Editor's Note, 9/29/25: Meta's second-generation Ray-Ban smart glasses are now available. While they're more expensive, they also have double the battery life and improved video recording. They're my top smart glasses pick now, and I recommend them over these for the battery life gains. Still, these older models look and mostly function the same way, with less battery life per charge and a lower price. The original review is below.
Everyday AR glasses aren't here yet, and VR headsets generally stay at home. Somewhere in between and elsewhere are smart glasses, most of which don't have displays in them. Meta's Ray-Bans, like a wave of wearables suddenly arriving in 2024, do have AI onboard -- and they can use it to see what you're seeing, in a sense, using cameras. Both Meta's glasses and Humane's AI Pin can take snapshots of the world and then analyze those images with generative AI, answering back in audio.
Meta's newest Ray-Bans, which start at $299, arrived back in October with just camera and audio features. The generative AI functions, accessing the onboard camera, are newer. What I love about Meta's smart glasses is that AI is a whimsical bonus. These are glasses first and cameras/headphones second -- and pretty good ones at that.
Scott Stein/CNET
That's what kept Meta's glasses in my life. They're practical and, oddly, transformative. I forget I have them on, and then, suddenly, I realize I've gotten used to them when I start talking to myself and tapping my glasses to snap photos on my normal glasses, and suddenly miss the extra features like a phantom limb.
Between small wearable AI devices that are suddenly sprouting everywhere and large advanced mixed reality VR headsets, advanced smart glasses now seem like a happy middle. Something new, casual and often more useful than a smartwatch. All it took was getting fitted for a prescription and wearing these glasses around all the time, and I found out exactly how immersive they can be. That's until the battery runs out.
7.9 Meta Ray-Bans (Gen 2) $299 at Meta Like Normal-looking design
Normal-looking design Great microphones
Great microphones Great wearable action camera for vacations Don't like Volume gets washed out in loud environments
Volume gets washed out in loud environments Battery life won't last a full day
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