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There’s no pair of glasses more classic or timeless than Ray-Ban Wayfarers. And there’s nothing more leading-edge than Meta AI. Merge the two and you have life-transforming technology in an effortlessly stylish package: Yes, we’re talking about the new line of Ray-Ban Meta eyewear.
Meta Platforms, the Facebook owner and AI innovator behind the Quest headset that provides mixed-reality immersive experiences, recently collaborated with the glasses stalwart Ray-Ban to release specs unlike any you’ve ever seen — or seen through.
Chances are, however, you did see the starry Super Bowl ad for the Meta Ray-Bans earlier this year, helmed by The Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn and featuring two Chrises of the Marvel Cinematic Universe — Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pratt — playfully riffing on Hollywood’s Chris confusion, with a cameo by none other than Kris-with-a-K Jenner.
Meta Ray-Ban Shiny Black Sunglasses with Green Lenses
You know Ray-Ban’s Wayfarer even if you don’t know that you know it. The design, dating back to 1952, originally heralded a bold new generation in fashionable accessories. Now the sleek rectangular, thick-rimmed frames, whether as eyeglasses or sunnies, simply signal good taste.
But what about Meta’s Ray Ban-Wayfarer glasses? What do they do? It might be easier to say what they don’t do — sorry, they won’t make you a perfectly foamy cappuccino, at least yet — but here’s a quick rundown of some of their most impressive capabilities.
Never Forget Anything Again
Seriously. If you can take a picture of it, you won’t ever misplace your keys or fail to recall your hotel room number or where you parked your car in that giant garage — those are mishaps of the past. Simply ask your Meta Ray-Bans to snap a photo of your prized possession via a smart voice command, and it will be saved and remembered for when you need it. Instead of forgetting stuff, you can forget about having to press buttons.
Meta Ray-Ban Matte Black Sunglasses
Speak and Understand Any Language Instantly
From Istanbul to Barcelona, never let your lack of linguistic skills hold you back. Say “Hey Meta, start live translation,” and the work is done for you in real time. Enter a pastelería and point to the xuixo. A reply from the store clerk in Spanish will instantly be read back by Meta in English, informing you that you’re looking at a fried, cream-filled pastry (yes, you want one). Just as a Spanish visitor to New York City can easily get all the details about the local bagel shop in their own language.
Stay Connected, Hands-Free
Look mom, no (anatomical) digits needed: With Meta Ray-Ban, you can not only shoot pics with a voice command, but also tell your glasses to play your favorite songs of the moment from frame to ear, or set up smart alerts for text messages and more. That’s all without reaching for your phone, so this summer you can focus on laying out by the pool. And when you’re out and about, scan everything from groceries to landmarks and ask Meta to explain what you’re looking at. Your tour guide is right in front of your eyes.
Strengthen Boundaries
Privacy is key to being in control of your life, and it’s at the center of Meta Ray-Ban tech. For you, and those around you: App settings easily allow you to manage who gets to see what content and when. Plus bystanders can feel safe, as the Capture LED light on the glasses lets them know when you’re taking a photo or recording live video.
Meta Ray-Ban Shiny Black Glasses with Clear Lenses
Most Importantly, Show Up in Style
Glasses go on our faces. So they ought to look good — no, great. Which is what we’ve relied on Ray-Ban for since the company was founded in 1937 with an eye toward modern aesthetics.
The Meta Ray-Ban frames come in many variations to suit whatever kind of wearer you are. The classic Meta Wayfarer is available as a pair of glossy black eyeglasses ($299); sunglasses with G-15 Green-colored lenses (also $299); upgraded sunnies with matte black frames and polarized graphite lenses to keep harmful glare out of the way ($329); and finally most versatile of all, the same matte black frames with transitional lenses ($379) that shift from clear indoors to Graphite Green when you step into the sunlight, so you’re prepared wherever you go.
Fashion-forward customers might opt for the Ray-Ban Meta Skyler eyeglasses, which have a distinct cat eye lens shape and come in shiny black ($299). A polished chalky gray version packs transitional lenses ($379) that transform from clear to sapphire when the UV rays hit. Meanwhile, the sunglasses-only version ($299 to $329) comes in matte black with polarized graphite lenses or shiny black with G-15 Green lenses. The company also teamed with Coperni for its first limited-edition fashion collab at Paris Fashion Week. (There’s more in store from Meta: the company just announced the sporty new Oakley HSTN silhouette debuting July 11.)
Whatever pair of Meta Ray-Ban glasses you pick, you can rely on the elegant design the eyewear brand is known for, emphasizing how sharp you look from running errands to attending a cocktail party — all while harnessing AI power in a blink.