Smart glasses can replace your earbuds for calls and messages

AI glasses with built-in speakers can do a lot of what earbuds do, and for calls and messages they may do it better. Engadget looked at whether glasses like the Ray-Ban Metas can replace headphones. The answer depends on what you use them for. For sound quality alone, they lose. For everyday convenience, they have real advantages.

What the glasses actually do

Ray-Ban Meta glasses have a pair of open-ear speakers. They aim sound straight at your ears without covering them. You can play music, take phone calls and get alerts. The first Ray-Ban Meta glasses came out in October 2023 and got a mixed reaction, mostly because of the camera.

That camera can record and even livestream what the wearer sees. Some businesses pushed back. MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean banned or restricted smart glasses. Several companies, Meta included, now make versions with no camera. The Ray-Ban Meta Audio keeps most of the other features and adds a better sense of privacy.

Where they fall short

Two tiny speakers inside a pair of glasses cannot match big headphones built for the best portable sound. If sound quality is your top priority, glasses are not the right pick.

Privacy is the other catch. Open-ear speakers leak more sound than headphones. If you sit right next to someone in a quiet room, they might hear your whole call. On a busy street, or next to someone on a bus or train, the leak is minimal.

Why calls and messages stand out

The biggest edge is that glasses are not another gadget to carry. If you already wear glasses, they are simply on your face. Headphones are often in a bag or pocket when a message arrives. Glasses can read incoming messages and reminders aloud the moment they come in, which can cut how often you pick up your phone.

Calls are where the review sees the clearest win. Holding a phone to your ear gets tiring. Over-ear headphones get hot, and earbuds seal you off from the world. Glasses trap no heat, and you can walk around, hear the street and even watch TV while you talk.

Open ears also help with safety and manners. You can still hear a car horn or someone calling your name. A swipe on the side of the glasses lowers the volume, so you can chat with a store clerk without turning the music off.

Who it affects

• People who already wear glasses and want one less thing to carry.
• Anyone who avoided smart glasses because of the camera.
• People who want fewer trips to the phone, and less scrolling afterward.

The review suggests the speakers alone might justify the price for buyers who care more about quality of life than audio quality. It adds that they might even help reduce screen time in a meaningful way.