Don’t settle for the cheap Amazon smart glasses, get the Meta Ray-Bans for Cyber Monday while you can

This year’s Cyber Monday sale countdown clock is steadily ticking down, but one smart glasses deal I’d dodge is that the latest Amazon Echo Frames are just $114.99 at Amazon – saving you over 62% off their full price.

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While you can save a lot with one of this years’ biggest Cyber Monday deals on smart glasses – well over $100, and just shy of $200 – I think there’s a far better pair of smart glasses out there: the Ray-Ban Meta specs. Even the Gen 1 Ray-Bans would be an upgrade.

Even on offer, however, the Ray-Ban smart glasses are pricier. Right now you can get the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses for $239 at Amazon – a $60 discount on their usual asking price. But if you ask me I’d spend a little more and nab a transitional pair for $303.20 (they were $379).

So why the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses?

Yes, you pay more but you’ll get several major upgrades. The first is a camera. While the Gen 1’s snapper isn’t perfect it is still very useful for taking first-person video as it’s hands-free and you don’t feel like you need to step back from the action like you do with a phone. It’s also handy for informing the Meta AI assistant. Unfortunately. Amazon’s specs have no camera.

Next is the open-ear audio. While not perfect, the Ray-Bans win here again as they aren’t a terrible alternative to open-earbuds sonically speaking; the same can’t always be said for the Amazon specs.

Phil wearing the Ray-Ban Meta glasses (now in black and white) — (Image credit: Future)

Then you have the AI. The Alexa assistant is helpful for simple tasks and interfacing with your smart home setup but it doesn’t have the range of knowledge Meta’s AI has.

Ray-Ban Meta glasses have) it can be a challenge to keep the Amazon specs charged up while you’re out on the go.

I understand you pay more than you would for Amazon’s smart glasses, but the added cost is so worthwhile. That’s also true when it comes to choosing transition over non-transition pairs – the utility of having specs you can use in any lighting condition makes the added cost more than worthwhile (I’ve had both kinds, and will never use non-transitions again).