Ray-Ban Stories, review: Nice tool, not too smart

Smart glasses remain largely an illusion: Google tried them, Facebook introduced Project Aria, and recently we saw some interesting announcements, like that of Xiaomi. The dream of having a pair of glasses that can unite under one hat, usually that of augmented reality, many of the functions delegated so far to smartphones are still alive and struggling with us, but for the time being they haven’t found a convincing application in a consumer product. Ray-Ban Stories, a collaboration between Facebook and Luxottica, They promise to integrate style and some multimedia functionality, such as the ability to take photos, record videos, and listen to music, but are they really “smart”? Not much.

We spent a few days in the company of Ray-Ban Stories and came to the conclusion that it is A well-made, albeit very expensive product that has been in the recreational gadget category for a while and no more.

Compared to other similar products, on all Snapchat Spectacles that in the last iteration also added the promise of augmented reality, the result of the partnership with Ray-Ban can be enhanced by Extremely distinctive lines of one of the world’s most famous and recognizable brandsRay-Ban Stories: Available with Wayfarer silhouettes (which we tested), Round and Meteor, with a total of six different colors and regular, polarized or transition lenses. The Prices range from 329 to 409 euros. Just for reference, a pair of standard Wayfarers cost around €140, so the premium for them in this smart version is around €190.

Aesthetically, they are very similar to the originals except for some differences: Two 5MP cameras in the corners of the frame and then some thicker bars, designed to house electronic devices, including Place the speaker close to the bend and thus the ears. However, the fit is quite comparable to a regular pair of glasses, they are comfortable and generally not attention-grabbing (or at least nobody around me seemed to notice the difference, until I told them). Just be aware that there are no IP certifications, so on a rainy day it’s best to leave them at home even if you choose lenses, such as transition lenses, that are suitable for more types of light.

Powered by a small internal lever and synced with the Facebook View app, Ray-Ban Stories are ready to use in just a few moments. The The button on the right stick allows you to take photos, by holding down, or record videos for up to 30 seconds. Simply tap once to start recording and then again if you want to stop it half a minute before that is the automatic end of recovery. Photos are captured at 2592 x 1944 pixels while videos are captured at 1184 x 1184 pixels at 30 frames per second.

What are your photos and videos like? With so much light, the quality isn’t bad considering the inevitable tradeoffs It is related to the necessity of inserting sensors inside a pair of glasses and the impossibility of leaving the user with any manual adjustments. Of course, when comparing the result with what can be obtained from any mobile phone released in recent years, the verdict is rather negative, but these are acceptable concessions given that you will most likely share what is produced on social networks and with friends, without further claims.

In the evening or when the light is very low, the result is less tempting And even at home or inside environments with dim artificial light, there are many problems. Resolution in general is a big limitation when looking at details but the idea is that photos and videos taken with Ray-Ban Stories are shown in Instagram feed or Whatsapp chat. On the go then they are forgotten. I rather liked how the field of view is large enough to capture a good portion of what is observed with the eye, giving you the ability to rely on the glasses when recording without worrying too much that the result does not turn out what you want.

When recording starts, a white LED located near the right camera lights up And in the idea of ​​the two companies, you should indicate to those in front of us that we are registering. A solution that caused some bewilderment and I was completely stunned. First of all, there are no sensors that tell the glasses whether the LED is covered or not, so a small piece of black tape or a finger can simply mask it without changing its function. Even without the LED coverage, though, it’s true that the light is perfectly visible but, with a couple of great beta tests, I’ve come to realize that most people who don’t know the product don’t actually realize what’s going on. In short, the issue of privacy is still under discussion, and it is still an open topic.

If photos and videos are the most curious aspect, a file The ability to listen to music and podcasts, but also to answer and talk on the phone, are the functions that give substance to the Ray-Ban Stories offering. The speakers are placed in the right position and transmit the sound in a way that, in my opinion, makes listening a pleasure. Of course, as you hear, so will those around you if the volume is loud enough, so it has occurred to me a few times while walking down the street or taking the means to ask myself how much listening can bother others. If you absolutely don’t want to let people know what you’re listening to or share your calls, then I’m not the product for you.

The quality is good, the sound is clean and there’s a bit of bass missing, but it’s really hard to expect more with that in mind. There is still a solution in my opinion, Suitable for calling and listening to podcasts, much less if you want to enjoy some music.

I The controls on the glasses are all touch sensitive, always placed on the right stick. With one tap, you can start or pause the sound, while with two and three taps you can move the song forward or backward. Likewise, calls can be answered or ended. To raise or lower the volume, simply swipe your finger on the same surface.

The the battery The smartglass’s internal guarantees, according to what I’ve been able to experience, is about three hours of listening, but it’s possible that by taking a few photos or shooting a video in the middle, you’ll choose this value more. The case in which it is recharged also contains an internal battery, which adds a few hours of listening or a few dozen videos.

As it was said at the beginning, To use Ray-Ban Stories, you need the right View app, where you can log in with your Facebook account. With the application, you can download and manage videos and photos, as well as apply some effects or adjust the brightness, sharpness, saturation and temperature. The settings are not too many but they are enough to enjoy creating something unique. In the case of videos, for example, the options to stitch them together give the user the option to add text, music, transitions, etc. Otherwise it is always possible to download everything and work with it somewhere else. The sharing options are also very simple, not only on apps that belong to Facebook.

There is also support forFacebook Assistant Which is actually limited to two functions: once the keyword “Hey Facebook” is spoken, it is possible to ask it to take a photo or record a video. The process which, so far, has to be done in English. Even if you are an experienced English speaker or, simply put, Italian support should arrive, in my opinion it is better to use the button, and also not to attract too much attention: it is already strange enough to walk around with glasses you pick up what is going on around you, perhaps Talking to us is too much. The assistant remains a convenient option when you are for example on a bike, scooter or car, so as not to take your hands off the steering wheel or the steering wheel.

We noticed some bugs too, In the end. Occasionally when the glasses are activated, which occurs when the stick is opened, the phone sync is incompatible, or some sounds, such as those indicating that recording has started, do not start correctly. Nothing exciting, however, maybe minor mistakes of youth.

Ray-Ban stories are, it seems, ordinary glasses: no strange shapes or colors, distinctive design and the ability to mingle with the rest of the people without looking like it’s out of a science fiction movie. On top of that, the photography features are enjoyable, albeit very limited, as is the sound.

The problem is that it doesn’t take long to realize that the enthusiasm lasts as long as you do some exerciseShare the news with friends and test it out in every situation that comes to mind. From that moment it depends a little on the needs and creativity of each one. For many, it won’t be long before they become the pair of glasses that occasionally allow you to take a picture or listen to a podcast.