from London
You certainly can’t call it a helmet, but even visor sounds quite inappropriate. Because i Meta VR Glasses they are a paradigm of decisive minimalism. They are reduced, in fact, to a pair of glasses with virtual reality inside. They are an amazing object for its portability – let’s talk about approximately 100 grams in weighta feather in the category – both by comparing it to previous generations proposed by Mark Zuckerberg’s company, and by calling into question illustrious competitors with larger sizes and not exactly happy fortunes (already, to name one, Apple’s Vision Pro).
Really light and comfortable to wear, the Meta VR Glasses open up other worlds at eye level, without being tied to a computer leash or to force themselves to carry cumbersome trappings with them. They just require an appendage the size of a power bank (this one weighs around 300 grams) from which a wire comes out. All here, in exchange for the promise of an autonomy of three hours.
They fit in a bag or backpack without running out of space or taking the outside pockets (as in the photo above), so it is reasonable to imagine taking them with you on a trip, to use them on a plane or on a train to see a film excluding everything elseincluding annoying neighbors and crying children. Or to work by recreating a giant desk before your eyes, typing on a digital keyboard surrounded by a triumph of monitors. Or, of course, to confirm the primary vocation of virtual reality: deep, in-depth gaming on the go.
Custom lenses and intuitive controls
Panorama.it was able to try the new device in London during a preview which served as a prelude to its official stage, Meta Connectthe developer conference from the company behind Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.
The writer wears prescription glasses, but it took just a few minutes to find the right prescription and apply it to a pair of small glasses placed in front of the two displays inside the frame. When the product goes on sale, starting next spring also in Italyyou can do the same. Or, alternatively, you can use it while wearing contact lenses.
Unlike the Meta Ray-Ban Displays, the glasses with the built-in screen visible on the right lens, the Meta VR Glasses they don’t have bracelets or other gadgets to put on their wrist to control them. The glasses “see” our fingers and respond to the commands given, bringing the fingertips together, rotating them and similar. A short introductory tutorial helps you take measurements. You get used to it quickly.
The reason is that, in addition to the position of our hands, the glasses they also understand what we are looking at. So the application icons highlight themselves with satisfactory precision (from our guided test at least). All that remains is to select what is in relief to move forward.
Is this the eternal return of 3D?
Among the experiences proposed, a concert by singer Billie Eilish. The sensation is that of being in the audience in the front rows, of being able to touch it as it leans forward towards the fans. Another is a basketball gamenot just any one, but an NBA final. We are in the best seats imaginable, on the sidelines, a handful of centimeters from the athletes. The good thing is that you will be able to experience it with live matches, not with reruns. Then it’s the turn of a superhero film, in which the silhouettes of the protagonists, as well as the objects and furnishings around them, seem to come at us. They have their own three-dimensionality.
And yes, it is evident that Meta wants to understand if there is room and space for a rounded rebirth of 3D. With a change of substance: if before you needed special glasses to sit in front of the television (and we know it went badly), this time it’s the glasses themselves that incorporate everything. Will it be enough? Maybe not, but it is one of the many characteristics of the object, which extend to mobile working, mentioned previously.
It works like this: you connect this diet viewer to the computer, if necessary the screen turns off to protect our privacy, various virtual ones appear all around us. A triumph of multitasking available everywhere. Even at a table in a bar, while traveling and so on. With the option of being able to connect a physical keyboard or use one that doesn’t exist: all you need is a support surface on which to place your hands and, magically, the digital one appears on which to start writing. It takes a while to get used to, but it’s an idea that makes sense.
Finally, there are the games: we drove a 3D car crashing mercilessly and solved a puzzle accompanied by a cute little dragon who came over to make fun of us. Nothing new, but the point – we might as well reiterate it – is that the device for diving into these playful waters becomes easily transportable. Moreover, the surrounding world does not disappear, it is captured by the front cameras. As we can continue to see who is around us and perhaps is talking to us. Of course, not during a film or a sports broadcast, but when navigating the main menu or when you don’t need to completely immerse yourself, yes. The price? Neither low nor faint. Less than a high-end smartphone: 1,299 dollars, we will see the final one in euros.
Music around, without headphones
The other very interesting innovation presented by Meta somehow responds to the many criticisms received by glasses with built-in cameras for possible violations of other people’s privacy. The company itself makes it known that among the functions preferred by the public with advanced glasses is the possibility of listening to music and podcasts and making hands-free callswithout blocking your ears with earphones that isolates you from the noise and everything that happens around you. Sometimes it’s helpful, other times it’s just too much.
Here then I Ray-Ban Meta Audiowhich again surprise during our test, this time because also wearing them feels like you don’t have them. They weigh just 43 grams, play songs or assorted sound content or let you call, promising a more reliable capture of our voice than headphones, given a more strategic arrangement of the microphones.
Battery life is robust: 12 hourstherefore it means being able to use them from morning to evening without any problem. Furthermore, with the support of their custody, it goes up to 48 hours.
As with glasses and cameras, the experience is comparable: Playback of a playlist is clear, podcasts are satisfying, the bass is not exciting. Well, if you are a lover of electronic music, don’t expect amazing performances. However, the level is good. They will be available from mid-October in 23 color combinations and modelsso everyone can find the one most in line with their style. The price will be 349 euros.
The (invisible) screen on the lens
Meta Ray-Ban Displays are nothing new, but the news, as mentioned before, is that they can also be purchased in Italy. The prerogative is the built-in transparent screen, on which you can read messages or see maps appear before your eyes, without removing your smartphone from your pocket. And, another interesting element, without our interlocutor, or those around us, notice this tech presence in our field of vision.
In London we tried what we believe is one of the most useful features in everyday life: real-time navigation. We are on the road, we can arrive at our destination turn after turn without forgetting to unlock our cell phone. Furthermore, the display must not remain constantly on. A quick movement of the fingers is enough to make it appear or disappear. The same happens when you receive a notification or a call.
To operate the glasses you need wear a bracelet that, for simplicity’s sake, detects hand movements. It’s not too bulky or uncomfortable. Of course, if you also wear a smartwatch, your wrists become crowded with technology. The official debut in Italy is set for October 13th. They cost 899 euros and can be pre-ordered from today.
Evolution of the species
To close the wide range of innovations revealed by Meta there is the third generation of its best-known and best-selling advanced glassesthose without a built-in display but with lenses in the frame to record photos and videos.
The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) they sport a thinner and more comfortable design to wear, have a longer battery life (up to 9 hours, compared to 8 on the Gen 2), a customizable button to activate artificial intelligence functions, microphones that filter noise better, so calls are heard better, a photographic sector that rises to the level especially in video recording and their audio. Small steps forward. Nothing that leaves you speechless, at least compared to portable virtual reality.
