After testing a pair of Meta Glasses, I can’t stop thinking about what Meta gets right, and what should give us all pause.
Overall, I have been resistant to wearables, whether the Oura ring, Apple Watch or others. 24-7 access to data makes me anxious, and I don’t like giving personal data to a third party, if I can avoid it. My CGM trial was a disaster because of the obsessiveness it caused. But when I was given a pair of Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer glasses, it was the push I needed to get into the wearables space.
I believe Meta is onto something interesting with its wearable that enhances everyday life and takes me off my phone and more into the world with this device. I’m also unsettled by what this tech will do in the wrong hands.
Here’s my breakdown after a month of experimentation.
Style Matters
Fashion matters – even in tech. The Ray-Ban Wayfarer silhouette is a classic for a reason, and the fact that Meta partnered with Ray-Ban (and Oakley for the sportier crowd) makes these glasses something you’d actually wear. They aren’t your old-school Google Glass. You can customize the glasses with prescription lenses, transitions, or tinted styles that work with any look. Had the aesthetics not appealed to me first, I would never have played with them. At least Big Tech is learning in this regard.
Meta Glasses Pulled Me Off My Phone — In the Best Way
This is where the glasses surprised me most: Functions that keep me glued to my phone (checking the weather, snapping a photo, answering a call, listening to a podcast, etc.), were well handled by the glasses. On a recent trip to SXSW, I meandered Austin streets without picking up my device because my Meta glasses could handle my requests, like:
“Hey Meta, what’s the weather at 6 PM tonight?”
I streamed music on the device using its discreet open-ear speakers just above my ears, allowing me to hear traffic while still enjoying my playlist. To me, that’s a big plus over my AirPods. You can take calls on the glasses, too. The few calls I took came in clearly with the caller not knowing what type of device I was on. Meta says that background noise is blocked up to 90%. Because of this functionality, I found myself more present in my SXSW life with my phone in my purse more than before.
The GoPro You Never Knew I Needed
I never owned a GoPro, but I now understand the appeal. The Gen 2 glasses shoot in 3K Ultra HD with a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and the results are genuinely good. Asking Meta to capture a candid moment at a dinner table, a lively party or a volleyball game on the beach is a game-changer for anyone who wants to capture the vibe without being that person holding up a phone. With up to 8 hours of battery life plus a charging case that adds 48 more, you’re covered for a full day out.
A Useful AI Assistant
Powered by Meta AI, the glasses can be asked almost anything in real time.
“Hey Meta, identify this breed of dog.”
“Hey Meta, translate this sign.”
“Hey Meta, give me recipe ideas from what you see in my fridge.”
The possibilities are endless for what the Meta AI assistant can help with, whether asking it for pricing on an item you spotted in a store or settling a bet between friends. The hands-free, eyes-up experience of getting information without breaking stride is genuinely useful — and available in 6 languages.
No internet connection? Many features still work offline.
Now, For the Part We Can’t Ignore
While the technology is both powerful and useful, I have be direct that there are concerns we should all have with this powerful technology. Here is what sits with me, even with my excitement:
Privacy is a real concern. The glasses have a Capture LED that lights up when recording, and if it’s covered, the camera won’t function. But bad actors don’t follow good design intent. Reports have surfaced of people using the glasses to film in bathrooms, locker rooms, and other private spaces without consent. We are now in the era of hypervigilance with wearables – especially us women.
Your footage may not stay private. Reports have emerged that video captured by the glasses — including sensitive content — has been reviewed by human contractors to train Meta’s AI models. That’s not a hypothetical risk. It’s a documented one. Take a look at this INC piece on how content is reviewed.
Real-time identification is already happening. College students have demonstrated using the glasses to identify and locate individuals in real time — essentially walking doxxing machines. The stalking implications are real.
These aren’t reasons to dismiss the technology altogether, but they are reasons to consider delaying the purchase of these glasses.
The Bottom Line
Meta is onto something fun here. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses are the first wearable I’ve tried and found to to genuinely enhance daily life without sacrifice style or getting me more addicted to my device. The AI assistant works, the camera is impressive and the phone-free experience is something you don’t know you want until you have it.
If you do try Meta Glasses, wear them responsibly. The LED is there for a reason…use it. Model good digital citizenship for all.