facebook Assistant”—yes, of course there’s a voice assistant—which can be activated by speaking “Hey Facebook,” followed by a command. But like I said before, the controls are simple enough to use—why would anyone bother with this? Maybe they’re baking a pie indoors with sunglasses on and their hands are full of flour... or maybe this is Facebook’s lame attempt to remind any innocent passerby within earshot who made this gadget.

You do need a Facebook account to use the Stories , and Facebook does collect data based on your usage, but the company is very careful to note in the app’s initial setup that it’s only collecting the data “required to make sure your glasses and app are working properly.” Facebook Assistant, on the other hand, does collect and send your audio recordings to its mothership each time you use it. It’s easy enough to disable that, and have the local files deleted in Settings, and the opposite is also true, as Facebook helpfully notes that if you’d like to share even more of your data, you can also use Settings to do that.

Facebook View—the accompanying app dedicated to importing and editing your images—is easy enough to use, and makes setting up the glasses a breeze. Syncing your captures is as easy as connecting to wifi, and from there you’ll find a little editing station where you can tune up your photos. The controls are relatively rudimentary; similar to what your iPhone’s photo editor can do, sliding bars allow you to adjust for brightness, saturation, warmth, and to sharpen your images, and there’s also the option to crop, enhance, and add frames. Crucially, Facebook also generously gives you the option to download your images onto your phone’s photo album, just in case you want to make the unheard of decision to share them on a platform that’s not Facebook or Instagram.

Fun for a Music Festival, Scary on a Playground

It’s easy to see how hands-free recording is an appealing prospect, but we can’t talk about that without talking about the obvious creep factor associated with the ability to covertly document your surroundings without anyone’s permission or knowledge. Sure, you don’t have to be a huge weirdo about it and use the glasses for evil; sure, there are a couple of subtle telltale signs that might help innocent pedestrians glean that there’s a recording in progress (a white LED light turns on when you take photos, and a startup tone signals that the glasses have been activated). But walking around town in broad daylight testing out the Stories felt like a crime—and a very nerdy crime punishable only by rude stares and people avoiding me on the sidewalk.

As far as ease of use goes, though, it’s admittedly cool to be able to snap a picture instantly, as the moment’s unfolding in front of you, rather than having to go through the whole arduous process of reaching for your phone, opening the camera, framing the shot, and pressing the shutter. The Ray-Ban Stories are seconds faster. Obviously, this prize of convenience is only afforded to those who are wearing their Ray-Bans, and although the brand does make clear frames, it’s probably safe to assume that most people will buy these as sunglasses. Until we’re able to go full tilt into biohacking and install cameras in our retinas, it seems like being able to record instantly with our face will be reliant on some wearable hardware, and also, for the most part, being outside and in the sunlight.

At the end of the day, the inevitable reality of the Ray-Ban Stories is that you’re going to be wearing spy glasses made by Facebook on your head in earnest. Guess we’ll just leave the privacy of others in the capable hands of the surely responsible and compassionate Stories user base and hope for the best! Sarcasm aside, it does feel safe to say that there’s a high potential for abuse here, particularly among users who are, say, under the age of 16.

Historically, people tend to not love it when you record them without their consent. Back when Google tried to make its video-recording Google Glass a thing for consumers to wear in public, a woman claimed she was assaulted outside of a bar in San Francisco for wearing a pair (she also used the glasses to film the attack, and later handed the glasses over to police), and a bunch of European regulators have flagged the Stories’ potential privacy issues.

While there isn’t publicly available data on the Stories’ exact sales numbers just yet, the most recent earnings report from EssilorLuxottica , Ray-Ban’s parent company, noted that the Stories had “started with promising sales data and provided the online business with an additional driver.” Whether that means people are actually buying Ray-Ban Stories in earnest remains to be seen.

For influencers who are keen on finding new ways to capture the small, honest moments of their lives, Ray-Ban Stories are an intriguing—and stylish—way to do so. But for everyone else, this will be more or less of a head-scratcher, as the general lack of enthusiasm around smart glasses seems to confirm. You’ll get better quality photos if you shoot on your phone or your camera, and you’ll get the same accessory for cheaper if you just buy the regular old Wayfarers. Also, you’ll have the added bonus of not looking like a clown going around town secretly recording people with your glasses.

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Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses have ‘influencer’ written all over them

The companies have maintained a slim and light design, while rendering their predecessor obsolete with facebook and instagram livestreaming.

Somewhere between the Ray-Ban Meta and Meta Quest 3 sits an ideal mixed-reality headset. It’s slim, light, offers hand tracking and passthrough and livestreams video when the moment calls for it. It’s designed to be worn inconspicuously outdoors, until the time comes for content capture.

The Meta Quest Ray-Ban is a fantasy at the moment — albeit one that points in the direction of where its makers think this is all headed. Presently, the Ray-Ban Meta and Meta Quest 3 are very different devices, with little in the way of overlap, beyond being head-worn products with built-in sensors.

The Meta Quest 3 is a mixed-reality headset designed to be worn exclusively indoors. It’s light, perhaps, compared to other headsets of its ilk, but wearing the thing while walking around outside frankly sounds a bit miserable. That’s precisely the use case the Ray-Ban Meta was designed for: freedom of movement outside the house that’s designed to go (mostly) unnoticed.

Just prior to writing this, I slipped a pair on, before the JFK airport mobility cart drove my sciatica-ridden ass to the gate. I would say the pair was inconspicuous but for the fact that I was wearing a pair of sunglasses indoors. Well, that and the extremely necessary recording lighting that flashes on so you can’t creep shoot folks without their knowledge. Here’s some of that video:

We got our first glimpse of the Ray-Ban Meta at a briefing just ahead of the recent Connect conference . I was genuinely impressed by the industrial design the join team came up with. Most folks would be hard-pressed to distinguish the charger from a standard Ray-Ban classic eyeglass case. It’s a little thicker than some, sure. A bit heavier. More rigid. But the team was able to make surprisingly few concessions.

There are a lot of clever touches here. In the place of a snap is a ring. Open the case and it glows green when fully charged and orange when not. The orange starts blinking when the battery is low. Space has been maximized inside. The battery sits directly beneath the glasses’ folded temples. In front of this is a dock with two charging pins that lie flush with a pair of contact pads hidden on the underside of the glasses’ bridge, held in place with magnets and a small tab.

The USB-C port is located on the outside bottom of the case, allowing it to sit on its back while being charged. Directly above this on the case’s rear is the Bluetooth pairing button. The case is slimmer than the last gen and can be carried in a pocket comfortably.

Meta says the glasses get “up to” four hours on a charge, while the case gets a total of eight charging cycles, for a grand total of 36 hours. As the company notes, “Battery life varies by use, configuration, settings and many other factors.” That’s the case with all tech, of course, but I did notice that video is a power drainer.

The companies really leaned into the style side of things here (not a bad decision when designing tech meant to be worn on the body). There are two main designs for the glasses. There’s the classic Wayfarer (which is probably what you think of when you think of sunglasses) and the new Headliner (not dissimilar from Wayfarer, but significantly more rounded on the top and bottom).

According to Meta, there are 150 design combos possible, when you factor in all of the different design options, including frame color, style and lenses (including sunglasses, clear, prescription, transitions and polarized).

The temples are thicker than most sunglasses — to be expected, seeing as how they contain the speakers and other components (there’s a transparent option, if you want to see for yourself) — but again, the designers have done a good job keeping size down, all things considered. And again, while slightly heavier than a standard pair of Wayfarers (50.8 g vs. 44 g), you can wear them comfortably all day if you want to (or at least the less than four hours the battery lasts).

There’s a touchpad on the outside of the left temple. Swiping back and forth will adjust the volume (other features can be customized in-app). It also doubles as a control panel for livestreaming, since you likely don’t want to futz with your phone or keep using the wake word. A tap can check Instagram or Facebook comments and viewers in real time. The capture button sits next to the hinge on the left temple.

There is a pair of small circular modules on the end pieces. They look identical, for the sake of symmetry, but serve very different — albeit related — functions. On the top right (when facing the glasses) is the 12-megapixel camera. On the top left is an LED that turns on to alert people in your vicinity that you’re recording.

When the light is covered, the glasses send an audio alert that they’ve stopped recording. This is to avoid people sticking a piece of electrical tape to hide the light. Meta says they didn’t hear of any specific examples of this happening, but they almost certainly got that feedback. Again, privacy is paramount for a device like this, especially since it’s something that most people around you don’t know exists. When the battery is low, you’ll get a spoken alert and the light will blink orange and turn red right before shutting down. The light will blink white when receiving a call, do a single flash when taking a photo and glow steadily when recording.

When pairing, it flashes blue, going solid when connected. The pairing process is pretty straightforward. You’ll need to download the Meta View app, choose between Meta Ray-Ban and Ray-Ban Stories and allow bluetooth to connect. Images and video will save to the glasses’ 32 GB of internal storage (that’s roughly 500 photos or 100 videos at the maximum 30 seconds apiece). You’ll need to tap “Import” inside the app to connect via Wi-Fi and download the contents to your phone. You can also set it up to auto-import via settings.

Once everything is paired, put the glasses on and open either Facebook or Instagram to livestream. Tap the plus icon and it will bring you to the livestream screen. Your phone’s camera is, understandably, the default, but double pressing the capture button will switch over to the glasses. Livestreaming is probably the single biggest killer app Ray-Ban Stories was missing.

There are barely visible down-firing speakers on the bottom of the temple tips. When I first tried the speakers in an otherwise silent room, they sounded surprisingly loud and clear. They’re open-ear speakers, rather than bone conduction, which has its pluses and minuses. Bone conduction tends to be quite quiet but does a decent job with ambient noise, since it’s arriving at your eardrums through a different method.

As expected, I had to turn up the volume quite a bit among the airport din. I would recommend them for quieter environments, where possible, but obviously that isn’t always an option. Sound is integral to the headphones, beyond music listening. For instance, there’s an audible shutter click when you take a picture.

Once you get the hang of the various button presses, the glasses are a cinch to use. After a dozen or so times in Seattle, I finally went full tourist mode to check out the video capture and still capabilities. I also did a bit of livestreaming to both Instagram and Facebook. The 12-megapixel stills are good in a pinch. I won’t be replacing my iPhone camera any time soon, but the shots are certainly suitable for social media, and the built-in ML does a fine job keeping subjects in focus – one of my bigger potential concerns. The color balance did struggle a bit with the red glow of neon signs in the market.

I started things with a livestream of Pike Place market this morning. The experience is a frictionless one that just involves swapping the phone camera for the Ray-Ban’s. No word on when – or if – the functionality will be coming to non-Meta owned platforms, but I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if the company just keeps it in the family here.

Walking around, you would be surprised at how good your head is at keeping a shot stabilized. Again, the 1080p video isn’t the best you’ll get on a mobile device, but it handled the mixed lighting of Pike Place and the bright, overcast skies atop the Space Needle. When wearing them, you’ll find yourself doing a lot of pans with your head to take everything in. The glasses also handled audio quite well, both my own voice and the ambienty, touristy sounds of my surroundings.

If you end up trying them out, I would caution to take everything for a test run before going live. It’s surprisingly easy to forget you’re wearing them for a second and, say, look down at your phone or at something else you wouldn’t wanted streamed live to the internet. There’s always a learning curve with these sorts of new computing platforms.

There are on-board microphones as well, which listen for the “hey Meta” wake word. Voice certainly makes sense on a device like this. It can be used to take a picture, stop and start video and adjust volume (turns out voice is kind of an annoying way to do the latter). You can also ask the glasses for the time, weather and how much battery is left. You can also ask Alexa-style questions, and Meta AI will attempt to answer. That’s currently only available here in the U.S. through an open beta.

The price starts at $299 for standard lenses. Polarized run $329 and transitions $379. Prescription lenses are on a sliding scale. The price will almost certainly be a deterrent for many — and understandably so. Ultimately, you need to ask yourself how much value a face-worn camera will bring to your life. If you make a living livestreaming, it may make sense. It’s a lot to pay, however, for sheer novelty.

It’s worth noting that future updates will bring more value to the device, including sign translation (through voice) and the ability to identify landmarks in front of you. One can see the future of head-worn computing laid out in front of your face — though it’s still going to be a while before we get there.

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Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses II Review: A Stylish Camera for Your Face

I must admit, reviewing the new Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses is something I never thought I would be doing. I was excited to give them a try though, and hey, they do have a camera in them after all.

To clarify, this is the second iteration of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses. I never tried the originals but word on the street is that they weren’t very good. The first thing that struck me about the latest pair is how stylish they are. I suppose I expected the glasses to be heavy and overly bulky. In reality, they feel like the other Ray-Ban glasses that I wear daily. The glasses are available in a myriad of frame styles and lens choices, but the pair I tested have the G15 transitional lenses mounted in Matte Black Wayfarer frames. I like these for most users as they can be worn both indoors and outside on bright days without issue.

The Ray-Ban smart glasses are designed to combine many different pieces of tech into one. First, let’s discuss the camera. The glasses can shoot both 1080 30P video and 12-megapixel stills. I find the overall image quality to be similar to a phone from a few generations back, which is to say that the results are fine for memories or social media output. The video shows fairly heavy compression when dealing with busy scenes and motion. One thing to note is the five microphones located around the glasses. This is a big upgrade from the originals and provides spatial audio in all your video recordings.

Regardless of what mode you use, the composition is always vertical. Being glasses, any chance of shooting horizontally is completely impractical. The camera unit is located off your left temple and is aimed slightly to the right. Although this means that arms-reach subjects will be centered on the glasses, I had to remember to aim my vision slightly to the left to keep farther objects composed correctly.

Taking photos and videos is an easy affair, either using the button on the right arm or by using a voice command. However, I noticed a significant delay when taking pictures. Also, I have to keep my head perfectly still until I hear the artificial shutter click, or else my shot will be blurry, even in brighter conditions.

Okay, let’s tackle the elephant in the room. Having a camera located in glasses creates an “opportunity” for discreet image-taking. There is an LED light that flashes whilst recording stills and video. To be fair, it is quite bright but I still feel that most people won’t notice. If the LED is obscured the glasses will not record but a video can be started and will continue to record if the LED is covered afterwards. I’ll leave it up to you the reader to determine how and when you feel comfortable shooting.

Any images and video clips are stored right on the glasses and then imported directly to your smartphone via built-in WiFi. Perhaps in order to help with limited storage video clips are limited to one minute maximum per clip. For most social media applications this is perfectly acceptable. For casual shooting or as a pseudo-action cam I found the glasses quite acceptable. But what about the other features?

The Ray-Ban glasses work as headphones and speakers all in one. These can be used to listen to music, live stream to Meta-only streaming services, or take phone calls. The aforementioned quintuplet of microphones provides wonderful clarity for live streaming and phone calls.

The built-in speakers are surprisingly easy to hear even in noisy surroundings. They might lack deeper bass notes, but otherwise sound very nice. One of the best features of using the smart glasses is that awareness of your surroundings is unhampered. You can still hear important noises, for example, while driving or walking around busy traffic intersections.

There is an invisible action bar on the side of the right armature that works as a pause button and lets you dance music tracks forward and backward. Of course, you can also use basic “Hey Meta” voice commands to control your glasses and cycle through voice messages and texts.

I have to say though that I don’t personally like using open speakers around other people. Although I wouldn’t say the speakers are overly loud, any nearby people will be privy to your musical tastes and personal calls. Call me old-fashioned but I don’t like putting that burden on others.

Battery life was acceptable with around five or six hours of power under normal use. Heavy use of photo or video recording will be almost half that, but we are talking about constant use. The provided glasses case will recharge the glasses very quickly back up to full and has a USB-C port to recharge with.

Personally, I was impressed with the benefits that these glasses can provide. I can see them being a useful alternative to earbuds and I especially find them useful as a hands-free action camera while fly fishing. Still, I don’t see them being something I would personally invest in and I think that is because they are a very lifestyle-dependent purchase. If you want a hands-free solution to earbuds and don’t want to pull out your phone to take pictures and record memories it could be a fun piece of gear to consider. Otherwise, your phone and earbuds are something you already have and the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are a luxury solution in search of a problem.

What kind of UV protection do Ray-Ban sunglasses provide?

Does ray-ban offer prescription lenses.

• What kind of sunglasses does Ray-Ban make? 

Our personal favorite Ray-Bans

How much do ray-bans cost, the bottom line, ray-ban's sunglasses are popular for a reason — here's why they're worth the money, plus our favorite pairs.

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

• Ray-Ban has been making high-quality frames that are both functional and stylish for over 80 years.
• From classic and mirrored lenses to polarized lenses, Ray-Ban has sunglasses for everyone.
• For more Ray-Ban , read our guides on the best women's , men's , and polarized sunglasses .

If a company has been thriving for years, it's safe to say they probably make pretty good stuff. Ray-Ban has been making functional and cool eyewear since 1937. Today, the brand still offers some of the best sunglasses on the market. Here, we lay out why we love these sunglasses and answer frequently asked questions about the brand.

While sunglasses have become a fashion accessory all on their own, at the core of it, they're made to protect your eyes. Every pair of Ray-Bans delivers on this front. All Ray-Ban lenses have UV protection, but the exact level varies among the types of lenses. Here's what Ray-Ban offers:

• Classic lenses absorb 85% of visible light and block most blue light while providing a "natural vision" because they don't alter the colors you see around you. 
• Mirrored lenses reduce glare for visual comfort near snow and water. Colors look clearer and brighter. 
• Polarized lenses block more than 99% of reflected light around you, eliminate glares, and enhance contrast. Everything looks clearer and brighter.

Another great feature from Ray-Ban is the ability to get prescription lenses . Choose from a wide range of classic Ray-Ban frames and make them yours with custom prescription lenses. You can even make them polarized. 

Of course, nice lenses need to be complemented by equally nice frames, and luckily, Ray-Ban has those, too. You can find high-quality metal and acetate options in small, standard, or large sizes to get the perfect fit. A majority of Ray-Ban customers go for the standard size, but if you're on the fence, you can check out the brand's size guide . 

The high-quality frames, protective lenses, and just-right fit make Ray-Bans equal parts performance and fashion. That means they're just as fit for a leisurely day on the town as an active day on the water, in the snow, or wherever you like to go.

What kind of sunglasses does Ray-Ban make? 

From the iconic to the contemporary, Ray-Ban has a strong selection of stylish pairs fit for every face. You'll probably recognize Ray-Ban's three most classic pairs: The Aviator , The Wayfarer , and The Clubmaster . While eyewear trends come and go, these three pairs are classics. Insider Reviews social media associate Victoria Gracie swears by her Ray-Ban Clubmasters. "In the past," she said, "I've had trouble finding sunglasses that fit my face well, but Ray-Ban's Clubmasters seem to do the trick. The quality is also top-notch — I'm not as careful as I should be with my Ray-Bans, but they're still in pristine condition, and the mirrored lenses don't even show any scratches."

In fact, the Aviators and Clubmasters have even earned spots in our guides to the best women's sunglasses , best men's sunglasses , and best polarized sunglasses — they're that good. In the rare event that you don't see a pair you like, you can even design your own pair from scratch .

Personal Finance Insider reporter Liz Kneuven has both prescription and regular Ray-Bans. She credits her love for the Erika sunglasses ($153) to the unique shape that's slightly round but still angular. "Before those glasses got really popular, it was hard to find anything that shape. They're just so flattering," she says. "For me, it's all about the shape. I've owned and shopped for several pairs of nice sunglasses, but I've never been able to find any other round-ish ones that complimented my face shape like the Ray-Ban Erikas do."

The Round Metal sunglasses ($161) are by far my favorite Ray-Bans, and truthfully, my favorite sunglasses ever. I'm already on my second pair. Inspired by musicians in the 1960s, the style is just retro enough. They're understated but universally flattering, and they edge up pretty much any outfit I wear. Whether it's a sundress and sandals or ripped jeans and a plain white T-shirt, the gold frame and dark green lenses on these match everything. While they are a little pricey, I feel like I've gotten more than my money's worth of wear. Plus, I'd rather pay a little extra for comfort, quality, and the peace of mind that my eyes are actually protected from the sun.

Style and beauty editor Ashley Phillips is also a fan of the Round Metal sunglasses . "I like how these have a cool retro feel, but at the same time they go with basically everything. And even though the wire frame looks delicate, I've owned this pair for years and it's still in great shape."

The range of prices you'll come across when shopping for sunglasses is huge. You could pick up a pair for five bucks at the local bodega or drop over $500 on a pair from your favorite designer label. Ray-Ban falls pretty central on the spectrum, with pairs starting around $150 and going up to about $500  for ones made with an ultra-light titanium frame.

With Ray-Ban, you know you're getting quality lenses and durable frames that can keep up with you through whatever activities your day brings. Cheap sunglasses are a great way to try out new trends without spending too much money, but many pairs are more fun than functional and don't offer enough UV protection. On the other hand, just because a pair of sunglasses is very expensive that doesn't necessarily mean you're getting a higher quality UV protection. You may be paying more for the designer label. I've spent more than $150 on sunglasses from other brands and was ultimately disappointed at how they (barely) blocked the sun from my eyes. From these experiences, I've decided that $150 on a pair of Ray-Bans is actually pretty fair — just do your best not to lose them. 

If you're looking for a pair of Ray-Bans with prescription lenses, you may also be able to receive reimbursement from your insurance company . Both Ray-Ban and retailers like GlassesUSA accept several types of insurance plans. 

Ray-Ban is a heritage brand, and for good reason. They've stayed true to the classics, but have also managed to keep up with the trends without losing sight of their brand. The end result is a brand with universal appeal that everyone from your younger brother to your best friend to your grandma will be proud to rock. Whether you're a Ray-Bans loyalist , or new to the brand, it's definitely a great place to pick up your next pair of sunglasses. 

Shop all sunglasses at Ray-Ban .

Shop ray-ban sunglasses at glassesusa ..

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Do These 5 Interiors Shame The $325K Mustang GTD’s $36K Cabin?

2024 Corvette E-Ray Review: AWD And Hybrid Power Makes For A Better Vette

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The E-Ray is definitely a Corvette like no other, but is all the better for it

by Michael Gauthier

The Corvette is an American icon that has withstood the test of time. That’s no easy accomplishment, but Chevrolet found a winning formula and stuck to it for decades.

That changed when the company introduced the C8, which was notable for featuring an all-new mid-engine design typical of exotic super cars. The advancements continue with the 2024 Corvette E-Ray , which is not only the first hybrid variant but also the first with all-wheel drive.

Needless to say, it’s a Corvette like no other. However, the changes enable the E-Ray to transcend traditional sports cars and deliver a driving experience that rivals some of the best in the world. That’s even more remarkable when you consider that pricing starts at $104,900.

Michael Gauthier / CarScoops

Aggressive And Wide

The C8 is a few years old at this point, but the car still looks fantastic. Its aggressive appearance is further amplified by a wide body, which is shared with the Z06. This makes it 3.6 inches (91 mm) wider than the Stingray as it measures 79.7 inches (2,024 mm) across.

Besides the bodacious body, the E-Ray has staggered 20- and 21-inch wheels that have a twisted design, which is unique to the hybrid. They’re wrapped in wide Michelin Pilot Sport or Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires that provide plenty of grip.

The E-Ray is available as a hardtop convertible or a coupe with a removable roof panel. Our tester was the latter and the roof can easily be removed as well as stored in the trunk.

Customization is a Corvette specialty and customers will find no shortage of options. As an example, our well-equipped tester wore a $2,995 carbon fiber ground effects package, a $2,495 carbon fiber roof panel, $995 carbon flash forged aluminum wheels, $395 black exhaust tips, and $195 carbon flash mirror caps.

None of those items are necessary, but we wouldn’t skip the $2,595 front lift system. At the push of a button, it raises the front end approximately 1.6 inches (40 mm) to prevent damage from speed bumps and steep driveways. That button got a lot of use during our test drive as it’s far better to be safe than sorry.

A Beautiful Cabin With A Few Quirks

While the interior is familiar, it’s still impressive all these years later. That’s particularly true in the range-topping 3LZ, which has leather and suede microfiber upholstery throughout. Designers even went the extra mile and added eye-catching stitching to the roof and door panels.

Not to be outdone, there are stylish and supportive GT2 sport seats with carbon fiber trim. They’re wrapped in perforated leather and feature heating and ventilation as well as eight-way power adjustment.

The good news doesn’t end there as the carbon fiber steering wheel is perfectly sized and a delight to hold. Buyers will also find a head-up display, a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch infotainment system with Google built-in. The latter feels a tad small, but it’s responsive and perfectly placed. It’s also worth noting that entry and egress is a relative breeze compared to some other mid-engine sports cars.

While there’s a lot to like, there are some quirks including a wireless smartphone charger that is located behind your shoulder on the rear bulkhead. The ramp-like row of buttons is also controversial, but some people will undoubtedly appreciate the physical switchgear. Furthermore, the cup holder looks and feels more Cavalier than Corvette.

That being said, the Corvette is dang impressive for the price. It successfully blends style and comfort with an impressive amount of equipment.

Engine Meet Motor

What makes the Corvette E-Ray so special is its high-tech powertrain. The rear-wheels are powered by a familiar 6.2-liter V8, which produces 495 hp (369 kW / 502 PS) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque. It’s the same engine as the standard Stingray and it sports cylinder deactivation technology as well as a start/stop system that is supported by a lightweight 12-volt lithium-ion battery.

Read: GM Caught Benchmarking Corvette Prototypes To Ferrari SF90 Stradale

That’s where the E-Ray departs from tradition as the engine is accompanied by a front-mounted electric motor that produces 160 hp (119 kW / 162 PS) and 125 lb-ft (169 Nm) of torque. It gives the car all-wheel drive as well as an extra boost of performance.

The engine and motor work together to give the car a combined output of 655 hp (488 kW / 664 PS). That’s just shy of the 670 hp (500 kW / 679 PS) Z06, but the extra traction means the E-Ray is the quickest Corvette in history as it rockets from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 2.5 seconds.

The performance is amazing and everything seems perfectly in sync. The magic happens behind the scenes, but you can get a glimpse of the inner workings by looking at the E-Ray gauge display on the infotainment system. It shows a live readout of both engine and motor output.

The display is fascinating to watch while driving as the car perfectly distributes power between the front and rear wheels. As an example, if you’re driving along and want to speed up, the E-Ray might send 50 hp (37 kW /  51 PS) to the rear wheels while 10 hp (7 kW / 10 PS) goes to the front. It’s almost psychic in this regard as the Corvette knows exactly how much power to generate and where to send it.

This gives the car a new level of control, precision, and responsiveness. The E-Ray feels absolutely surefooted as there’s tons of traction and grip. This provides drivers with plenty of confidence as the suspension, low center of gravity, and all-wheel drive system come together to deliver a car that can devour corners with ease.

That being said, the all-wheel drive system does seem to take away part of the fun. However, we stuck to public roads and didn’t explore the car’s limits.

A Front-Wheel Drive Corvette EV

The powertrain enables some interesting new capabilities including a Stealth Mode. It utilizes the car’s 1.9 kWh lithium-ion battery to enable the E-ray to run on electricity alone. In order to do this, you put your foot on the brake, twist the mode selector to choose Stealth, and then hit the start button.

The Corvette quietly comes to life and shows a unique cluster display to indicate it’s operating on electricity alone. From there, you shift into drive and take off.

While Stealth Mode was designed to enable owners to quietly leave their home without waking the neighbors, the Corvette can travel 3-4 miles (4.8-6.4 km) on electricity alone. However, that’s easier said than done as the engine will kick on if you travel faster than 45 mph (72 km/h) or try to accelerate with any sense of urgency.

It’s also worth noting that unlike the McLaren Artura , there’s nothing to plug-in. Instead, the battery is charged during normal driving as well as via regenerative brakes. While this limits the car’s capabilities, it’s as simple as get in and go.

A Joy To Drive

Remember when the simple act of driving put a smile on your face and destinations weren’t important? You will in the E-Ray as it begs you to drive and have fun.

Besides having plenty of power, the car has an excellent eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and a brilliant steering system. The model also boasts Brembo carbon ceramic brakes and Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 suspension.

We mention all of these together as the Corvette’s various modes have a pronounced impact on how the 3,774 lb (1,712 kg) coupe drives. Tour Mode is ideal for leisurely drives or rough roads as it takes some of the edge off the sporty attitude. Sport Mode means business, while Track Mode amplifies things even further. There’s also a My Mode, which enables owners to fine-tune their preferred settings for the suspension, steering, brakes, and engine sound.

Speaking of the latter, the 6.2-liter V8 sounds great and begs you to lower the windows to hear it better. However, that likely won’t be the only noise you’ll hear as we did notice a few squeaks on less than ideal roads.  

Some rough roads impacted the ride quality but, overall, the Corvette is surprisingly comfortable. On good to decent pavement, the suspension did an admirable job handling imperfections. However, as surfaces degraded, so did the ride as a few impacts as well as a construction zone made their presence known. Of course, that’s pretty much par the course for sports cars.

Another somewhat surprising plus is visibility, which is largely good. While the rear pillars do create some sizable blind spots and it can be tough judging where the nose is, the model has a digital rearview mirror as well as a multitude of camera views to help out.

Embrace The Future Of Performance

Much like the C8 itself, the Corvette E-Ray is bound to be controversial. Besides having all-wheel drive, the model is electrified and there’s a certain vocal contingent that sees that as a sign of weakness.

This couldn’t be further from the truth as electrification unlocks more power and new possibilities for the Corvette. Just look at the numbers and it’s hard to argue with a 655 hp (488 kW / 664 PS) mid-engine sports car that costs $104,900. Especially one that can rocket from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 2.5 seconds and run the quarter mile in 10.5 seconds at 130 mph (209 km/h).

To put those numbers into perspective, the aforementioned Artura has 690 hp (515 kW / 700 PS) and 531 lb-ft (720 Nm) of torque, but requires three seconds to hit 62 mph (100 km/h). That’s a bit of an apples and oranges comparison, but shows just how impressive the E-Ray is for the price.

Powertrain aside, the car is comfortable, stylish, and well equipped. It’s also great to drive and has plenty of cachet. In that sense, it’s a Corvette like no other, but also unmistakably one.

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