[Review] Meta and EssilorLuxottica Launch Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta AI Glasses in Singapore

Meta and EssilorLuxottica have officially announced that the highly anticipated Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta AI glasses are now available in Singapore. These new collections offer a wide variety of optical styles that integrate advanced Meta AI capabilities into everyday lifestyle, prescription, and performance eyewear. We were invited for a media preview last week and were able to get our hands on the nifty new devices before the official launch today. Here are some quick pointers on what you can expect.

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Let us start with the sports and performance side of things.

The Oakley Meta HSTN is tailored specifically for both athletes and passionate fans, combining a bold sporty aesthetic with powerful technology. When you look at the specifications, this model features a built-in twelve megapixel ultra wide camera that is capable of Ultra HD 3K recording.

It also includes open ear speakers and integrated Meta AI capabilities. You can expect up to eight hours of battery life from typical use, which is plenty of time to capture your outdoor adventures. This model officially hits the shelves in Singapore today.

For those engaging in much more high intensity sports, heavy training, and serious competition, the Oakley Meta Vanguard is engineered specifically to keep up with extreme action.

The Vanguard offers integration with popular fitness applications like Strava and Garmin. This allows you to receive real time performance insights directly through the glasses while you are moving. It also boasts a fantastic hands free point of view camera and offers up to nine hours of continuous use.

If you are looking to grab a pair immediately, the Oakley Meta Vanguard Black with Prizm Transitions Ember lenses is available right now in Singapore, with more exciting colour options expected to launch in the near future.

On the lifestyle and fashion front, the Ray Ban Meta lineup is expanding its range by introducing the new Blayzer Optics and Scriber Optics.

These second generation frames are crafted specifically for prescription wearers.

They feature much slimmer and lighter designs that greatly improve all day comfort. While the Blayzer and Scriber models will be available in Singapore starting 6 May, the equally stylish Wayfarer, Skyler, and Headliner devices can be purchased starting today.

Across the entire Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 suite, the internal Meta AI continues to evolve with exciting new features. You can now enjoy live translation in multiple languages, hands free food logging, nutrition tracking, and highly convenient message summarisation.

I was lucky enough to receive a pair of the new Ray-Ban Meta Headliner Gen 2 shades for testing, and they live up to the hype surrounding this latest tech drop. Online tech reviewers have been praising the Gen 2 for its noticeably lighter feel and the vastly improved battery life, and I agree with their assessments. The battery now comfortably lasts eight to ten hours, easily getting me through an entire day of moderate use from morning until night.

The Headliner design is sleek, stylish, and unobtrusive. It easily passes for a regular pair of premium sunglasses until you actively engage the subtle tech features hidden inside the frame.

Taking the Headliner out for a walk around the bustling streets of Singapore in the CBD, I found the 3K Ultra HD video capture to be impressively crisp and vibrant. The camera captures beautifully smooth footage even while I am walking briskly, entirely thanks to the upgraded adjustable video stabilisation. Capturing memories from my exact point of view without ever needing to pull out my smartphone is a wonderfully liberating experience.

Additionally, the open ear audio system is another major highlight for me. The speakers deliver surprisingly rich and immersive sound for my favourite music and podcasts. At the same time, the open ear design allows me to remain completely aware of my surroundings, which is crucial for staying safe while navigating busy roads.

The voice commands powered by Meta AI are highly responsive and intuitively designed. It was easy to snap a quick photo, send a voice message on WhatsApp, or ask the AI for a quick translation without ever touching the device.

Not everybody enjoys talking to their glasses. The inclusion of a dedicated action button on the frames also provides a tactile way to control the experience if you prefer not to use your voice.

For this new series, the inclusion of Transitions lenses is also something practical for our sunny and unpredictable Singapore weather.

Overall, the Headliner Gen 2 do not feel like a bulky piece of tech. Instead, it feels like a natural extension of my daily wardrobe, presenting both style and functionality together.

Ray-Ban Meta Orchard Pop Up

If you want to explore the full collection and experience these groundbreaking innovations firsthand, there is a dedicated Ray-Ban Meta pop up located right outside Mandarin Gallery on Orchard Road. The pop up event runs from 6 to 17 May, operating daily from 10am to 10pm. You can check out the entire range of products and styles, and even receive custom engraving on their glasses cases to personalise your purchase.

For those ready to buy today, the products are widely available at authorised retailers including Ray Ban stores, Oakley stores, and EssilorLuxottica locations such as Sunglass Hut and Spectacle Hut across Singapore.

Existing Ray-Ban Meta styles including the Wayfarer, Skyler, and Headliner are available from today, with prices starting from SGD 629.

Prices start from SGD 659 for the Oakley Meta HSTN and SGD 949 for the Oakley Meta Vanguard Black with Prizm Transitions Ember lenses.

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