When I first heard about the Meta AI glasses Ray-Ban Display with “one screen lens,” I thought: nice concept, but how useful could a screen in one lens really be? Would it distract more than help? A few weeks with them changed my mind (mostly). Here’s what I found out, what surprised me, and whether they deserve being called “AI glasses you could use daily.”
First Impressions: Built-in Display, Style, and Feel
I got a pair of the Ray-Ban Display glasses with one screen (only in the right lens) and the Meta Neural Band (wristband) to control them via gestures. Out of the box, they look like a Ray-Ban more than a gadget, classy frame options, clean design. You can choose between a “standard” and “large” size, and the lenses are available in colors like Black and Sand. Basic styles hide the tech well; nothing feels wildly futuristic or attention-grabbing until you switch on the screen. That’s good.
Wearing them feels mostly normal. There’s a bit more weight than average glasses, especially on the arm with the camera and electronics, but the frame balances reasonably well. After an hour or two, I noticed slight pressure at the nose bridge, but nothing unbearable if you adjust carefully.
Key Specs & What the Built-In Screen Actually Does
Before sharing how I used them, here’s a summary of what Meta promises and what I observed (this is where smart glasses review really matters, matching promise vs reality):
- Screen in one lens: A full-color display is built into the right lens. The display doesn’t block your full view; instead it appears in a small section of vision like a heads-up overlay when active. Useful for texts, directions, notifications, and Meta AI responses. Investopedia+1
- Neural Band: It comes with an EMG wristband that detects subtle hand gestures so you can scroll, accept or reject messages, etc., without touching the glasses. Takes some time to get used to. Houston Chronicle+1
- Camera & Audio: 12 MP photo capabilities, good microphones (multi-mic array), open-ear speakers so you can hear ambient sound. Moor Insights & Strategy+2Ray-Ban+2
- Connectivity & Storage: The glasses have local storage (for photos/videos), and connect to your phone for uploads. Wireless standards are updated (better Bluetooth / WiFi) than the earlier Ray-Ban Stories. Moor Insights & Strategy+1
- Battery life: Mixed bag. With light notification display, occasional camera snapshots, and gesture use, they lasted fairly well. But heavy video recording drained faster. The charging case helps. Tom’s Hardware+1
What Worked Well in Real Use
After a few weeks carrying them around, here’s what I liked most:
- Convenient Notifications & Meta AI: Having messages, reminders, and Meta AI responses pop up in the display lens without pulling out my phone felt genuinely helpful. For quick info (weather, directions, translations) it outperforms pulling the phone every time.
- Hands-free Controls via Wristband: Once you adapt to the Neural Band, it’s satisfying to scroll, accept calls, get captions just by subtle hand movement. It makes sense in many situations, like walking or cooking.
- Camera Moments Without the Phone: The 12 MP camera captures decent photo quality, especially in good lighting. It’s not going to compete with your flagship phone’s camera, but for spontaneous shots, “look at that sunset,” “that moment with pets”, it works very well.
- Style vs Function Balance: I wear glasses daily. For me, a big thing is that I still looked like wearing stylish Ray-Bans, not a prototype. Comfortable enough to wear outdoors, in meetings. The design hides the tech well.
What Didn’t Go So Well
No device is perfect, and these smart glasses come with trade-offs. These are the issues I ran into:
- Battery drain with heavy usage: If I used video recording, took many photos, used Meta AI heavily, the battery would drop much faster. The display lens, the camera, and always-on connectivity add up. Relying fully on the charging case becomes necessary for longer outings.
- Usability of the display: The screen is small and only in one lens. Sometimes in bright sun, visibility gets tough. Reading fine text or seeing detailed content is limited. Map directions or captions are okay; full articles or long texts feel cramped or distracting.
- Learning curve for the wristband gestures: The Neural Band is clever, but gestures sometimes misread or feel delayed depending on lighting or sleeve/head movement. Skin contact matters; if the band shifts or if you’re sweaty, responsiveness dips.
- Privacy concerns & notifications: When the display activates or when taking photos, even with indicators, some people around me noticed and asked questions (“Are you recording?”). The camera and mics are discreet, but not invisible. If you’re someone who works in sensitive settings, this matters.
- Price is high: These are not cheap. For the features you get, there is big value, but you’re paying for novelty + AI + display + wristband. If most of your usage is basic photos and notifications, a smartwatch + good phone might serve you nearly as well for less.
How It Compares to Previous Meta Ray-Ban / Other Smart Glasses
To understand whether Screen One (the built-in display model) is worth the leap, I compared with earlier Ray-Ban Meta glasses (without display) and other smart glasses I’ve tried.
- Earlier Ray-Ban Meta models are better for just capturing photos, listening to audio, doing voice commands. They are lighter, battery lasts longer for similar use. But they don’t have a visual output, so for anything you need to read or visually follow, those models fall short.
- Compared to AR glasses (ones that overlay graphics across a wide field), Screen One is more conservative. Less immersive, less distracting, but also simpler and more reliable for everyday use.
- For people who care about style + social optics, Ray-Ban still wins over many “geeky” smart glasses. You can use them as sunglasses, with transitions or prescription lenses, which helps adoption.
My Verdict: Who Should (or Shouldn’t) Buy Them
After living with the Ray-Ban Display glasses for a while, here’s who I think will get real benefit, and who might feel short-changed.
Best for:
- Users who want quick AI assistance (translations, captions, directions) without pulling out a phone.
- People who often multitask, walking, cooking, commuting, and need hands-free access to info.
- Fans of tech + fashion: if you want something stylish but smart.
Not ideal for:
- Heavy video creators who expect phone-level video quality or long recording durations. Here, battery and display limitations show up.
- Users who need long battery life without carrying the charging case.
- People concerned heavily about privacy in public spaces.
Story: How This Changed My Routine
A small moment stands out. I was walking in the city trying to meet a friend in bad weather. My phone was buried in a backpack, hands full of shopping bags. Normally, I’d pull out the phone, open Maps, squint, maybe drop something. With Screen One, I just glanced at the display, saw turn-by-turn directions, made a subtle gesture via Neural Band to pause audio, and went. It felt smoother than my phone-first default.
Also, when I went out to dinner and lights were dim, I used live subtitles via Meta AI because the waiter spoke with a heavy accent. The display lens showed captions so I could follow along without repeating myself. It made me realize the display isn’t just gimmick, real help in real situations.
Final Thoughts
Ray-Ban Display with Screen One is not perfect, but it’s a strong step forward in the world of smart glasses. The built-in display adds useful visual output, Meta AI features bring convenience, the wristband controls are novel, and the style is credible. The biggest trade-offs are battery life, display size, and cost. In short, If you value convenience, occasional prosumer camera use, hands-free AI, and style, I’d say these glasses are worth considering. If instead you mostly want long battery and video performance, maybe wait for version 2 (if Meta improves the display visibility, battery, and gesture controls further).
