Meta launch next generation Ray-Ban smart glasses featuring two cameras
Today, Meta Connect and EssilorLuxottica have jointly announced the launch of our next-generation Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses collection. These glasses have been completely redesigned from the ground up, with all core features of the first generation improved and new capabilities added that have never been seen before in a pair of smart glasses. The collection is priced at $299 USD and pre-orders are now open on meta.com and ray-ban.com. The smart glasses will be available for purchase online and in retail stores from October 17 onwards.
Since the launch of our first-generation smart glasses in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, millions of moments have been captured and shared. Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses free you from the constraints of a hand-held camera, allowing you to capture photos and video clips from your unique point of view. This enables you to not only relive the moment, but also truly live in the moment, without having to keep the world at arm’s length or miss out on the action while struggling with your smartphone’s lock screen.
These next-generation glasses have undergone a complete redesign, incorporating valuable feedback from the community and a thorough understanding of the product’s most beloved aspects, such as its effortlessly stylish design, hands-free convenience, and open-ear audio. Additionally, they have identified areas for improvement, including overall media quality and comfort, which have been addressed in this new iteration.
Notably, they have enhanced all the core features of the first generation and introduced a few groundbreaking additions that have never been seen in smart glasses before.
One of the key enhancements is in the audio department. We have developed custom-designed speakers that offer extended bass, higher maximum volume, and improved directional audio. This results in reduced audio leakage, ensuring superior call quality, music playback, and podcast listening experiences, even in noisy or windy environments. Moreover, our newly designed five-microphone array enables immersive audio recording while capturing videos. This means that the sounds recorded will accurately replicate the original experience, whether they originated in front of you, from the sides, the rear, or even above.
The inclusion of a cutting-edge ultra-wide 12 MP camera enhances the overall quality of your photographs and enables you to capture stunning 1080p videos of up to 60 seconds in duration. Whether you are immersing yourself in awe-inspiring landscapes during a hike or indulging in the vibrant atmosphere of an art show, the resulting visual documentation of your experiences will be truly remarkable. Moreover, you have the convenience of instantly sharing these captivating images with your loved ones through your glasses, simply by issuing a voice command to “send a photo.”
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen1 Platform, offering enhanced capabilities for superior photo and video processing, as well as accelerated computing. Additionally, these glasses are accompanied by a newly designed and stylish charging case, capable of accommodating up to eight extra charges, resulting in a total usage time of 36 hours. Notably, this charging case boasts a slimmer and more compact form factor.
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are available in two classic styles: the timeless Wayfarer and the new Headliner design, which offers a more retro aesthetic. Both styles are offered in Matte Black and Shiny Black. In addition, we are excited to introduce three new transparent frame colors: Jeans, Rebel Black, and Caramel, which highlight the innovative technology incorporated into the glasses. Furthermore, our Ray-Ban Remix platform offers over 150 different custom frame and lens combinations, allowing you to personalize your glasses to your liking on our official website, ray-ban.com. It is worth noting that these smart glasses are also compatible with prescription lenses.
Meta’s artificial intelligence (AI) has been successfully integrated into its smart glasses, allowing users to activate it by using the wake phrase ‘Hey Meta’. This integration enables convenient actions such as sharing photos with friends by simply saying ‘Hey Meta, send a photo to [insert name]’.
Initially, this feature will only be available in the United States upon launch. However, Meta has expressed its intention to expand availability and enhance the range of questions that can be asked over time.
Users will have the option to choose between the classic Wayfarer style or the new Headliner style, both available in five colors: Matte Black, Shiny Black, Jeans, Rebel Black, and Caramel.
The smart glasses will be priced at £299 ($299) when they become available for purchase on October 17.
These smart glasses represent Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg’s latest endeavor to sustain interest in the ‘metaverse’.
Despite a 60% drop in the company’s stock price and the departure of a key metaverse executive, Meta remains committed to allocating 20% of its expenses to its Reality Labs division, as announced last year.
In December, the firm’s main virtual reality world, Horizon Worlds, fell short of expectations with fewer than half of the projected 500,000 users signing up.
Over the course of a year, Meta incurred losses of at least $30 billion in its pursuit of building virtual worlds.
