Meta recently unveiled the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) smart glasses toward the end of October. However, for those familiar with the previous model launched in 2021, the updates may seem modest. The user experience remains largely unchanged, making the original Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses a compelling purchase, especially now that they’re discounted to a new low of approximately $238.99, courtesy of Black Friday deals at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.
The first-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses still offer a robust array of features. Much like their newer counterparts, they allow users to enjoy music, capture photos, record 1080p videos, and make hands-free calls via a five-microphone setup. With the help of a companion app, users can upload photos and videos or even livestream directly to Facebook or Instagram. The glasses are also equipped with AI-powered functionalities, enabling hands-free photo-taking, landmark history retrieval, voice-activated queries, and recipe suggestions based on refrigerator contents. Moreover, they provide real-time language translation for Spanish, Italian, French, and several other languages.
Exciting updates are on the horizon for both the first and second-generation models. Software enhancements include slo-mo and hyperlapse video modes and a “conversation focus” feature, which amplifies the voice of the person you’re speaking with. A forthcoming software update, expected this fall, aims to refine the live translation feature, extending its capabilities to include German and Portuguese.
While the Gen 2 model offers some upgrades, the most notable is its improved battery life, boasting up to eight hours of continuous use. The charging case extends usage by an additional two days, a step up from the 32 extra hours provided by the first-gen model. Additionally, users can expect slightly sharper 3K video at 30fps, though both generations share the same 12-megapixel sensor, which makes the difference in quality relatively minor.
