Ray-Ban Meta recently launched its first smart glasses specifically designed to suit prescription wearers (like me). Here are full details of how you buy, what the set-up involves, and what the glasses can do.
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 Goes Prescription-First
The new frames are called Blayzer Optics and Scriber Optics, the names giving you the clue that these frames are prescription-friendly. Actually, more than friendly, they are initially priced for the frames only with temporary lenses in place until you sort the lenses you really need.
How To Choose And Buy
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are already on to their second generation, though savvy buyers can still pick up the first-gen model at a discount. They come in a variety of styles (Wayfarer, Headliner and Skyler). You can opt to add prescription lenses to these frames, too, if the new shapes don’t suit you.
Blayzer Optics look similar in shape to the classic Wayfarer, with Scriber a more rounded affair.
To buy them, you can pick them up direct from Ray-Ban as well as optical retailers. For instance, in the U.K., Vision Express can test your eyes, help choose the style you like and ensure you have the right fit — details include optician-adjustable temple tips.
As with other members of the Ray-Ban Meta family, there’s a choice of frames and lenses such as Matte Black, Transparent Dark Olive, and Transparent Black, plus seasonal shades like Transparent Matte Ice Grey And Transparent Stone Beige.
Smart Capabilities And Meta AI Features
The smart capabilities of the new frames are identical to the other Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 glasses. As well as snapping photos and shooting video, you can use them to play music through the open speakers which sit just above and in front of your ears.
Or you can say, “Hey, Meta, what am I looking at?” to have your location described to you. Or use the glasses for simultaneous translation, providing you’ve downloaded languages in advance.
More features are promised, such as nutrition tracking to log what you are eating, with Meta AI using the camera to work out the content of your food. This feature is coming to U.S. users ages 18 and over soon.
Voice Options And U.K. Availability
A word about voices. There are several to choose from but in the U.K. they consist of a slightly rough-and-ready male voice, a classy female voice and then, an AI version of Dame Judi Dench. Like a lot of people, I can’t get enough of Dame Judi, and it does sound convincing, but I’d like a few more voices to choose from.
Blayzer Optics and Scriber Optics cost from $499 for the frame, or from £429 in the U.K. As well as from opticians, they are available via Ray-Ban.com and Meta.com.