Meta’s first-generation smart glasses, created in partnership with Ray-Ban, were launched in India earlier this year in May. It was available through Ray-Ban’s online store along with select optical and sunglass stores. Meta has now announced wider availability of the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 smart glasses through Amazon, Flipkart, and Reliance Digital. It will be available on these platforms starting November 21st, marking the widest retail rollout yet for Meta’s wearable ecosystem in the country. Starting November 6th, interested buyers can register for “Notify Me” alerts on all three platforms.
Classic design with hands-free AI
The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 glasses carry forward the classic Wayfarer-style aesthetic, but pack Meta’s computing layer inside the frames. It is available in multiple frame and lens variants: sun, polarized, Transitions, and prescription options. This way, buyers get a fair amount of flexibility.
A key differentiator is Meta AI, which can be triggered with the wake phrase “Hey Meta”. Users can ask questions, request information, control functions on the glasses, or even generate creative outputs via voice. A capture LED indicator is built into the frame to signal when the camera is in use, maintaining privacy for people around you. The glasses are paired with a compact charging case that slips easily into a pocket.
What the Ray-Ban Meta glasses offer: specs and experience
The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 smart glasses feature a 12MP ultra-wide camera, which is capable of capturing 1080p (FHD) videos. It has a five-mic system and open-ear speakers. The smart glasses also have touch controls on the temple, and you can check and manage all your content through their companion app.
We tried out the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 glasses earlier this year and found them quite comfortable to wear as they weren’t bulky or heavy. Also, even if it ran out of battery, they still served as a stylish pair of glasses that you can wear normally. The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 glasses are designed to last for around four hours. The video quality turned out to be pretty good, especially in daylight. It’s also very handy for capturing photos spontaneously. And while its PoV-style videos may seem better suited for creators, its functions can still appeal to regular users.
You can listen to music, watch videos, and answer calls with the smart glasses. However, you might experience some sound leakage due to the open-ear speaker system. But this instead helps in consuming content without being cut off from your present surroundings. Another useful feature is getting messages read out loud when you’re driving or occupied with something else.
Overall, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses combine style with functionality, marking a major step forward in wearable technology and setting the stage for truly hands-free, AI-powered experiences.
New India-specific features
The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 smart glasses recently added Hindi support for Meta AI, making basic interactions and queries simpler for native speakers. A new celebrity AI voice by Deepika Padukone also adds a more conversational, approachable personality to responses. There’s also a “Restyle” feature that applies generative effects to photos, which can be useful for festive shots, social posts, or quick creative edits. It can be triggered by saying, “Hey Meta, restyle this”.
Meta also plans to add UPI Lite payments soon. Users will be able to look at a QR code and say, “Hey Meta, scan and pay” to complete sub-Rs 1,000 transactions hands-free. If executed well, this could become one of the most practical, India-first use cases for smart glasses.
Who should consider them?
The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 glasses are a nice mix of lifestyle and tech blended together. The glasses are not meant to replace a smartphone but complement it, especially for quick communication, lightweight capture, and AI-assisted tasks. It’s good for users who want hands-free photo/video capture along with AI features. The smart glasses also seem best suited for creators who want candid POV shots or for their travel vlogs.
With India-specific language support, celebrity AI voices, and UPI Lite integration, Meta is clearly preparing the Ray-Ban Meta lineup for mainstream adoption. As AI wearables continue to emerge as a new consumer tech category, from smart rings to AI pins, Meta’s offering stands out for blending familiar Ray-Ban fashion with practical, hands-free computing.
The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 glasses start at Rs 29,900 in India, and prices vary for different styles and lenses.
