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Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (Gen 2) Review | Uniquely complements your digital companions
Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (Gen 2) Review | Uniquely complements your digital companions
The moment I put on the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (Gen 2), the first thought that crossed my mind was that these are Ray-Bans: proper, classic Wayfarers. And then, almost instantly, it hit me. These Ray-Bans see what I see, hear what I hear, and respond when I ask them to.
That realisation stayed with me the entire time I used them. More than the specs or the features, what stood out was this quiet shift in how I interacted with the glasses. They aren't trying to look futuristic or scream “wearable tech.” Instead, I simply wear them like any other sunglasses, and they blend into my routine, stepping in only when I need them to. At no point does it feel like you're wearing a gadget at all. It is like having an invisible companion that's always paying attention.
So, let's take a closer look at what it's like to actually live with the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (Gen 2).
I tested the Matte Black version with polarised gradient graphite lenses, and visually, there's nothing here that would make someone stop and stare. That's a good thing. They look like the classic Wayfarers you'd pick up from any Ray-Ban store. The slightly thicker arms are noticeable only if you know where to look, and the overall balance is excellent.
Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (Gen 2) design | Photo Credit: Haider Ali Khan
On the face, they feel reassuringly premium. I wore them for long stretches without discomfort, and that's important because these are meant to stay on you, and not go in and out of your pocket like a phone. The polarised lenses do a great job of cutting the glare, especially outdoors, and they still deliver full UV protection. Smart glasses only work if they first succeed as normal glasses, and these absolutely do.
If this is your first time using smart glasses, the setup process is refreshingly simple. You download the Meta AI app on your phone, power on the glasses, and follow the on-screen pairing steps over Bluetooth. The app walks you through everything, from basic controls to privacy indicators and gesture shortcuts.
Within minutes, the glasses are ready. Photos and videos sync seamlessly to your phone; AI features are accessible, and you can start customising how you want them to behave. There's no technical friction here, which makes a big difference for first-time users.
The biggest strength of the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (Gen 2) is how naturally it captures moments. The 12 MP ultra-wide camera doesn't aim to replace your smartphone camera, but the photos it takes are impressively clear and well-exposed for something sitting on your face. More importantly, they feel real.
I found myself capturing moments I'd usually miss. A quick walk, a sudden street performance, a candid conversation. Just tapping the button lets the glasses capture exactly what I'm looking at. Video recording in 3K Ultra HD is sharp enough for social media and personal archives, and the stabilisation is good for everyday movement.
Video calls take this a step further. Letting someone see what I see during a call genuinely changes the dynamic. Whether it's showing a product, a view, or a situation, it feels intuitive and surprisingly engaging.
The open-ear speakers are clear and well-tuned for calls and casual listening. Call quality is excellent, with the five-mic array doing a solid job at blocking background noise. People on the other end consistently heard me without any glitches.
That said, I'd suggest being mindful of where you use the audio feature. In public transport or very noisy environments, sound can get lost amid external noise. You can still hear it, but the experience isn't ideal. Also, because the speakers are open-ear, people around you can faintly hear what you're listening to. For private calls or music, it's best used in your own space, cabin, or at home.
Meta AI is where these glasses start to feel genuinely intelligent. The idea is simple. The glasses see what you see, and the AI responds to what you ask. In practice, this works better than expected.
Around 85–90% of the time, Meta AI correctly understood what I was looking at through the lenses. It identified objects, plants, landmarks, and publicly available information with impressive accuracy. Asking about buildings while walking, identifying objects on my desk, or getting contextual information felt natural and fast.
It's also careful about boundaries. The AI only works with public, non-personal information, which is reassuring from a privacy standpoint.
However, there is one notable drawback. The AI's knowledge base is updated only until August 2024. We're now in 2026, and the world has changed. In some cases, the AI's responses feel slightly dated, especially when asking about recent developments. This is something Meta needs to patch quickly because the hardware clearly deserves a more current brain.
Battery life is another area where the Gen 2 feels well thought out. I regularly got close to 8 hours of mixed usage, including photos, short videos, calls, and AI interactions. The real hero, though, is the charging case.
The case adds up to 48 additional hours, making it easy to carry the glasses for days without worrying about power. Fast charging is a bonus. A short 20-minute charge gets you back up to around 50%, which is incredibly practical. The case itself looks like a standard Ray-Ban case, which again reinforces the idea that this product blends into your life instead of standing out.
With 32 GB of internal storage, the glasses can hold over 1,000 photos or more than 100 short videos. For a wearable, that's plenty. Syncing content to the phone through the app is smooth, and managing files feels straightforward.
Translation features, hands-free messaging, and music controls add to the sense that these glasses are always ready to help, without demanding attention.
At ₹39,900, the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (Gen 2) sits in a unique space. It's not trying to replace your phone, your earbuds, or your camera. Instead, it complements them by doing something none of them can. It sees what you see and acts when you ask.
Yes, Meta needs to update the AI knowledge bank faster, and audio usage requires some situational awareness. But when everything clicks, these glasses feel less like technology and more like an invisible companion that quietly stays with you throughout the day. And that, ultimately, is what makes the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (Gen 2) special.
Published - January 01, 2026 07:00 am IST
technology (general) / gadgets (general) / accessories / lifestyle and leisure
Source: TheHindu
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