I Tested Meta's Ray-Ban Display Glasses

Summary

The video provides an in-depth first look at Meta's $799 Ray-Ban smart glasses, highlighting their innovative display, advanced hardware, and seamless user experience. The glasses feature high-resolution cameras, superior audio, transition lenses, and a discreet, bright projection display. They are controlled via a neural wristband for intuitive hand gestures and integrate with a smartphone for additional functionality. The presenter demonstrates practical uses, from messaging and real-time captions to AI-assisted tasks and navigation, emphasizing convenience and natural interaction. While not yet a full smartphone replacement, the glasses showcase the potential of wearable tech, signaling rapid improvements and the future of smart eyewear.

Takeaways

• 🤓 Meta's $799 Ray-Ban smart glasses feature a transparent display that shows information in a fixed glancible window, not full augmented reality.
• 🕶 The glasses are a more advanced version of regular Ray-Bans, with a camera that records 2.5× higher resolution, dual speakers, five microphones, and transition lenses.
• 🔋 The glasses include a custom-designed battery that fills the arms, powering the bright, private display that only the wearer can see.
• 💡 The display is bright enough to be seen clearly even outdoors, yet cannot be viewed by others, maintaining privacy.
• 👌 The glasses are lightweight (69g) and comfortable despite the additional tech, with flexible hinges for easy wear.
• 🖐 Control is possible through the touchpad or a new neural wristband that reads muscle impulses to execute hand gestures accurately and intuitively.
• 📱 About 50% of the glasses' functionality relies on a paired smartphone, showing notifications, events, apps, and a home screen interface.
• 💬 Messaging is enhanced with voice notes, dictation, pre-made responses, and even writing on your leg or a surface using finger or pen gestures.
• 🌐 Real-time captions and translations are possible, leveraging the five-microphone array to isolate speech from the person you're looking at.
• 🎵 Apps include MetaMaps for navigation, Spotify for music, a 12MP camera for photos and 3K video, and Meta AI for recipes and hands-free assistance.
• 💸 The glasses are a first-gen product intended to familiarize users with smart glasses, but they are expensive and likely not a must-buy for most consumers.
• 🚀 The hands-on experience suggests rapid improvement is coming in smart glasses technology, with potential for memory and real-time assistance features in the future.

Q & A

What are the three main components of the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses product?

The three main components are: 1) the glasses themselves with integrated tech, 2) a neural wristband for gesture-based control, and 3) smartphone-based software integration for apps and extended functionality.

How does the display of the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses differ from augmented reality?

The display is a small, fixed-position projected image that is not tracked to your surroundings, unlike augmented reality which overlays digital content on the real world.

What are some of the hardware improvements in the glasses compared to standard Ray-Bans?

Improvements include higher-resolution cameras (2.5× previous resolution), transition lenses that auto-tint, two speakers, five microphones, a larger custom battery, and a lightweight design at 69 grams.

How does the neural wristband control work?

The wristband measures electrical impulses from wrist muscles, allowing users to perform hand gestures like double taps, pinches, and joystick-like movements to control the glasses. It works reliably (~97% accuracy) without cameras and in any environment.

What are the main limitations of the software ecosystem on the glasses?

The software relies on the phone for about 50% of functions, has a limited app selection mainly within Meta's ecosystem, and lacks an app store. Navigation uses MetaMaps, AI features are powered by Meta AI, and music uses a custom Spotify interface.

What unique messaging features do the glasses offer?

Users can respond via voice notes, dictation (highly accurate thanks to five microphones), pre-made responses, or a beta feature that lets them 'write' messages on their leg using a finger or pen.

How do the glasses handle real-time captions and translation?

The five-microphone array isolates the voice of the person you're looking at, providing instant captions even in noisy environments. Real-time translation is also supported, although it has a slight delay compared to captions.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the glasses' camera and media capabilities?

The camera takes 12MP photos and 3K video, with 720p slow motion. While functional, it resembles a smartphone from 8 years ago and may have a slight delay when capturing images, limiting its professional-quality use.

How does the design of the glasses prioritize user comfort?

Despite containing advanced tech, the glasses are lightweight (69g) and feature overextension hinges, making them comfortable to wear for long periods without feeling like a VR headset.

What future possibilities does the user speculate about for smart glasses?

Potential uses include real-time object or memory tracking, such as remembering where you put your keys, as well as hands-free AI assistance, leveraging the always-on display for more seamless interaction compared to smartphones.

Why might these glasses not be worth purchasing for most consumers currently?

They are first-generation, priced at $800, have a limited app ecosystem, modest camera capabilities, and still depend on a smartphone for half of their functionality. They are more about introducing the product category than offering a fully polished experience.

What are some advantages of the display's projection technology?

The display is extremely bright, readable even in sunlight, and private—others cannot see what you are viewing. This makes it practical for discreet use in public settings.