Meta announces refresh of its spy – er, I mean – 'smart' glasses. Check out its new AI features.

Have you ever heard of Ray-Ban Stories? If not, don't feel bad. Although they launched two years ago, Meta's first-generation smart glasses haven't caught the public's attention despite their wow factor. In partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of Ray-Ban, Meta unleashed a pair of spectacles that can capture high-quality video and pictures.

As a cherry on top, you can use them to listen to music as well as take calls.

Although critical reception has been lukewarm, Meta isn't giving up just yet. At the Connect event, the social media tech giant announced its next-generation, AI-based Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. They have an updated camera and mic system that will appeal to the content creators and social media stars among us.

AI features are coming

In a software update in the near future, the new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses will come with Meta AI. This digital assistant can "see" what you see, allowing you to collect information about objects in your immediate environment.

Meta AI on Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses Credit: Meta

For example, if you see a leaky faucet, you can tap into Meta AI for a solution on how to fix it.

They can capture better videos and pictures

I joke that the Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses have a spy element to them, but I own a pair myself and they light up while you're recording video and taking pictures. As such, they're not ideal for espionage, which is, of course, a relief. It's unclear whether the new-generation smart glasses will have the same way of alerting others that you're recording, but they do come with a new 12MP ultrawide camera and a five-mic system. This is a step up from its predecessor's dual 5MP cameras and triple built-in microphones.

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses Credit: Meta

The new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses can capture 1080p videos at 30 frames per second at a resolution of 1440 x 1920 pixels (compare this to last-gen's 1184 x 1184 pixels). They also deliver 3024 x 4032-pixel photos, an upgrade from the first generation's 2592 x 1944-pixel pictures.

Meta boasts that you can use these smart glasses to livestream hands-free to Instagram and Facebook. I can attest to the fact that these spectacles are useful for moments when you want to capture moments that require you to use your hands (e.g., riding through a scenic bike trail), but you don’t want to lug a tripod around.

Music and calls sound better on the refreshed spectacles

When I tested Ray-Ban Stories, I was pleasantly surprised with the sound quality on them. Music sounded clear and callers sounded crisp, but Meta is kicking it up a notch by releasing refreshed smart glasses with open-ear speakers that are reportedly 50 percent louder.

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses Credit: Meta

Meta also claims that the new spectacles emanate deeper bass, giving users a "rich listening experience." Even if it's noisy or windy, Meta claims that Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses should still let you listen to your favorite playlists – and even take calls – without any issues.

It has a redesigned charging case

The last-generation's smart glasses had quite a bulky case. This time, however, the refreshed Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses come with a sleek, redesigned charging case that is now 32 percent lighter, making it easier to fit into your travel bag. Plus, it helps extend the spectacles' battery life. According to Meta, it gives you "an additional 32 hours of battery life" while you're on the go. Without the case, the smart glasses supposedly last four hours on a single charge with "mixed use."

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses Credit: Meta

The new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, packed with 32GB of storage (enough for 500 photos and 100 30-second videos), come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip. They have an IPX-4 water-resistance rating, which means they can only handle light splashes. 

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses will some in the classic Wayfarer design (standard and large sizes) as well as a new Headliner style. You'll have the option to choose from a range of colors and lens options, including sun, polarized, clear, and more. Plus, you can mix-and-match the frames and lenses for a combination that best suits your personal style.

The refreshed spectacles have a starting price of $299 and are available for preorder on Sept. 27. They will hit store shelves on Oct. 17.

.