Ray-Ban Meta Review: 2 Weeks with Smart Glasses

I got Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses as a birthday gift two weeks ago. Since then, I’ve worn them on walks, during video calls, and — most memorably — on a helicopter flight over Dubai.

Here’s what it’s actually like to use smart glasses in 2026.

What You’re Actually Getting

From the outside, these look like regular Ray-Ban Wayfarers. That’s the point. Nobody at the hotel, at the helipad, or on the street noticed anything unusual. They’re smart glasses that don’t scream “tech bro.”

But inside the frames:

Spec	Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer
Camera	12MP ultra-wide (3K video)
Video	Up to 3K at 30fps, max 3 min per clip
Battery (glasses)	Up to 8 hours (moderate use)
Battery (case)	+48 hours of charging
Storage	32GB
Weight	~51g
Audio	Open-ear speakers + 5-mic array
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6
Water resistance	IPX4
Price	Starting at ~$379

I have the Wayfarer in black with standard sun lenses. Transition and prescription lenses are available at higher price points.

Camera Quality: The Star of the Show

This is why you’d consider buying these glasses. The 12MP ultra-wide camera produces genuinely impressive photos and videos.

I put them to the ultimate test: a 45-minute helicopter flight over Dubai. The conditions were challenging — vibration, bright sunlight, constantly changing angles. The kind of scenario where holding your phone steady is nearly impossible.

The results? I was honestly surprised. The videos came out stable, sharp, and with accurate colors. No motion blur, no washed-out footage. The kind of quality you’d happily post on Instagram without a second thought.

The hands-free advantage is real. During the helicopter flight, I could look around freely while recording. No fumbling with a phone, no awkward angles trying to film through the window. I just looked at what I wanted to capture and tapped the frame.

Here’s footage I shot at the Dubai Fountain show — no phone, no gimbal, just the glasses:

What the Camera Can’t Do

No zoom. At all. The ultra-wide lens captures everything in your field of view, which is great for landscapes and wide shots. But if you want to zoom into a building or a detail in the distance? Out of luck.

3-minute video limit. Every recording maxes out at 3 minutes, then you need to start a new one. During the helicopter flight, this meant tapping the frame every 3 minutes to start a new clip. It’s the one feature that consistently interrupted the experience.

That said, the 3-minute limit makes sense when you consider battery life. Without it, you’d drain the glasses in under an hour of continuous recording.

Audio: Better Than Expected

I wasn’t expecting much from open-ear speakers built into sunglasses frames. I was wrong.

Podcasts sound clear and natural. The audio doesn’t leak as much as you’d expect — people next to me couldn’t hear what I was listening to at moderate volume.

WhatsApp voice messages work seamlessly. Tap the frame, listen, respond. No need to pull out your phone.

Video calls were surprisingly good. The 5-microphone array picks up your voice clearly, and the other person couldn’t tell I was on smart glasses instead of earbuds.

The bottom line: you don’t need separate headphones. For casual listening, calls, and voice messages, the Ray-Ban Meta handles everything.

For music, they’re decent but not a replacement for proper earbuds. Bass is thin (open-ear speakers can’t match sealed earbuds), and in noisy environments, you’ll struggle to hear details. Fine for a walk. Not great for a commute.

Battery Life: The Real Numbers

Meta claims up to 8 hours of battery life with moderate use. Here’s what I actually experienced.

Dubai Test Day:

• Wore the glasses from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM (6 hours)
• Casual use most of the day (wearing, occasional photos)
• Heavy camera use during helicopter flight (4:00–4:45 PM): multiple 3-minute videos + photos
• Battery after the flight: 28%
• Transferring all photos and videos to my iPhone drained the remaining 28%

My estimate for heavy camera use: about 3–4 hours before you need the case. For a day of light use (wearing them, listening to podcasts, taking occasional photos), you’ll get closer to Meta’s 8-hour claim.

The charging case provides up to 48 additional hours, so you won’t need to find an outlet for days. But on a full day of sightseeing with lots of photos and videos, plan to put them back in the case for a top-up at lunch.

One thing that caught me off guard: transferring media to your phone eats battery fast. I’d recommend transferring at the end of the day while the glasses are in the case.

Sun Protection: Actually Good Sunglasses

This might sound obvious, but it matters: the Ray-Ban Meta glasses work really well as actual sunglasses. In the Dubai sun, my eyes felt fully protected. The lenses are proper Ray-Ban quality — not some tech-product afterthought.

If you’re going to wear sunglasses anyway, having a camera and speakers built in starts to make a lot of sense.

Meta AI: Haven’t Tried It Yet

I’ll be honest — I haven’t used the Meta AI assistant. You can say “Hey Meta” to ask questions, get translations, or have the AI describe what you’re looking at. It sounds useful for travel, but I haven’t felt the need yet.

The Meta View app on my iPhone has been fine for transferring photos and videos, but I haven’t explored its other features. I might update this section after more time with the glasses.

Who Should Buy These?

Yes, if you’re:

• A traveler who wants hands-free photos and videos
• A content creator looking for a discreet POV camera
• Someone who already wears sunglasses daily
• Tired of holding your phone up at every scenic viewpoint

Maybe, if you’re:

• Curious about smart glasses but unsure about the price
• Mainly interested in the audio features (earbuds might be better value)
• Not sure you’d actually use the camera regularly

Skip, if you:

• Need zoom for your photography
• Want long continuous video recordings
• Expect full AR/display features (that’s the Ray-Ban Meta Display at $799)
• Think $379 for sunglasses is too much

The Verdict

The Ray-Ban Meta glasses are the first smart glasses that feel like a real product rather than a tech demo. They look like normal sunglasses, the camera is genuinely good, and the audio is better than it has any right to be.

The helicopter flight in Dubai sold me. Being able to record stunning footage while keeping both hands free — without anyone knowing I was filming — felt like a glimpse of the future. That footage would have been impossible with a phone.

But here’s my honest take: I wouldn’t have bought these myself. At ~$379, they’re a luxury. If you’re choosing between Ray-Ban Meta and a pair of AirPods Pro, the AirPods are more versatile for everyday audio.

As a gift, though? I’m using them every day. For walks, for the occasional photo, for hands-free podcast listening. They’ve quietly replaced my regular sunglasses, and I don’t see myself going back.

Sometimes the best tech is the kind that disappears into something you’d wear anyway.

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Looking for more hands-free tech? Check out my AirPods Pro 3 review for the best wireless earbuds. Planning a trip and want AI to help? See our guide on the best AI trip planners.