Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of
Facebook
, has forecasted that this marks the end of the smartphone age. He claims that these small displays we carry around constantly and
spend hours scrolling on
, will no longer serve as the leading technological product, as a new innovation has emerged: the Meta Glasses.

These pioneering AI-powered eyewear enable you to place calls, compose texts, and capture images, all through the device.
frames on your face
Zuckerberg mentions ten years of research involved in developing these “next big platform.”

I’m doubtful. Even as someone who is
had a phone
Since the age of six, and willing to spend five hours each weekend scrolling, I find it hard to picture myself using a facial device.

Numerous earlier efforts in developing smart eyewear have ended in significant failure — do you recall Google Glass? Introduced in 2014, it was discontinued just one year later.

Meta has effectively partnered with Ray-Ban for their model — making them genuinely stylish. After becoming available to consumers in 2023, priced between £299 and £379, two million units have been sold — although I haven’t met someone who owns a pair yet. The Meta Wayfarer sunglasses I was sent for evaluation resemble regular Ray-Bans — and come equipped with
sun protection
and available in numerous shades.

They arrive in an elegant brown leather-style casing featuring Ray-Ban’s emblem, equipped with a charge port internally. A bright green glow on the exterior shows their battery level.

The design follows the traditional Ray-Ban look; the lenses are bold yet they remain sleek.
stylish
. Cameras positioned on both sides of the lenses are noticeable yet unobtrusive. The lenses, said to provide 100 percent UVA and UVB protection, transition from clear to shaded when you step outdoors.

To configure the glasses, I needed to install an application. To capture a photo, press the button located on the side of the glasses, after which it will show up in the app and can be automatically processed.
transfer to your phone’s photo library
However, I discovered that it’s difficult to know what is within the frame when taking a photograph since you cannot view it on a screen. When I attempted to capture an image of
my puppy
I was seated on the floor, watching him, and pressed the camera button, yet the photo I captured mainly showed the floor.

Some pictures were improved, yet the quality remains far inferior to that available on an iPhone. The upcoming version of these glasses is expected to feature integrated holograms with
projected screens
which enable users to view an image or someone standing before them.

The goggles include far more than a camera. Saying “Hey Meta” allows you to inquire about almost anything, such as requesting they capture a photo or video for you. Since I’m into redecorating, I placed my glasses on the stand.
my living room
and say “Hello Meta, what can I do to enhance this space?” The response to your query comes back as a vocal message via small speakers built into the eyewear: “You could incorporate pillows and blankets to create depth, and consider adding some plants or mirrors. A light would be beneficial.” They were correct; I indeed required all these items, yet it certainly felt odd realizing I was
showing my home
To Meta. Who can say where that data might go?

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As a culinary journalist – here are the updated guidelines for dining while viewing a display

You can even use the goggles to place calls or send messages: “Hey Meta, call Pete,” I said one day, and indeed
we had a conversation
even though my phone was on the opposite side of the room.

For a comprehensive trial, I wore the glasses almost constantly, and the following day, as I walked through town, I asked them where my closest…
coffee
The shop was. The glasses transmitted to me, via speakers that were only audible to me, the addresses and operating times of the four closest cafés.

They’re clearly highly intelligent, yet I started to sense that they complicated matters nearly
too
simple. They make traditional maps outdated and decrease the chances of accidentally discovering a new café. Considering how effectively the glasses assist users in organizing an entire schedule, I can imagine how effortlessly they might be used.
the spontaneity of life
might disappear.

Issues have also been brought up regarding confidentiality.
– You can utilize the glasses to take photos or video of individuals. The camera does emit a flash, so it’s not really a covert action, yet it still seems odd when you simply glance at someone’s face; you could capture footage of anyone walking down the street. If they weren’t looking directly at me, they might not have realized I was doing it.

On the bright side, using the glasses
reduced my screen time
I forgot my phone at home during my walks since I was aware that my glasses were capable of taking photos and making calls. I found myself needing to browse the internet less often, so I simply spoke my questions aloud (disregarding the strange glances from people around me).

A drawback, though the concept of integrated
sun protection
It was excellent, was that the glasses became tinted when sunlight entered my apartment. The same problem happened while driving, which wasn’t always useful.

My favourite feature was
listening to music
Without using earphones, yet maintaining privacy. I could either work or take walks while enjoying my music list, and adjusting the volume was simple by sliding fingers along the side of the glasses.

Being someone who wears glasses, I was happy to learn that it’s feasible to get Meta glasses customized for your vision needs. Nevertheless, because the pair I tried out had clear lenses, I could only use them with my regular eye correction inside. I might require two sets, one tailored to my prescription, if I intended to wear them constantly.

Following their first launch, several models of smart glasses from different manufacturers have come out at significantly reduced prices. Some can be found for as low as £20 on
TikTok
store but most only include the music functionality, instead of the camera, the capability to link with your phone, and the “Hey Meta” feature.

Following two weeks of wearing the glasses
the battery
They didn’t require charging at all, as placing them back in the case charged them automatically.

These panels can assist me, rearrange my living space, inform me about
finances
and offer recommendations for daily activities. I nearly feel as though they’re consuming my human essence. There’s no question that they represent a significant technological advancement—but they still can’t replace smartphones anytime soon. All of us are
too busy scrolling
via an Instagram feed, which the current version of the glasses does not support.

Someday, however, I have no doubt everyone will be using them. I find them excellent—yet perhaps overly so: I would not want to depend on them so much that I lose my ability to function without them.