Photo: Courtesy of Ray-Ban
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When I was a kid, I assumed that by now we’d have flying cars, teleportation devices and spaceships that could travel the galaxy. I was fully prepared to live in a high-tech world. Instead, we got climate change, inflation and Shein.
While the future (present?) has proven to be quite disappointing, it has seen some technological advancements that feel plucked from a ’00s sci-fi movie. Take, for example, Ray-Ban’s Meta Smart Glasses, which are like the eyewear equivalent of a smart phone.
As someone who had a temporary dream of becoming a spy thanks to “Spy Kids,” I now find myself leaning into that childhood fantasy with these frames: With a single click on the side, I can take photos of what’s in front of me, which immediately syncs to my phone’s photo library; double click, and it takes videos. (I naturally had some concerns that there would be no way for others to know when I’m recording, but the frames include an LED light that activates when the camera is in use.) I can call, FaceTime, send voice commands and even chat with Siri, too.
My favorite feature, though, is its music capability: While taking a morning stroll or having a long subway ride, I slip these babies on and enjoy a headphones-free Spotify experience. The open-ear speakers deliver clear sound, and there’s easy volume control — and yet nobody around me can hear a single thing I’m listening to. (I used my roommates as test subjects to prove it.)
Style-wise, the glasses look like typical Ray-Ban Wayfarers, save for the distinctive camera lens on the front of the frames. It sits easy on my face and is surprisingly lightweight for such a high-tech gadget. Like every device, it needs to be constantly charged, but I can wear these for a good four to five hours before running low on battery.
Can these smart glasses translate foreign languages directly in front of me as I converse with non-English speakers? No. Can it emit video images in the lens as I Facetime my friends? Also no. (Although who knows what the future may hold?) But they look cool, I feel like “Kim Possible” and, most importantly, they save me from rummaging through my black pit of a tote bag to make phone calls.
Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, $299, available here
Please note: This product was gifted. Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. In no way do either affect our editorial decision-making.
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Source: Fashionista.com