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Facebook's Ray-Ban Stories glasses look nearly normal

Whether or not you like the idea of Facebook's first smart glasses, they do look good.

Sarah Tew
I'm a visual storyteller, working primarily in the medium of photography and photoshop. I listen to more podcasts than I can keep up with and enjoy gardening, cooking, reading, and am striving for a sustainable lifestyle. A big-picture thinker, I am always trying to put the pieces together, and though things are scary these days, I believe humanity will pull through.
Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials
  • More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
Scott Stein Editor at Large
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Expertise VR and AR, gaming, metaverse technologies, wearable tech, tablets Credentials
  • Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps
Sarah Tew
Joshua Goldman
Scott Stein
Facebook Ray-Ban Stories 2021
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Facebook's first smart glasses are here: Ray-Ban Stories. They look pretty normal, right?

Facebook Ray-Ban Stories 2021
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Trying them on, I feel like... I'm wearing Ray-Bans.

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The glasses have cameras in the corners of the frame, plus an LED light that glows when it's recording.

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The sunglasses come in three styles, multiple colors. I tried the Wayfarers in glossy black.

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These glasses are made to connect with your Android phone or iPhone with a new app, called Facebook View, that imports photos and videos but doesn't share them or upload them until you want (you can also save them to your local camera roll).

Facebook Ray-Ban Stories 2021
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The glasses record 30-second video clips, or they take snapshots. They also work as glasses-based headphones, too.

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A top button controls the camera shutter. You can also just say, "Hey Facebook, take a photo," or tell Facebook to shoot a video.

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Microphones and speakers mean these can listen to music, take phone calls, and do whatever you use headphones for. Sound quality is just OK. It's not as good as Bose Frames, another pair of audio glasses/

Facebook Ray-Ban Stories 2021
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Prescription lenses could be popped in too (I haven't done that yet -- I wore contacts).

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Compared to the Oculus Quest 2, these glasses are small.

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The Ray-Ban Stories, compared to an old pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. They look pretty similar.

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Here's a picture I shot while wearing the Ray-Ban Stories.

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