Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Standard (Gen 2) 0RW4012_601SSB50 Review

You're buying a fashion icon with party tricks, not a cutting-edge computer for your face. If you want the Ray-Ban look with a side of tech, go for it. If you want performance, look elsewhere.

Let's cut through the hype: the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Gen 2 is a fashion accessory first, a smart gadget second. The one thing you need to know is that you're buying the coolest-looking smart glasses on the market, not the most powerful. They nail the 'normal glasses' look perfectly, which is their biggest win. Everything else—the camera, the battery, the AI features—feels like a neat bonus tacked onto a great pair of shades.

Honestly, the performance was exactly what we expected after looking at the data: middling. Our benchmarks put it in the 16th percentile for overall performance, which basically means it's fine for playing music and taking quick snaps, but don't expect it to replace your phone. The surprise, if there is one, is how well the open-ear audio works. For speakers that don't go in your ears, the sound is clear and gets plenty loud without annoying everyone around you.

Worth it? Only if style is your top priority. The price swings wildly from $379 to $520 depending on where you look, so shop around. At the lower end, you're paying a premium for the Ray-Ban name and some neat tricks. At $520, it's a tough sell when a cheap pair of Bluetooth earbuds and your phone's camera do most of this better.

Forget comparing these to phones like the Pixel or iPhone. The real competition is other smart glasses, and frankly, there isn't much. The Bose Frames focused on audio and are discontinued. Snap's Spectacles were more about AR and also struggled. The Meta Wayfarers win by default because they look good and you'll actually wear them. If you want raw tech power, buy a smartwatch. If you want sunglasses that play music, this is your only real option.

If you're a tech enthusiast craving the latest features and raw performance, these aren't it. You'll be disappointed by the sluggish AI and average camera. Go get a high-end smartwatch instead. Also, skip them if you need all-day, loud music; just get a great pair of noise-canceling earbuds.

We recommend these with a big, style-focused asterisk. Buy the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Gen 2 because you want the look and think hands-free photos and audio are cool conveniences. Do not buy them expecting a powerhouse wearable computer. They're the best execution of the smart glasses idea so far, but that idea is still mostly about looking good.