Facebook launches $299 Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses in six countries including the US; users can capture photo and video, listen to music, or take phone calls

Hands-on with Facebook and Ray-Ban's first pair of smart glasses — Starting Thursday, the first pair of smart glasses …

The Verge 2021-09-10 Alex Heath

Context & Ripple Effects

The launch delivers on Facebook’s earlier consumer smart-glasses partnership with Ray-Ban maker Luxottica, after the company said the first product would arrive in 2021 without AR features. A pre-launch tease had already focused attention on point-of-view recording.

The product makes the partnership a retail offering across six countries, centered on cameras, audio, and calling rather than an AR display. Later coverage of a higher-spec Ray-Ban Meta model shows this was the start of an iterative wearable-hardware line rather than a one-off accessory.

First-order effects

Facebook and Ray-Ban begin selling a $299 connected-glasses product in six markets, giving buyers hands-free photo and video capture alongside music playback and calls.
The launch turns Facebook’s hardware partnership with Ray-Ban into a consumer-facing distribution channel, while keeping the first model outside the AR category Facebook had explicitly ruled out.

Second-order effects

Ray-Ban’s familiar eyewear format becomes part of Facebook’s route to consumers, making product adoption depend on how well camera and audio features fit an everyday glasses purchase.
The emphasis on point-of-view capture extends Facebook’s connection to user-created video beyond its apps, creating a new device surface for media creation.

Third-order effects

The subsequent move to a more capable Ray-Ban Meta model suggests a wearable strategy built through successive camera, microphone, and computing upgrades rather than a single leap to display-based AR.
If that iteration continues, smart glasses may develop as a sensor-native computing category in which consumer hardware and social-media platforms are jointly distributed through established eyewear brands.

The trend: Consumer smart glasses are emerging first as camera-and-audio wearables, with AR deferred while companies establish hardware, retail, and content-creation habits.

Discussion

@evleaks @evleaks on x
Prior to Facebook's announcement, leaker evleaks posted a series of photos of Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses in multiple frame styles
@katienotopoulos Katie Notopoulos on x
Facebook is making camera glasses. They have an LED warning light so that bystanders know you are taking a video. I taped it over. A FB exec told me this is a violation of the terms of service of the glasses (oops) https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...
@laurengoode Lauren Goode on x
Here are some of the photos and videos I captured while wearing Facebook's Ray-Ban Stories around San Francisco this week — which you probably wouldn't have even noticed, because they look like regular sunglasses. @Mstreshinsky was game to be my subject. https://twitter.com/...
@rmac18 @rmac18 on x
So the privacy expert that Facebook is having defend its new Wearable Glasses works for an organization that is funded by Facebook. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@jack Jack⚡️ on x
Throwing pillows of various sizes at Mark Zuckerberg looks fun https://twitter.com/...
@msquinn Megan Quinn on x
I ran into @LaurenGoode outside of the bakery below & she was wearing these. We chatted for 10-15 mins — I didn't notice them. She didn't let on at all (holds an embargo well) but seeing photos covertly taken even by a friend after the fact feels...weird (tryin not to say creepy)…
@boztank Boz on x
We're proud of what we've achieved with Ray-Ban Stories and what we integrated into the most iconic glasses design in the world. Together with EssilorLuxottica, we focused on the design and only after that added the technology we believed would be most useful to people. https://t…
@laurengoode Lauren Goode on x
But here's the thing: There was really no way, aside from a tiny indicator light, for @Mstreshinsky to know I was recording video of her. (I didn't end up getting the rugelach) https://twitter.com/...
@rmac18 @rmac18 on x
Facebook sent reporters covering their glasses launch a list of supposed “third-party” privacy and consumer groups that it consulted for the product. So I did some digging. FB funds at least 4 of the 5 groups. Future of Privacy Forum is one. https://twitter.com/...
@losowsky Andrew Losowsky on x
Remember that whole thing where Google Street View cars were passively scraping everyone's wifi information? Imagine that but Facebook with all of our faces and locations https://twitter.com/...
@joannastern Joanna Stern on x
These look like such cool, normal sunglasses, no one has any idea they have cameras. Plus, the LED is about the size of a poppy seed. https://www.wsj.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@ray_ban Ray-Ban on x
Today we're making Ray-Ban history with @Facebook. Introducing Ray-Ban Stories, our first generation of smart glasses: the new way to capture, share and listen. Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/... #RayBanStories @roccobasilico Mark Zuckerberg https:/…
@stevekovach Steve Kovach on x
Facebook loves to copy everything Snapchat does. This time it's glasses, 5 years after Snap did it. https://www.cnbc.com/...
@kantrowitz Alex Kantrowitz on x
My review of the Facebook Glasses: Nope
@benedictevans Benedict Evans on x
Did Facebook really do Snap Spectacles, five years later, but without looking at the social signalling and consideration that went into them?
@jjvincent James Vincent on x
There's been some comment on how basic the functionality of Facebook's glasses are — no AR, no assistant, etc. But that's on purpose, because the main feature of these things is getting the public used to the idea of everyone constantly wearing cameras https://www.theverge.com/..…
@joannastern Joanna Stern on x
Facebook and Ray-Ban have teamed up on a pair of camera equipped glasses called the Ray-Ban Stories. They look like normal sunglasses, which is really cool. But also really creepy because no one knows you're recording them. My review: https://www.wsj.com/...
@_lucasrizzotto Lucas Rizzotto on x
Thoughts on Facebook's Smart Glasses: 🤔 Impressive hardware integration! They really managed to keep the og Ray-Ban form factor. 👻 Facebook's 2021 AR strategy is Snapchat's 2016 AR strategy. ❓ What is the privacy policy of its companion app, tho? No one's talking about it. https:…
@facebook @facebook on x
Mark Zuckerberg and Rocco Basilico, Chief Wearables Officer at EssilorLuxottica introduce #RayBanStories - the new way to capture, share and listen. Shop @ray_ban stories now: https://www.ray-ban.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
More impressions coming in this week's Power On - but battery life is a concern. If you don't physically turn these off (there's a switch), the battery is going to disappear fairly quickly. At least in my experience.
@can Can Duruk on x
congratulations to Evan Spiegel, Facebook's real head of product https://twitter.com/...
@jetscott Scott Stein on x
Facebook's smart $299 Ray-Ban sunglasses are here: and they're basically like Spectacles and Bose Frames rolled into one product. Here's my test drive thoughts so far. https://www.cnet.com/...
@gun_toucher Gun Toucher on x
fuck no, absolutely not. smash this crap up into little shitty pieces whenever you see it https://www.theverge.com/...
@sdw Sebastiaan de With on x
I am shocked, absolutely shocked that such a privacy-respecting company culture like Facebook's would produce a wearable camera product that feels like an almost dystopian-creepy invasion of privacy. https://twitter.com/...
@georgehahn George Hahn on x
Glasses? Yes. Smart? Not feeling it. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@ibogost Ian Bogost on x
Facebook: *releases Death Star* Tech writers: “Facebook has unveiled a super weapon capable of eviscerating whole worlds. Will the company, plagued by years of controversy, win over consumers with this literal genocide device? Only time will tell.”
@juliadavisnews Julia Davis on x
“The phrase “secret spy camera glasses” is making your heart race. The phrase “and it's made by FACEBOOK!” makes you emit a blood-curdling scream. Knowing that Facebook is discussing building facial recognition into these things curdles the stomach.” https://www.buzzfeednews.com/…
@clarajeffery Clara Jeffery on x
Hey, a whole new way for Facebook to trace your movements and purchases while also infringing on the privacy of everyone you pass by. Facebook is a garbage company. https://twitter.com/...
@buzz Buzz Andersen on x
I wonder what the Facebook policy is on employees wearing these things around the office. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...
@rmac18 @rmac18 on x
So what does this mean? It means that “third-party experts” Facebook consulted, as stated here by VP @boztank, and then put forth by the co to speak with reporters, were not independent. It also shows the breadth of Facebook's influence over nonprofits that rely on donations. htt…
@adsinjapan @adsinjapan on x
Welp, sorry to the people who are just wearing Ray Ban's, but I'm giving you the finger and shooing you away. I don't want to be recorded and I don't want fucking Facebook owning video of me either. This product is shit and I hope it goes the way of Google Glass. https://twitter.…
@loudmouthjulia Julia Alexander on x
Facebook will see if having a bigger platform specific/platform driven subsect of users (Instagram) can drive more purchases than Snapchat's Spectacles line. I do wish the audio command was “Hey Instagram” since no one under 35 is on FB. “Hey Facebook” is an immediate turnoff.
@rmac18 @rmac18 on x
A FB spox responded saying that while they “want to drive a dialogue around the standards & expectations for these new technologies,” they will not disclose other orgs FB has consulted with. On its blog FB names the same 5 orgs. So much for transparency. https://tech.fb.com/... h…
@zachbdunn Zach Dunn on x
Seems as though Facebook finally took Ray-Ban up on some of the incredible 90% off sales I've seen advertised on their site https://twitter.com/...
@aviation_intel Tyler Rogoway on x
The Spy Store has gone mainstream. https://twitter.com/...
@davidfrum David Frum on x
What an aging planet needs: eyewear that can remind you of the name of the person you're talking to, plus useful personal information as you talk. “So ... Fred ... how is ... Wilma? And ... of course ... Pebbles must be ... graduating from high school this year?” https://twitter.…
@vogon Yves Adele Fartlow on x
it's very silly to me that people think that the audience for the facebook ray-bans is going to be the same as the audience for google glass like nah it's going to be an entirely different group of people with no respect for other people's boundaries
@bigblackjacobin Edward Ongweso Jr on x
there is no possible world where i put anything this company makes on any part of my body https://twitter.com/...
@katzish Amanda Katz on x
On one hand, GoPro-style video housed in a pair of actually nice-looking sunglasses is kind of appealing. On the other, the world's most pernicious social media company setting up an undercover sound and visual recorder on people's faces is super creepy https://twitter.com/...
@jamesgleick James Gleick on x
Let's say you're a mega tech giant—no names, please—increasingly notorious for building your entire business around SURVEILLANCE. You disregard privacy rights, harvest information and monetize it. People are starting to catch on, though. What should your next product be? https://…
@dannysullivan Danny Sullivan on x
I just read one article about Ray-Ban Stories wondering why anyone would want camera glasses. Aside from being ideal when running, I've also used my Spectacles while paddle boarding. It's an ideal use case. Sadly, the Ray-Bans aren't waterproof it seems: https://www.pocket-lint.c…
@davidlaz David Lazarus on x
Smart glasses are a way to record people without their knowing. Hard pass https://www.nytimes.com/...
@pt Parker on x
The word dystopian is super overused today. If you don't want a face computer don't buy a face computer. Life is wonderful. https://twitter.com/...
@stevekovach Steve Kovach on x
Past performance does not predict future results. (Except it probably does for creepy camera glasses.) https://twitter.com/...
@ricmac Richard MacManus on x
Not very metaverse-y right now, but it's a start I suppose -> “We are building towards AR glasses as the next computing platform,” Monisha Perkash, a product director at Facebook, said in an interview. “We see it as a very important first step towards that vision.” https://twitte…
@emilychangtv Emily Chang on x
Facebook - 2021 Snap - 2016 Google - 2013 Anyone taking bets on the chances for FB + Ray-Ban?? https://twitter.com/...
@ihnatko Andy Ihnatko on x
Classic Facebook. “Remember Google Glass? Let's 86 all of the features that made it useful, innovative, and intriguing, and just do that one feature that was considered repulsive on privacy grounds. Hell, let's even make the cameras harder to detect.” https://www.theverge.com/...
@techlinkedyt TechLinked on x
finally, camera glasses made by a company I can trust https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@karaswisher Kara Swisher on x
They are using @ray_ban as the vehicle for their latest surveillance device? Hell no. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@mikeisaac Rat King on x
@RMac18 the one they built themselves wasn't ever released and the HTC one wasn't really their hardware imo — I think there are two eras of FB hardware and bringing it all in house made a diff (but yes those first collabs were...not great)
@nkulw Noah Kulwin on x
Facebook x Ray(theon)-Ban. Do Not Cop
@tomgara Tom Gara on x
Miniaturization is so crazy. These glasses have two cameras, a battery, three microphones, two speakers and bluetooth, and weigh *five grams* more than a regular pair of Ray-Bans https://cnn.com/...
@mikeisaac Rat King on x
of note: literally nowhere on the hardware, the name or the glasses case does it include the word Facebook (the outside of the box it comes in does have Facebook printed on it though) https://twitter.com/...
@starfire2258 Sean Hollister on x
The Facebook glasses are here. They're... basically just better-looking Snapchat Spectacles + bluetooth audio? Can't underestimate the power of better-looking, though. https://www.theverge.com/...
@zachmontellaro Zach Montellaro on x
Having a terms of service for a pair of sunglasses is the low key dystopian part of this https://twitter.com/...
@gregbensinger @gregbensinger on x
Absolutely no one: Facebook: Sunglasses that can secretly record people at the beach! https://www.wsj.com/...
@reckless Nilay Patel on x
Important bubble gun gif in @JoannaStern's Facebook camera glasses review https://www.wsj.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@mikeisaac Rat King on x
what this boils down to for me: most hardware products FB has produced (thus far) come well-crafted and are usually surprising in how much you might like using it — c.f. Portal, Quest 2, etc the perennial caveat is basically always “...but it's facebook”
@shortformernie Ernie Smith on x
Spare thought: Let's talk about the fact that the company indirectly responsible for many of Ray-Ban's branding problems these days is now partnering with Ray-Ban https://twitter.com/...
@mollyjongfast Molly Jong-Fast on x
This piece is so incredibly well done and hilarious https://twitter.com/...
@hardin Brandon Hardin on x
lol facebook's original plan for its camera glasses didn't have a light to let you know they were recording “Himel told BuzzFeed News that the LED light was a feature they ADDED after consulting with a handful of privacy groups.” https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...
@jessicavalenti Jessica Valenti on x
Facebook just made life a lot easier for creeps who surreptitiously take pictures of women & kids https://twitter.com/...
@reckless Nilay Patel on x
They're sunglasses with a camera in them. I feel like it's entirely possible to over- and underthink this at the same time. https://www.theverge.com/...
@jw @jw on x
give mr isaac a cookie https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@benedictevans Benedict Evans on x
@alexstamos Facebook thinks AR and VR merge and become the next thing after smartphones, and that having missed phones (and given ATT) it needs to have its own platform. Whether it *can* have its own platform is another matter, of course
@pinboard @pinboard on x
I'm guessing they've got Scoble duct taped to the floor of a Facebook van somewhere, so you can't say this product is 100% bad
@samgirotra Sam Girotra on x
People will hate cause it's FB, but these glasses look cool and I bet they work great. Oculus Workrooms also look good tbh. And every review I've seen of Portal has been positive. Their ability to integrate hardware and software is impressive. https://twitter.com/...
@julianchokkattu Julian Chokkattu on x
“If Facebook doesn't want to surprise people, it might have built a much more obvious indicator light into its latest product ... 'So, you've been recording the whole time?' one friend asked, only half-joking.” 😬Read @LaurenGoode/@provenself's story here: https://www.wired.com/..…
@film_girl Christina Warren on x
I regret to inform you all that I want the stupid Facebook Ray Bans. I know, I know. They are bad. But also, they'd be so good for Christina's Hotel Tours...
@giladedelman Gilad Edelman on x
So Facebook has created glasses embedded with a hidden camera. Thank goodness they were “designed with privacy in mind” — I'd be a bit concerned otherwise. https://about.fb.com/...
@dylanmcd8 @dylanmcd8 on x
$299 Ray-Bans?? Good heavens the amount of data collection— https://twitter.com/...
@chrisbhoffman Chris Hoffman on x
Funny how you can get a pair of smart glasses for less than the price of some frames. https://twitter.com/...
@nicolamen Nicola Mendelsohn on x
So excited by today's launch of Ray-Ban Stories: Smart glasses built in partnership with @Facebook and @EssilorLuxottica which allow you to capture photos and video, share adventures, listen to music or take phone calls. Read more here https://tech.fb.com/... https://twitter.com/…
@blakejakely Jake Blakeley on x
We finally released it! What are y'alls thoughts? https://tech.fb.com/...
@igorbobic Igor Bobic on x
Kill it with fire https://twitter.com/...
@marietjeschaake Marietje Schaake on x
🤪 When is an investigative journalist going to map the various ecosystems of ‘civil society organizations’ funded by big tech companies to see what it means for independence, positions defended or ignored, etc? ↘️ https://twitter.com/...
@davidcorndc David Corn on x
Oh, yeah. No one is going to cover up that indicator light. No one would do that. Ever. https://twitter.com/...
@dannysullivan Danny Sullivan on x
Like, Spectacles 2 look like those big glasses you wear after eye surgery. I sometimes get smiles of encouragement when I'm wearing them, and I think people are thinking, “Look at that old guy who can't see very well getting on with running!” https://twitter.com/...
@malcolmmoore @malcolmmoore on x
So you are a creep who wants to film people while looking like you are wearing a perfectly standard pair of glasses. Facebook and Ray-Ban have your back. https://www.ft.com/...
@scobleizer Scoble on x
The table is set for Apple. Now I get why all sorts of people have been telling me that Apple will end up with a lot more than it already has. The Facebook device is a lot less interesting than I was expecting. Not nearly enough utility to get us excited about freaky cameras.
@leogebbie Leo Gebbie on x
Have to say - the Ray-Ban Stories look pretty sleek, and I'm looking forward to trying them out. But I think we're still a long way away from face-worn cameras being normalised, and Facebook doesn't exactly have the best track record when it comes to data and privacy... https://t…
@bcmerchant Brian Merchant on x
Congratulations to Facebook for figuring out that the only chance in hell it has to get people to purchase a physical product it built is to ensure its own brand name is nowhere near it https://twitter.com/...
@dannysullivan Danny Sullivan on x
I love my Spectacles 2 because they great for taking pictures of interesting things while I run. But they look — odd. The Ray-Ban Stories look great, just like my regular sunglasses. I don't need the smarts. Just an easy way to take pictures, I'm good. https://www.techmeme.com/..…
@appleholodeck Apple Holodeck on x
Facebook to Snap: “stay off our lawn.” Snap is way ahead on augmenting the world, but $299 Raybans is a message from Zuckerberg that disrupting him will be very difficult.
@jetscott Scott Stein on x
So the longer view here is that Facebook plans to iterate these over time into AR glasses. Meanwhile, the Quest 2 is exploring mixed reality on the other end. But this is going to take time, clearly...but no one else has magic AR glasses, really, yet
@gregbensinger @gregbensinger on x
No, worrying about recording everything is exactly the opposite of “being in the moment” @MikeIsaac https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@hunterw Hunter Walker on x
Facebook wants to put tiny cameras all over the place. What could go wrong! Give Zuck your eyes! He needs your eyes! https://twitter.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
And the lack of AR is an industry issue. Nobody has nailed it. Amazon and Snap offer nearly identical products — neither have AR. Snap has been touting an AR version for months, but it's not actually something you can buy.
@nycsouthpaw Southpaw on x
I'm just imagining tripping on the sidewalk or something and looking up to see a whole crowd of people with blank expressions staring at me with their fingers to their ears like Agent Smith, little lights flickering out from their sunglasses.
@dens Dennis Crowley on x
Ugh this is kind of crappy. Throw a tiny piece of electrical tape over that and hide the LED to secretly record. https://twitter.com/...
@woodruffbets Betsy Woodruff Swan on x
WSJ on Facebook's hidden camera glasses: “Easy to record your kids! And just as easy for some stranger to record your kids.” https://www.wsj.com/...
@dgwbirch @dgwbirch on x
Wife: I thought I told you not to put that in the dishwasher? Me: No you didn't. Wife: Let's go to VAR... https://www.wsj.com/...
@brianroemmele Brian Roemmele on x
Once again tech companies like Google and now Facebook find ways to completely bungle entry into a new market that requires a new social contract and engagement. Perhaps consult with folks that have actually studied this space and know the endpoint you are now heading to. https:/…
@pinboard @pinboard on x
The impressive resolution on this glasses camera captures a perfect image of the shame and disappointment in your children's eyes, even in low light https://twitter.com/...
@schrep Mike Schroepfer on x
Lots of hard technical work to get the technology of smart glasses into a Ray-Ban style and form factor that people have loved for decades. Pretty excited to see people use this product! https://twitter.com/...
@jbenton Joshua Benton on x
I don't get why Facebook wouldn't brand these as either Instagram or Oculus glasses, both brands that lack most of FB's brand baggage around privacy and everything icky https://www.nytimes.com/...
@johnpaczkowski John Paczkowski on x
Remember when Zuckerberg said “The future is private”? https://twitter.com/...
@harrymccracken Harry McCracken on x
Mark Zuckerberg does seem to be the ideal customer for Facebook's smart glasses. https://www.fastcompany.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
@thibautthomas Thibaut Thomas on x
Privacy is so paramount that it is considered AFTER the product is developed. Kinda like the Facebook Portal team that actually didn't know that using Messenger API meant that data was shared... https://twitter.com/...
@sal19 @sal19 on x
Despite this incredibly misleading marketing video, the Facebook Ray-Ban glasses do not have any augmented reality features whatsoever https://twitter.com/...

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