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Smart glasses have promised convenience for years, but few have felt practical enough to wear daily. The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (Gen 1) come closer by keeping things familiar. They look like classic Wayfarers, not a tech experiment, which lowers the barrier right away. Right now, they’re also easier to justify on price. The matte black version with polarized lenses is 25% off at $246.75, down from $329, which is the lowest price so far, according to price trackers. A glossy black version with clear lenses costs less at $224.25 if you don’t need sun protection.
The real test is whether they fit into your routine without getting in the way. At 49 grams, they’re a bit heavier than standard Ray-Bans, and if you use prescription lenses, you’ll feel that extra weight after a while. In short bursts, though, they’re easy to live with. Tapping the frame to snap a photo or record 1080p video feels natural when your phone is in your pocket or bag. The 12 MP ultra-wide camera captures a lot of what’s in front of you and handles movement well enough for walks or events. That said, everything is recorded vertically, which should work fine for social media but limits what you can do with the footage later.
Meta AI is where these glasses either win you over or leave you cold. You can ask simple questions, send texts, manage music, or use live language translation that keeps up with real conversations (which is genuinely helpful when traveling, as noted by our senior staff writer in his review), but these won’t book trips or handle complicated requests. Also, its open-ear speakers let you listen to music or take calls while staying aware of traffic and people around you. That trade-off favors awareness over audio quality, which makes sense for everyday use. The potential downside is its battery life, which lasts about four hours, with the case adding up to eight more charges, so you’ll need to think about charging if you plan to wear them all day.
