September 9, 2021 – Facebook has today announced the launch of Ray-Ban Stories: smart glasses that give users a new way to capture photos and video, share their adventures and listen to music or take phone calls. Built in partnership with Facebook and EssilorLuxottica, Ray-Ban Stories start at USD $299 and will be available for purchase in 20 style combinations online and in select retail stores in the US, as well as Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy and the UK.
The Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses feature dual integrated 5MP cameras that let the wearer capture images and videos from a first-person perspective. Users can easily record the world as they see it by taking photos and up to 30-second videos using the capture button or hands-free with Facebook Assistant voice commands. A hard-wired capture LED lights up to let people nearby know when users are taking a photo or video as well. The glasses also feature open-ear speakers that are built in, as well as a three-microphone audio array that delivers voice and sound transmission for calls and videos. Facebook stated that beamforming technology and a background noise suppression algorithm help to provide an enhanced calling experience like users could expect from dedicated headphones.
According to Facebook, Ray-Ban Stories have been designed with privacy in mind, and the company has added numerous built-in features to provide control and peace of mind to both device owners and bystanders. More information on these features, as well as Facebook’s new guidelines for responsible use, can be found on the Ray-Ban Stories privacy microsite.
Ray-Ban Stories are available in 20 variations, in classic Ray-Ban styles — Wayfarer, Wayfarer Large, Round and Meteor — and five colors with a range of lenses including clear, sun, transition and prescription.
Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses are the first product to come out of Facebook’s multi-year partnership with EssilorLuxottica. For more information on the new Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, click here.
Image / video credit: Facebook / Ray-Ban
About the author
Sam Sprigg
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.
