Exercise Caution When Using Your Meta Ray-Ban Glasses While Traveling – Numerama

Exercise Caution When Using Your Meta Ray-Ban Glasses While Traveling - Numerama

Meta Ray-Ban glasses, launched in late 2023, have gained popularity for their multifunctionality, blending camera, audio, and AI features. A user shares their experience during a vacation in Guadeloupe, highlighting the glasses’ ability to take photos in water. However, they faced issues with durability and a malfunction after exposure to splashes and rain. The user advises caution and suggests regular backups, emphasizing that these connected glasses may not fully replace traditional eyewear in all situations.

The Rise of Meta Ray-Ban Glasses

Since their debut at the close of 2023, the Meta Ray-Ban glasses have captivated countless users. This innovative gadget seamlessly combines a camera, speakers, a microphone, a touch control, and the latest integration of Meta AI, making it a hit among those who have experienced it firsthand. Although there are ongoing discussions regarding the legality of capturing images with these glasses, overall feedback remains overwhelmingly positive. Meta has successfully carved out a new market following an earlier, less successful attempt with the Ray-Ban Stories glasses.

My Experience with Meta Ray-Ban Glasses on Vacation

Since I got my hands on the Meta Ray-Ban glasses, I’ve been using them consistently, primarily for audio purposes—making hands-free phone calls, enjoying music, and interacting with the AI. Occasionally, I’ve taken advantage of their photographic capabilities, especially during my recent vacation. Regrettably, this trip ended with an unfortunate incident: my glasses met an untimely demise.

During a delightful trip to Guadeloupe in January, I found myself relying on my Meta Ray-Bans for both sun protection and capturing spontaneous moments. One of the standout features of these glasses is their ability to take photos in the water, whether at the beach or in a pool. Their design is incredibly convenient for outdoor activities like hiking, where you need your hands free, or for capturing scenic drives with voice-activated camera controls.

Despite my admiration for connected glasses on vacation, I learned the hard way that the IPX4 waterproof rating (indicating moderate water resistance) is not adequate for the more adventurous island lifestyle.

As my vacation came to a close, I encountered an unexpected issue; a notification from the Meta View app alerted me that “the LED of the glasses was broken,” leaving me puzzled. I attempted to place the glasses back in their case for further investigation, only to find I couldn’t connect them to my phone or charge them. They appeared to be overheating within their case, hinting at potential battery failures.

After a day of letting them dry outdoors and cleaning the connectors, I turned to Reddit for answers. It turns out this problem is not unique; many users have faced similar challenges. A hard reset by holding the photo button would trigger a brief red light, which seemed to be a common remedy among other owners.

The following morning, after a night of drying and charging through a wall socket while keeping them in their case, my Meta Ray-Ban glasses miraculously powered on. The LED appeared functional again, and I managed to transfer some photos and videos. However, this victory was short-lived. Just two hours later, after a boat excursion, the glasses failed once more, this time seemingly beyond repair. A week later, I still haven’t been able to revive them.

Could water exposure have caused their demise? It’s a possibility, though I must emphasize that my glasses were never submerged; the most they encountered were splashes from waves and a brief bout of heavy rain. Given their specifications, I expected them to withstand such conditions.

If you own Meta Ray-Ban glasses, I highly recommend taking precautions during your trips and routinely backing up your photos and videos. For instance, after capturing those initial snapshots on a boat, it might be wiser to switch to traditional sunglasses and store your Meta Ray-Ban in a safe place. During heavy rain, consider opting for non-connected glasses instead. Ultimately, despite any marketing claims, these connected glasses are not a complete substitute for regular eyewear in every situation.