The Verge’s Victoria Song spent several days wearing the new Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses—the camera-free version of Meta’s popular smart eyewear. Her verdict is surprisingly clear: losing the camera makes the glasses feel more human, even if it makes the AI less capable.
The case for ditching the camera
Song writes that, unlike camera-equipped smart glasses, these audio-only Ray-Bans didn’t trigger that creeping “spy” feeling. People around her in the park, café, and on the street simply didn’t notice them, because they look like normal glasses. The design comes in two retro styles: Clubmaster and Burbank (Wayfarer-like).
Privacy setup is also more prominent this time. During onboarding, Meta clearly explains how visual data from AI experiences is handled, and users can opt out of using that data to improve AI. Voice data, however, is still used. There is no camera, so no visual data is collected from these glasses at all. The always-listening wake word can be disabled, replaced by a customizable button on the right temple arm.
Song notes this doesn’t eliminate all distrust—the glasses still have microphones and can be modded—but removing the camera lowers the barrier to feeling comfortable wearing them in public.
Open-ear audio, not AI, is the draw
At 43 to 47 grams, the Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses are lighter than previous Meta models. Song wore them for two full days, including a 30-minute run and multiple walks, with no discomfort. The Clubmaster review unit had nose pads, which she says is a big win for anyone with a low nose bridge, and the temple tips can be adjusted.
As open-ear headphones, they’re good but not great. Sound quality is decent, but:
- Bass can distort and trebles get tinny at higher volumes.
- There’s noticeable sound leakage—her spouse could hear everything she played.
- Loud ambient noise, like a subway, still drowns out content.
Still, for audiobooks around the house, runs, and walks, the glasses shine because they keep you aware of your surroundings. Battery life is described as long, though no specific number is given in the review. Prescription support ranges from -12 to +6, so even people with severe myopia or astigmatism can wear them.
Where the assistant still falls short
The AI side is the weakest part. These glasses ship with Muse Spark, Meta’s less powerful model, not the full Muse AI that’s coming later. It can handle short queries like “What’s my next calendar event?” or setting reminders, but more complex requests confuse it. Song found herself reaching for her phone instead.
Local recommendations and turn-by-turn walking directions are available, but they matter mostly when traveling. For accessibility, camera-equipped models remain more helpful for low-vision users; for hard-of-hearing users, the FDA-cleared hearing assistance feature isn’t available yet, and deaf users may prefer the Ray-Ban Meta Display with live captioning.
For Song, the AI isn’t worth $350 on its own. But as stylish, comfortable, open-ear headphones that don’t make you feel like a surveillance device, the Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses find their niche.