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After several months of wearing my new META Glasses – and even taking them on my recent trip to Japan – I thought it was a good time to share my thoughts about them. Are they a travel game-changer? Let's dive in.

The Pros: Why These Glasses Are Now a Staple in My Travel Kit

From bustling Tokyo streets to serene gardens, my META Glasses proved to be an invaluable companion.

Stealthy Storytelling: This is perhaps my favorite feature for travel. There’s something incredibly liberating about being able to capture a cool moment or a stunning street scene without drawing attention to yourself. I’m not looking to record people, but I like that I can discreetly record video or snap photos without drawing attention, allowing me to truly live in the moment while still preserving it.

Nostalgic Candy Shop in Japan — Candy Shop inside a department store

Shinjuku Blossom Hotel — Hotel Lobby in Shinjuku

Audio Excellence, Hands-Free Freedom (and Superb Mic): I’m usually an AirPods person, but the speakers and microphone on these glasses are top notch. It feels like someone is just speaking next to me, which not only keeps my ears open to my surroundings, but also offers incredible clarity for calls. Seriously, no more muting myself when I'm cooking or doing dishes – the background noise cancellation is phenomenal, a massive upgrade from my AirPods.

Effortless Content Creation: As someone who also loves to share my cooking adventures on social media, the hands-free photo and video capabilities are a dream. No more frantic hand-washing mid-recipe just to grab a shot. It's seamless, allowing me to focus on the process while the glasses capture every delicious step.

Rayban META Glasses Case — Meta Glasses Charging

Charge and Go: Recharging is a breeze – just pop them back in their case. And the battery life? Much better than I expected. I can comfortably wear them and use them for a couple of hours without a low-battery panic.

Intuitive App Integration: The META app is incredibly user-friendly. All my photos and videos are easily accessible on my phone, ready for review. While there's a direct upload-to-social-media option, I appreciate the ability to curate my content before sharing (I’m not a spontaneous poster).

Quality For Sharing: The image and video quality is at ultra-wide 12MP. It's not a professional camera, but for capturing moments for social media and sharing with friends and family, it's more than adequate.

Prescription Friendly: A quick note for my fellow glasses wearers: while I opted for non-prescription lenses (I wear contacts daily), it’s great to know there's a prescription option available.

Crosswalk in Shinkuku Tokyo — Crosswalk in Shinjuku, Tokyo

Marond Bakery in Japan — Marond Bakery in Narita, Japan

Room for Improvement: Small Adjustments, Not Dealbreakers

While I'm genuinely impressed, a few tweaks would make these glasses even better:

Startup Lag: Powering on and syncing to my phone takes about 10 seconds. It doesn't sound like much, but when you're trying to answer a quick call, it can feel like an eternity.

Tricky Angles: The camera lens is on the top left, which means I've had to adjust my angling to center subjects. Looking down, especially, requires a deliberate tilt to ensure the object isn't too low in the frame. I understand the design constraints, but it can take some getting used to.

Signal Strength is Key: Voice commands are incredibly responsive when I have a strong phone signal. However, in areas with spotty reception, I often resort to the physical buttons on the frames as the voice commands become unreliable.

Vertical Only Video: Currently, the camera only shoots vertical videos. While this is great for platforms like TikTok and Instagram, I sometimes wish I had the option for horizontal videos for my YouTube videos.

More Frame Styles, Please! While the current classic Rayban Wayfarer style is versatile and comes in various colors, I'm really hoping META expands their frame offerings in the future. I personally prefer larger frames, so more choices would be fantastic.

Final Verdict: A Keeper!

I had a month to decide if I wanted to keep my META Glasses, and the answer was a resounding yes. The speakers and microphone alone are a huge win for me, and the seamless voice commands make using them a joy.

One minor gripe, however, is the privacy settings. I discovered that turning off my ad preferences for my Facebook account essentially rendered my glasses unusable until I re-enabled them. It's a bit frustrating that the two are so intertwined. This definitely feels like a privacy trade-off that I wasn't thrilled about, and it's something I hope META addresses in the future.

Woman wearing Rayban Meta Glasses — Wearing the Wayfarer Meta Rayban Glasses in Matte Black

Despite that small point (or big depending on your privacy preferences), my META Glasses are officially a staple in my tech arsenal, especially for my travel adventures and for everyday moments.

They're discreet, convenient, and truly enhance the way I interact with and remember my experiences. If you're looking for a hands-free way to document your adventures, these are definitely worth a look.