Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2

A $2 sticker beats Meta's anti-creep light

Light-blocking stickers defeat the recording LED on Meta's glasses by leaving just enough light for the sensor, and Meta's mandatory update does not stop them.

By iDeviceJul 31, 3:02 PM CT3 min read

Ask about the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2

Can I get prescription lenses? Yes, you can. The frames can be glazed to your prescription. Through LensCrafters and Sunglass Hut. -12.00 to +6.00.
Do the lenses tint automatically? Yes, the lenses tint themselves. They darken in sunlight on their own.
How good is the camera? It shoots on a 12MP main camera. The focus is fixed, with no autofocus.
What does it cost? It costs $379 to $499. That is the list price, before any subscription.
How long does the battery last? It runs 8 hours. That is 2 days with the extra from the case, and 5 hours of continuous audio or voice.
Do I need a subscription? No, there is no subscription. Meta says there is no monthly fee or subscription for Ray-Ban Meta glasses. Meta One Premium, $19.99 a month, is a separate paid plan for Meta AI and Meta's apps.
Does it work with my phone? Yes, it works with an iPhone or an Android phone.
How heavy is it? It weighs 50g.
Will they fit my face? The nose pads are fixed. What you get is what you wear, so try them on before you buy.
Is it built for sport? No, it is not built for sport. It is an everyday frame. Nothing stops you wearing it, but it is not made to grip.
Can I take a photo without using my hands? Yes, you can say the word or press the button. A capture button on the frame, and a spoken command when your hands are full.
Does it work without my phone? No, it needs your phone.
What video can it shoot? It shoots 3K at 30fps. That is its highest setting.
How does it connect? It connects over Bluetooth 5.3.
What chip is inside? It runs on Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1.
Which AI assistant does it use? It uses Meta AI. The assistant is fixed, so you cannot swap it.
What software does it run? It runs Meta Horizon OS.
Does it do AR? No, it does not do AR. Nothing is drawn over what you see.
Can I get sunglass or clear lenses? You can have either. It is sold as sunglasses and with clear lenses.
Whose frames are they? They are made with EssilorLuxottica and Ray-Ban. More than one frame maker is involved.
How many styles can I choose from? There are 5 frames to choose from. 150 combinations once you pick a colour and a lens.
Can people tell when it is recording? Yes, a light comes on. People around you can see when the camera is running.
Can it give me directions? Yes, it can give you directions. It gives turn-by-turn directions without you taking your phone out.
Can I livestream from it? No, you cannot livestream from it. You record first and share it afterwards.
Can it translate? Yes, it can translate.
Does it have a screen? No, it has no screen.
Can I hear it without earbuds? Yes, it has open-ear speakers that play out loud.
Can it see and answer questions about what I am looking at? Yes, it can see what you are looking at and answer about it.

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Meta fits its smart glasses with a bright LED that turns on while the cameras record, so bystanders know. Engadget's Karissa Bell bought several sticker kits sold as privacy accessories and found them "cheap and surprisingly effective". They work by not doing the obvious thing: rather than covering the LED outright, which trips a warning, a notched clear layer lets a sliver of peripheral light reach the sensor while a black sticker hides the LED from everyone else. Meta pushed a mandatory update that permanently disables the cameras if the light is physically broken, and these kits sidestep it because nothing is broken. One sold for $16.99 with a dozen stickers and a pair of tweezers.

This is the third pressure point on the same product in a week. An app that charges $3 to spot the glasses in a room reached the top of the App Store's paid chart, and Instagram banned filming strangers with them. None of it has dented sales: EssilorLuxottica told investors smart glasses revenue nearly doubled in the second quarter. The safeguard and the workaround are now a product category of their own, and the safeguard is losing.

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