There’s also a touch area on the right side of the glasses for controlling music, a voice assistant and calls. A user can swipe left or right to adjust volume, tap to play, pause and skip music, or double tap to answer and end phone calls. The glasses were most fun to wear while playing with my kids at the park, as playground shenanigans (such as creeping inside a tunnel meant for 5-year-olds) make it tricky to pull out a smartphone to capture moments. I was able to take a number of photos and videos of my kids that are usually tough to catch while we’re roughhousing.
The pictures aren’t as good as what you’d get from a smartphone while the speakers don’t match what you’d expect from a set of AirPods. If you’re someone who needs audio quality to be top-notch, you’ll be bothered by how poor the Ray-Ban Stories sound. And although the speakers aren’t very loud for the user, they’re loud enough that others around you will be able to hear what you’re listening to, whether it’s a private phone call or your most embarrassing Spotify playlist.
The photos and videos show up in a square format within an app called View that Facebook developed for the glasses. Users can download pictures into their phones’ camera roll or share the media directly to other apps, including Facebook rivals TikTok and Snap. The glasses, which start at $299, let users take photos and record videos with voice commands or by pressing a button on the right temple of the glasses.
The style was a runaway hit, establishing a new generation of Ray-Ban fans. There will likely be resistance by some to wearing cameras and microphones made by Facebook, regardless how well the glasses are designed. But given how Facebook’s brand is nowhere to be found on the glasses themselves, I’m not sure that stigma will significantly hinder interest in Ray-Ban Stories. Starting Thursday, the first ray ban new wayfarer pair of smart glasses made by Facebook and Ray-Ban are going on sale for $299. They’re called Ray-Ban Stories, and you’ll be able to find them pretty much anywhere Ray-Bans are sold, including LensCrafters and Sunglasses Hut stores. In September 2021, Ray-Ban and Facebook Reality Labs announced a collaboration for smart glasses including Wayfarers with built in cameras called Ray-Ban Stories.
The 1950s revival that fueled the glasses’ popularity in the 1980s lost momentum, and Wayfarers were outcompeted by wraparound frames. During the slump of the 1990s, Ray-Ban’s parent company, Bausch & Lomb was facing pressure from competitors like Oakley. ray ban new wayfarer In 1999, Bausch & Lomb sold Ray-Ban to Luxottica Group S.p.A. of Italy for $640 million. In 2001, the Wayfarer underwent a significant redesign , with the frames made smaller and less angular, and changed from acetate to a lighter injected plastic.